Totally agree Lucretia, I for one do not tip toe around! Is Osama Bin Laden not racist for bombing America or the bombers involved in the London Bombings? These minorities (vastly becoming majorities) are too quick to become offended at the slightest things when us Westerns are not ment to be offended by personal attacks on our people!
Brixton is a fine neighbourhood, though a bit short on stables.
The point is that back in the seventies there were lots of families trying desperately to fit into the British way of life, but it's quite hard to do that if people are shouting 'P*** go home' every time you walk down the street and pushing fireworks through your letterbox.
I'm sure that for some people the P word is merely short for Pakistan, but it has a sinister history.
And BTW, I'm Scottish and I do not like the term Jock - why on earth would I?
We are our own worst enemy, we have created a monster and now don't know how to stop it. Intense PC is the worst thing to have happened in a long while, it doesn't resolve problems it papers over them. In any logical thinking persons mind how are they going to change their views, opinions etc because someone somewhere says they are wrong. Popularity is born out of shared similarities, morals, ethics, common values, shared history all those things that build us as a person / nation. You can't say to someone this is what you are going to think because I want you to. Very bizarre.
Be warned you will like and believe in Parelli because I say so
[ QUOTE ]
Brixton is a fine neighbourhood, though a bit short on stables.
[/ QUOTE ]
displaying ignorance again i think. at the time the south london branch of the pony club had at least 100 members including myself and Dane Rawlings. Apart from the Mets mounted division (stilll there behind the nick) here is the ones i can remember (riding schools and livery yards) in the brixton tooting streatham and norwood area- Gleneagles, Mitre, South London School of Equitation, Dulwich plus a few un named 'totters' yards under the arches in Brixton/ Camberwell itself. the DC kept her horses in a mews in streatham hill, there were of course brewery horses in wandsworth, and two riding schools in lewisham (willow tree and mottingham) both of which are still there.
We had the Pony Club Show in Brockwell Park (do look to see how close that is to the end of Railton Road) and the dressage on Belair Rec near Dulwich.
i didnt go to a posh grammar but one of the most notorious comprehensives in the area Norwood Girls. I lived on a road called Pomfret Road and walked to Brixton Hill every day to catch the 2b bus to go to school and the stables. i rode once a week ( by working there to pay for it) as SLSE. we hacked out on Streatham and Tooting Commons.
Brixton was not a 'fine neighbourhood' then. The Brixton riots were vicious and ugly and even now if you walk down railton road late at night as an unaccompanied woman, i would onsider that to be the height of stupidity and you would be lucky to reach the end of the road unscathed. Now adays people dont try to fit in and blend, which was hard in the 70's but possible because they dont have to, being PC mens everyone bends over backwards to let them be as individual as they like without regard for the longer term indigenous residents.
Dont talk to me about racism, i have lived in it.
I think its OTT and from the experience I have had to day, I really couldnt care less what he said!
Today I have been horribly and cruelly backstabbed by two people organinally from Packistan - if it had been the other way round it could have been called racism.
If it hadnt been brought up in 3 years then there was no need to bring it up in my opioion. People change a lot in three years.
A big no to political correctness - it has gone way over the top!
I go to a multi-race school, and children of Pakistani origin refer to themselves as "Paki's" a lot of the time, i even know a Sikh who calls his friends "turbinators" People who think Paki is now a racist term need to grow up.
Well said Sooty, I am even prepared to smile when people call me a Scouser despite being born the wrong side of the Mersey, it sounds as if it was normal army banter and not racist at all.
I'm just gobsmacked that he let himself be recorded as saying this. TBH, I find it quite freaky that he is third in line for the throne.
I DO think his words "our little Paki friend" come across as racist, as did the other word he used ("raghead"). I think it is racist because that is the way it is perceived by most of the Pakistani community. Yes, some of the youth use Paki now as banter between themselves (although they more likely say Pak) but NOT the community as a whole.
People have been swift to say "Paki" is no more or no less racist than the term "Brit". But for the reason I've already given, and the negative historical connotations of "Paki", I don't think it is the same. I'm a Brit, living as an expat, and the term is widely used in our community here to denote all us Brits of all ages, sexes, colours, etc. Never heard anyone say they have a problem with it (just a bit lame!). I also think the context "our little P. friend" makes Harry's use of the P. word more belittling and patronising.
But you know what ... racist or not, it's an unbelievably crass thing to have done anyway. This guy is supposed to represent his country and to be socially skilled and aware enough to function appropriately in an international setting.
I think the real questions have to be asked of those who brought him up, advised him and his parents, chose his education etc. So much time, money and effort has gone into raising him, sometimes to so little avail.
He will get over it, not least because he has apologised fully, it was a while ago (but he was old enough to know better), has served in action, and Brown and Cameron have swung in behind him (and crucially there has not been a formal complaint). But jeez, he looks increasing like the best possible gift to a Republican.
I just don't think that in this context that word was racist. I think that this is one of several words that it totally depends on the context, way it is said etc to determine if it was racist or not.
Yes he was silly to be filmed saying a word that also has an insulting connotation, but give the guy a break, I challenge anybody to be watched that closely 24/ 365 and NOT slip up in some way shape or form.
I hadn't heard about this today and I can very much see both sides of the argument. But I can only base my opinion on my beliefs and the way I was brought up. I would never call someone from Pakistan a p*** or use any other 'nick name' to refer to someone based on their colour, country, religion etc. You have to realise that things do change their meaning and relevance depending on who says them (that is the way of the world). I can have a banter with my sisters and we'll tease each other and call each other names, but if some stranger or even most friends turned round and called me a b*tch or something I would be insulted. Call it double standards or what you will but that is how it works.
Just because fellow black people call each other by the N word doesn't mean its OK for a white person to do the same. I would never and I would feel mortified being in the presence of someone who did. Maybe I was brought up to be very sensitive to these things but then I don't think its a bad thing to be aware of what you're saying and how those things can be interpretted by others.
Yes Harry was a bit of an idiot to say that and he really really really should have known better, and yes I am a bit embarassed that an embassador for our country has been caught saying that. However, just because I wouldn't say it doesn't mean I can't see how it could just have been guys being guys.
I do think that PC is important and I also believe in things being equal on both sides of the fence. So, of course the likes of the Taleban are rascist, its not only westerners that are capable of rascism!
I have to say, his remark did make me question the quality of the private education sector - is it controlled and monitored in the way state sector is? Even if he is thick, he has, supposedly, been educated - ironically at the expense of his 'little paki friends'.
Considering the main argument for the monarchy is as a figurehead, he is not doing them any favours (hands up who remembers the Nazi uniform...)
A
Have just finished reading this thread- there are a lot of strong opinions on here which make me think!
I think that Harry was stupid to say these things, however, it's not the first or indeed the last stupid thing he'll do- and i think we all know he's not the sharpest tool in the box
but, depressing as it may sound, I'm guessing that a shockingly large percentage of men his age have used that term- or worse- and with a lot more intention to insult (which i know in no way condones his behaviour, but just to put it out there that our society isn't always PC).
Seafarer- I know that an army base should be the same as any other place of employment- but they're not! Put a group of young guys, all with something to prove, together, and i agree that's not the worst thing that will be said.
He made a mistake- he's normal.
And Arabelle, please don't imply that the private education section isn't 'controlled and monitered' enough- i'm lucky enough to go to private school and i can assure you, we're not all non-PC royals with more mouth than brain.
[ QUOTE ]
Well, if she came from c**tistan, I'd understand it...
[/ QUOTE ]
I just sprayed toast crumbs all over my laptop, not sure it'll ever be the same again.
PLEASE can you have this in your signature? I quite want it myself...I'm happy to credit you for it?!
[ QUOTE ]
Arabelle, please don't imply that the private education section isn't 'controlled and monitered' enough- i'm lucky enough to go to private school and i can assure you, we're not all non-PC royals with more mouth than brain.
[/ QUOTE ]
You've got to admit - Harry is doing a top notch job of perpetuating a stereotype!
A
Everytime some council killjoy bans using the word Christmas as "offensive to others" you can ask every minority in the area and no-one is offended by it at all! Same with hot cross buns and easter etc.
I deliberately this year had "Merry Christmas" on our office door - not season's greetings!
It just gets more and more ridiculous and stirs up friction where there wouldn't be any if not for some po faced middle aged white woman in the councils equality and diversity department inventing things that will alledgedly "offend minorities" when it does no such thing!
I lived in Birmingham for a few years and we delebrated Divali night and other religious occassions with their followers and none of them objected to our festivities - we can live and let live perfectly well if the do-gooders wind their necks in and the press stop stirring up fuss where there shouldn't be any.
I mean FFS - it was three years ago, no-one died - whats the fuss?
Definately a slow day on fleet street and the moron who leaked it needs a good slap!
Did anyone actually ask the lad who Harry was refering to ...if he was upset by the remark.....As after all hes the only one who could have any reason to say anything ....not all the bl**dy trouble causers who soooo readily brand the word racist about...
Harry isnt a racist he just let his mouth go without thinking again! which is something everyone has done at some point I frequently do it without intending to cause offence but it just happens. SQUATMOUSE i dont think it is 'freaky' that Harry is in line for the throne he would make a great king as would william. They are young and as carefree as they can be considering war zones and paps everywhere they turn. Yes Harry made a mistake he has aplogised but it was 3 years ago so basicaly I think it is just the daily mail short of a story so they try to create some scandal about the royals..nothing new there!!! I have nothing but the greatest respect for harry and william..having met william once!!