The Royal Family aint racist, some of my best

[neonleon]

friends are black and asian - we call them sooty and [Poor language removed].

Jesus.

First Harry calls one of his fellow soldiers '[Poor language removed]'. If there is nothing wrong with it why is he apologising?

Then Charles refers to someone he plays polo with as 'sooty', presumably because he has a noticeably different skin tone.

They can say they are not racist, but they are evidently using racial slurs, whether they have the blessing and complicity of their 'friends or not - they are charged words and as figure heads of the establishment - they should know better.

I am not one to call people on racism, but this smacks of isolation, privilege, out of touch thinking and prejudice. (ok so its the royal family)

They may not be treating people appreciatively worse because of their skin tone - but in a modern england shouldn't ethnic diversity be celebrated in ways other than giving someone a racial nickname.

Still its the royal family, what can you expect?

Maybe we should all start calling them royal krauts - see how they like it.

 

[Goat]

I think they need a new PR company, because the 1 they have at the moment is NOT doing its job.

 

[Nebbiolo]

I did think of posting the story about Harry but thought better of it. I hadn't heard about the Charles one.

Appalling stuff and an apology is meaningless.

 

[Scottoffee]

Surely [Poor language removed] is nothing more than a shortened term for Pakistani?... He didn't at any abusive/derogatory adjectives and clearly was on good terms with the guy being referred to.

Anyone going to try and bring down the establishment about being called a Scot, a Kiwi, a Pom or a Yank?...

The irony that the Sun/Mirror etc are taking the highroad regarding political correctness is baffling - "so on page 3, lets have some 18 year old chick straight out of school with huge knockers to pose topless for every dirty old man to toss over, then on page 4, let's moan about how the Royal family never show anyone any respect, then fill the rest with Jade Goody, Big Brother and crappy, unfounded transfer rumours"...

 

[neonleon]

It ties in with my theory that the reason we have the royal family is just for the comedic value (and some tourist benefits).

Whilst the queen has always kept stum on multicultural england, top northern comic bloke Prince 'Bernard Manning' Philip tours the british isles and indeed the whole world, putting across an embarrassing the office meets jim davidson comedy onto an unready world.

Do you still throw spears at each other? - to aboriginal.

If you stay here too long you'll all go slinty eyed - expats in china

“You managed not to get eaten, then?” - to a student in papua new guinea.

any wonder that charles and harry use such epithets.

 

[neonleon]

Surely [Poor language removed] is nothing more than a shortened term for Pakistani?... He didn't at any abusive/derogatory adjectives and clearly was on good terms with the guy being referred to.

Anyone going to try and bring down the establishment about being called a Scot, a Kiwi, a Pom or a Yank?...

The irony that the Sun/Mirror etc are taking the highroad regarding political correctness is baffling - "so on page 3, lets have some 18 year old chick straight out of school with huge knockers to pose topless for every dirty old man to toss over, then on page 4, let's moan about how the Royal family never show anyone any respect, then fill the rest with Jade Goody, Big Brother and crappy, unfounded transfer rumours"...

[Poor language removed] has a long history and recognition as a derogatory word, unlike scot, kiwi or yank - although some have argued that pom is getting there... I find it harmless enough.

so it doesn't really matter if it is an abbreviation.

Besides there is not a great racial difference between the peoples of scotland, new zealand and america - (genocides not withstanding).

 

[Basil Fawlty]

Philip's a class act. The queen must be crapping herself every time he goes out of the palace

 

[Scottoffee]

To me, yeah, it's offensive were someone to run around calling people on the street it, but it's one of these terms that aren't as bad if you're on good terms with the person and they know you're pissing about...

Here's the biggest Pakistani portal on the web - The Sun'll be telling us they're offending themselves...

[Poor language removed] - Its all About being Pakistani

 

[Bruce Wayne]

We're in danger of getting offended at every little thing. Reminds me of something I read the other day:

The nouveau riche flaunt their wealth, but the old rich scorn such gauche displays. Minor officials prove their status with petty displays of authority, while the truly powerful show their strength through gestures of magnanimity. People of average education show off the studied regularity of their script, but the well educated often scribble illegibly. Mediocre students answer a teacher’s easy questions, but the best students are embarrassed to prove their knowledge of trivial points. Acquaintances show their good intentions by politely ignoring one’s flaws, while close friends show intimacy by teasingly highlighting them. People of moderate ability seek formal credentials to impress employers and society, but the talented often downplay their credentials even if they have bothered to obtain them. A person of average reputation defensively refutes accusations against his character, while a highly respected person finds it demeaning to dignify accusations with a response.

I'm sure most people from Pakistan will think this issue makes Harry look like a pillock but not lose any sleep over it whatsoever. The rest. Well.

 

[Robin Sisland]

"When I use a word,"

Humpty Dumpty said in a rather a scornful tone,

"it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less."

 

[uknightbreed]

one point was made on a sky news email.
'if someone from pakistan cant be called a [Poor language removed] , then can a british person be called a brit without causing offence ?'

personally i think harry is a classic plonker.
but words such as the one he used have to be taken in context.
if he was calling someone it just becouse they are asian or if its said as an insult , then thats stereotyping and/or bullying.

but if hes calling him it as a nickname based on his country of origin then i cant see an issue.

aussies would call a brit a pomme, americans say - limey , i dont take offence at these nicknames myself.

if it was in the context of stinking pomme or limey [Poor language removed] , then yes i would take offence.

i dont think harry said it in malice but it did show a lack of sensitivity.

he clearly takes after his grandad in the putting his foot in it stakes.

 

[uknightbreed]

prince phillip gaffes

harry has learnt from the master.

 

[neonleon]

To me, yeah, it's offensive were someone to run around calling people on the street it, but it's one of these terms that aren't as bad if you're on good terms with the person and they know you're pissing about...

Here's the biggest Pakistani portal on the web - The Sun'll be telling us they're offending themselves...

[Poor language removed] - Its all About being Pakistani

yes, but racial epithets are often reclaimed by the intended victims - hence the popularity of the word '[Poor language removed]' amongst some sections of the black community, 'queer' amongst the gay community etc. We shouldn't forget the genesis of these words were spiteful and prejudiced. Nor does it necessarily give us carte blanche to use these words ourselves unless its - as you point out - in a special relationship, a friendship or something. The difference is they are in the media spotlight and so its just a no brainer to steer clear of it.

know what I'm saying honky?

 

[Nebbiolo]

yes, but racial epithets are often reclaimed by the intended victims - hence the popularity of the word '[Poor language removed]' amongst some sections of the black community, 'queer' amongst the gay community etc. We shouldn't forget the genesis of these words were spiteful and prejudiced. Nor does it necessarily give us carte blanche to use these words ourselves unless its - as you point out - in a special relationship, a friendship or something. The difference is they are in the media spotlight and so its just a no brainer to steer clear of it.

know what I'm saying honky?

100% right .

 

[Robin Sisland]

100% right .

Yep I agree with that 100% too.