fterPrince Harry's Remark Now Charles Is In THe Spotlight.

[RosieH]

I think in this, as in many stories, there's a strong element of common sense that needs to be applied. Harry's a f*cking idiot to capture himself calling his comrade Paki on film. Whether or not it was harmless fun, or there's an element of institutional racism and tacit consent on behalf of the friend because he knows it makes his life easier to play along, Harry's a fricking idiot. He's in line to the throne. He's been photographed in a nazi outfit. His f*cking media team should have taught him better. I don't doubt that they have, and if he hasn't learned the lesson I would just imagine that this is why most of our royals only have a gcse in art history to their names - borderline learning difficulties - and why it's a very good idea that crown and parliament are separate.

As for the term Paki, I think charliecharlie said it right, context is all. You can say a word with no malice in your heart. Your friend can hear it with no malice in his. But if you have an audience, and the word you said is generally considered offensive, then you're a bit of an idiot yourself to think that your audience is not going to be offended by what you said, regardless of what is in your heart and that of your subject.

The pen is mightier than the sword, sticks and stones, the signifier and the signified. Words have power, and they're impossible to take back. Personally, I just think people would sometimes do well to remember that.

[Huguenot]

Legal schmeagle.

I've heard people use the epithet 'woman' very effectively as an insult, but you'd struggle to break a law.

Intent is all.

That having been said, I haevn't got a clue what TLS was talking about. A taxi driver called his mate a Paki in 1971, and....? Erm.... WTF?

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Huguenot Wrote:

TLS was talking about. A taxi driver called his mate a Paki in 1971, and....? Erm.... WTF?

Well it is rather early on a wet,winter monday morning so allow me to elaborate.

Rahman accepted the fact that in 1971(I did state it was 1971 and there WAS some significance to the year where TV Series like "Mind Your Language and "Love Thy Neighbour" were on and indeed soon after in Fawlty Towers the bar scene between "Basil" and "The Major" in "The Germans" episode tells you all you need to know about English values and attitudes then towards "Minorities".He laughed it off as the ignorance it was and accepted that The English/British WERE blatantly and visibly and unsubtlety racist back then and got on with his happy life.

Just in case anyone get on their high horse(heaven forbid!) and gets "offended on his behalf a la 2009:-$) NO-ONE is suggesting that this was right or in order in any way but it WAS the way it wasin many areas(probably all)in England.

Rahman,in return,would mock the English and call them all manner of names and take the piss out of their ways and mannerisms in return, and was philosphical about the whole thing.In the words of Anthony Blair "He wasn't bovverred".

He used to grab me and imply "these idiots but what can you do??" and used that example of the Cab Driver to illustrate his point.

He may have even invented said Cabbie but he was saying that after enjoying his return to his Homeland he noted the immediate contrast,even on arrival at Heathrow Airport(!) when he came back and was very much in the monirity in Racist England again.

Hope that clears that up(probably not):-$

Have A Good Day!

[Tony.London Suburbs]

monority/minority..:'(