I frequently check out the Google News front page; it’s my start page. It’s a good source for decent coverage of news, since it gives a ton of different sources for any one story.
But dear sweet lord! For the past couple days, every single TIME I’ve clicked on for the past few days, the top story under the ‘world’ heading has been something about Prince fucking Harry.
Gah! So some spoiled rich boy went to a costume party dressed as Hitler. Who the fuck cares? Seriously, are there not, you know, things that matter going on in the world?
From my point of view, there’s not even a story here. Rich boy was having fun, and didn’t think. He’s what, 20? Not an age group, as far as I know, world-renowned for their common sense. He was at a private party. Why are we even seeing photos of a private event?
And, if it was a private event, who the hell cares? I mean, distasteful, yes, but…it’s not like it means anything. If an actual politician or something, someone who actually deserved attention, showed up to parliament/congress/etc dressed as a nazi? Yeah, outcry. Some random kid goes to a costume party dressed thusly? Who. The. Fuck. CARES???
Also - who the fuck has a party themed ‘colonialism’? “Hey, remember that time that us and a bunch of Europeans took over the better part of three continents? Good times, good times!”
I’m an American so I don’t. But if I were a Brit and someone who was third in line to inherit a government position walked around in the uniform of one of the most evil organizations ever I’d probably be a bit peeved.
I think it matters to people because it potentially reflects some issues of concern to British people and people worldwide.
First to the British concerns - Even if he’s only potentially in line to the throne, it reflects a level of personal and historical casual stupidity that’s worrisome. Most 20 year olds with more than room temperature IQ, and even without the benefit of one of the finest private school educations in the world, would know enough not to go dressed to a costume party as a Nazi, with an swastika armband. For him to do this, especially given who he is, suggests a near Gump like level of personal stupidity and lack of awareness of his environment. He not 2, he’s not 12, he’s 20 years old, and he should damn well better.
To people worldwide, especially older people, I think it reflects a trend of abject historical ignorance, that to many who went through WWII is simply mind boggling. Nazis justified and institutionalized the killing of non-combatant human beings like cattle, and were reviled as the apex of evil in modernity. To go from that to a high profile 20 year old thinking it’s clever and cool to be a Nazi is a stunner for many people.
Gah! So some spoiled rich boy went to a costume party dressed as Hitler. Who the fuck cares? Seriously, are there not, you know, things that matter going on in the worldQUOTE]
Well first of all he didn’t go as Hitler. He went as a member of Rommel’s desert troops.
That said, though, he’s hardly “some spoiled rich boy”. He’s the future sovereign of his nation. I would think if he’s 19 years old and doing something that stupid it might matter to the people of said nation.
That said, thousand of hystrerical articles calling him a Nazi are beyond stupid. Obviously he’s not a Nazi. And I also doubt he was really unaware of the horrors of the holucaust. Rommel didn’t have much to do with it. He just underestimated the reaction that symbol would get. Which , in his position, he can’t afford to do.
Well, I’ve heard of pretty similar goings-on at American frat parties around Halloween. I don’t hold a high opinion of the boys who think it’s funny to dress up in Klan robes and get drunk either, but Prince Harry isn’t alone in his style of stupid behavior.
And, like NinjaChick, I can’t help but feel his costume choice was hardly any worse than the theme of the party itself. This probably wasn’t Harry’s intent, but dressing as a Nazi at a “colonialism costume party” could be seen as a kind of ironic reminder that it really isn’t jolly good fun for everyone when one country decides it needs a little more living room and grabs someone else’s country to use.
The American version would be along the lines of one of the Baby Bush twins donning the sheet and turning up at a party. In the grand scheme of things a 20 year old’s idea of fun that is best forgotten about.
The tabloids would shriek for two or three days and then everything would be forgotten as the latest Michael/Janet Jackson fiasco is revealed.
Nitpick, but his only potential for sovereignty is if his brother gets knocked off before having kids.
Personally, I think what Harry did was in extremely poor taste, and a public apology is in order.
But then personally I think the British should get a sense of dignity and hang the whole royal family.
Eve beat me to it in another thread, but Harry is the Princess Margaret of his generation, an irresponsible, immature embarrassment to his family and country.
And really, why shouldn’t he be? He’s had a traumatic childhood-- his parents divorced after public scandal, his mom’s dead, and his dad’s an adulterous New Age freak with the warmth and fatherly love of a salmon, and the only purpose of his existence is to serve as a spare warm body to fill a largely ceremonial public office in case his brother dies. Harry has no role to do, only to be, and that’s got to be rough on anyone. So he dressed up as a Nazi, so what? It’s not like this is going to affect his employment prospects or have any real repercussions in his life.
In any event, we Americans fought the Revolution and the War of 1812 so that we wouldn’t have to concern ourselves with the doings of these inbred bozos. It’s embarrasing that a country that is supposed to be founded as a republic of equality with no aristocracy or monarchy wastes so much newspaper and magazine space on the doings of the British royals. As a good republican (note the small R), I can’t be be bothered to give a moment’s thought to Britain’s royalty except to regret that Oliver Cromwell can’t be resurrected and pointed toward Buckingham Palace, axe in hand.
Aw c’mon, can’t he be both? I can understand why British subjects might care but I’m unsure why Americans are fascinated by the royal family. Of course I’m unsure why people seem to care so much about the lives of famous actors, athletes, and musicians as well.
He’s off the front page of the tabloids today as Noel Edmond’s wife is seeing a transvestite. Much more important.
He’s a bit of a berk - but he is 20 years old, not very bright (takes after mum), and is completely insulated from the real world. This is not the worst thing he could do.
Don’t forget he is a ginge - so you can’t expect too much.
British subject checking in. Frankly, while it was a stupid thing to do, and now that it’s in the public eye, Harry should apologise publicly, the outrage over this in the media is completely overblown. There are much more important things going on in the world to be on the front few pages in the newspapers.
I think that sums it up. It’s the extreme insulation that is upsetting people; he is so insulated from the real world that he doesn’t realize that this is a really, really, really bad idea.
People like to hate people like this or Paris Hilton (who is imminently hateable). They like to feel that they are better people.
Um, I mean to say that I do know it means “ginger” but I’m not sure what attributes are associated with that. It seems to be similar to American’s stereotypical “redheaded temper” assumption, but I get the feeling there’s more to it.