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Can you remember what you were saying and/or doing three years ago today? That's 2006, in case you've forgotten. I'm actually struggling to remember anything that happened that year, apart from the start of The Secret Adventures of Mane-of-Night - February 25, to be exact...
Three years ago, Prince Harry, son of "Her Holiness" Princess Diana, was recorded as referring to a Pakistani army colleague as "our little P-ki friend" - and this has just come to light, courtesy of one of the most disreputable newspapers in the country. The "story" has been top of the headlines all day - errr, hello? Anyone remember a little place called The Gaza Strip...?
Apparently not.
So, let's look at the key factors in this "story"...
Is the word actually offensive? It's a contraction of the term "Pakistani", and it has been used by some in a derogatory fashion in the past, the present, and most likely the future. No use in denying it...
"Sticks and stones..." Words can, and do hurt, like it or not. However, some people seem to make a point out of being offended by as small a thing as possible - remember the "Dutch cartoons"? Hang on - that might hark back to 2006, come to think of it (*checks* Yup!)...
But what if the target of the remark isn't offended? Members of the African-American community seem to delight in using the "N-word" amongst themselves, and in their music. The officer in question has had three whole years to voice his disgust - and he is the one person involved who so far has not spoken on the matter. Ask him. "No harm, no foul" appears to be the likely result, so let's just pick up that penalty flag, and get on with stuff that really matters...
*sighs* ...just like I'm about to call it a night, and head for bed before Slot 1, Day 2.
Development news... None to report, sadly. My current computer chair tried to screw me once too often, and has subsequently been fired - a back-rest is supposed to provide support, not threaten to do a belly-to-back supplex on you. That does, however, mean that I now have no comfortable computer seating - dammit.
In more worthy news... Holy crap, the Arizona Cardinals are in the NFC Championship Game! Less alarming is the fact that they'll be playing the Eagles, not the defending NFL champs the New York Giants. At this very moment, the AFc Championships contenders are being decided, with Baltimore already having booked their place, against either San Diego, or the Steelers (although the Chargers seem to be struggling)...
Some interesting match-ups for Super Bowl XLIII are in the offing...
Three years ago, Prince Harry, son of "Her Holiness" Princess Diana, was recorded as referring to a Pakistani army colleague as "our little P-ki friend" - and this has just come to light, courtesy of one of the most disreputable newspapers in the country. The "story" has been top of the headlines all day - errr, hello? Anyone remember a little place called The Gaza Strip...?
Apparently not.
So, let's look at the key factors in this "story"...
Is the word actually offensive? It's a contraction of the term "Pakistani", and it has been used by some in a derogatory fashion in the past, the present, and most likely the future. No use in denying it...
"Sticks and stones..." Words can, and do hurt, like it or not. However, some people seem to make a point out of being offended by as small a thing as possible - remember the "Dutch cartoons"? Hang on - that might hark back to 2006, come to think of it (*checks* Yup!)...
But what if the target of the remark isn't offended? Members of the African-American community seem to delight in using the "N-word" amongst themselves, and in their music. The officer in question has had three whole years to voice his disgust - and he is the one person involved who so far has not spoken on the matter. Ask him. "No harm, no foul" appears to be the likely result, so let's just pick up that penalty flag, and get on with stuff that really matters...
*sighs* ...just like I'm about to call it a night, and head for bed before Slot 1, Day 2.
Development news... None to report, sadly. My current computer chair tried to screw me once too often, and has subsequently been fired - a back-rest is supposed to provide support, not threaten to do a belly-to-back supplex on you. That does, however, mean that I now have no comfortable computer seating - dammit.
In more worthy news... Holy crap, the Arizona Cardinals are in the NFC Championship Game! Less alarming is the fact that they'll be playing the Eagles, not the defending NFL champs the New York Giants. At this very moment, the AFc Championships contenders are being decided, with Baltimore already having booked their place, against either San Diego, or the Steelers (although the Chargers seem to be struggling)...
Some interesting match-ups for Super Bowl XLIII are in the offing...
