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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605 |
In another thread Jo says, I rarely admit to the levels to which British culture can sink but I assure you that depths have been plumbed!!!
This just in from Cairns, Queensland:
Prince Philip bungled again over the weekend by asking an Aborigine: “Do you still throw spears at each other?”
The remark outraged native Australians ... Philip, 80, was branded “stupid” and “ignorant”. He has made insensitive remarks about Indians, Chinese, Papuans, Cayman Islanders and Scots.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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>The remark outraged native Australians ...
The problem is that there are people who would now be slighted if he hadn't said anything outrageous to them. When you see Prince Phillip (without slitty eyes) it makes you realise how diplomatic the queen is. She has barely put a foot wrong (in person, ie not through "her" government) in fifty years, despite the idiots (her family) that she associates with. Long live the Queen (and if she doesn't, then God help us!)
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addict
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addict
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Prince Philip bungled again over the weekend by asking an Aborigine: “Do you still throw spears at each other?”
Just have to respond to this, though there is no real point in doing so.
The Aboriginal Elder who was asked the question did not take offence, either at the time or later, according to all reports. Indeed, he replied that yes, it still does happen on occasion. Which it does. I think he and his community were glad to be considered important enough to be visited after years of ... insert appropriate word here. While I agree it was a stupid question, and one likely to cause offence, the "outraged native Australians" were probably those in the political and public eye who were highlighting the lack of sensitivity towards and understanding of Aboriginal culture.
Oh, and the term "Aborigine" tends not to be used by more 'educated' people, though I know not why. It is often replaced by "Aboriginal", and more and more is being replaced by the name of the individual's tribe.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I think the fuss is just one more example of the media enjoying royalty bashing.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Oh, I dunno. Someone on the radio the other day said that there was one place the Queen should never take Prince Philip - abroad. Rather liked that line!
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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>that there was one place the Queen should never take Prince Philip - abroad. Rather liked that line!
I have never really reconciled his Presidency of the World Wide Fund for Nature with his "huntin', shootin' fishin'" interests. So keeping him at home isn't an option either! Actually, he should have stayed with Helen's friends, although I think that there are issues of trust there.
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old hand
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old hand
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> WWH writes: One more example of the media enjoying royalty bashing
You're right. With a history like Price Philip's, it's clear that the media were just waiting to pounce on any diplomatic foot the poor ol' sod put out of line. It was completely blown out of proportion in the British papers I've seen (front page!). It probably wasn't taken that badly by many indigenous Australians who were there anyway, as Doc C. indicates. Sure they might have thought him ignorant and insensitive to their culture, but do you really think that would come as a big surprise to a man who has always experienced a life of aboriginal people clawing away for self and mutual respect between the invaders and the invaded, or the conquerers and the conquered depending on which side you stand.
Maybe the prince should find a quiet island to retire from public life on, hey?
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journeyman
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journeyman
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I cannot stand the Royal family, personally I think of them as parasitic anachronism, but in this case i think prince p might have been badly done to. Nobody seems to mention that 5mins prior to this conversation he had just watched these body-painted loin-clothed men give a demonstration of spear -throwing, he asked 2 men if their tribes had ever fought in the past , they replied "yes" then came the "offensive" remark.
the Duncster
the Duncster
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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>that there was one place the Queen should never take Prince Philip - abroad. Rather liked that line!
I have never really reconciled his Presidency of the World Wide Fund for Nature with his "huntin', shootin' fishin'" interests. So keeping him at home isn't an option either! Actually, he should have stayed with Helen's friends, although I think that there are issues of trust there.
Oh, I didn't say that I thought that the statement was correct. Just that I liked the line. As for the consort, well the man is a riddle wrapped up in an enigma.
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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addict
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addict
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I think the fuss is just one more example of the media enjoying royalty bashing
Royalty bashing aside, the media will "bash" just about anyone - the older I get the more cynical I become about the "truth" portrayed through the media.
Now, where's that grain of salt...
Hev
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