• Harry's racist jibe 'will harm Army recruitment'
• Poll: Should Harry make an apology on television?

Reader views (61)

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well i know for fact there are alot of racist cases just like this but arnt exsagerated this much i mean harrys just a human like the rest of us soo we should trea him and everyone else fairly now im not saying what he did was right but i think i doesnt need to be over played on the radio or tele or in the papers hs said sorry and thats all he can do really.

- Ali M, Hastings, 14/01/2009 23:20
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i am a irish girl brought up in this country, so mick and paddy are not offensive????? no its not no malice was ever intnded, my family are irish african an pakisatani, not one of us took offence at harrys comments, for goodness sake uk get real, we are all going to say things to others nick names etc have we all gone mad??????. the same night the news reported harrys comments, wow channel 5 but on the most racist film ever in blazing saddles, so ok for them to be racist ,but not harry???, about time the uk woke up to the fact this young man was only using a nick name for a fellow soldier, any one ask the guy in question if he took offence at it???????????

- Terry, lancaster lancs, 13/01/2009 23:04
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harry said sorry just let it go there are more things to worry about in the world today

- Ronnie, ipswich, 12/01/2009 17:35
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I fell sorry for the Ahmed. He has joined to army to fight for this country, ready to die and has sworn allegience to the Queen only to be subjected to a comment by a prince who's third in line of the thrown. Harry is a young man but he should be old enough to know what offends others. We're not talking about a 5 year old here.

- Joe, London, 12/01/2009 16:53
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What is wrong with country ??this has been totally and typically been blown out of all proportion. If the people involved were not offended or saw reason to report him at the time why should the general public be so indignant about it. In any case I can't see why this is any different from calling someone a Brit... its a shortened version of a nationality and people who see it otherwise are just trying to make more of this than they need to.

- Mike , London, London, UK, 12/01/2009 16:39
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It happened years ago and people are now just jumping on the bandwagon to bad mouth Harry. You hear far worse on the streets everyday and I am pretty sure if it was some squaddie saying it instead of an officer then there would be no issue......

- Sid, London, 12/01/2009 16:31
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Certainly a lot of fuss about nothing.

- Mick Read, Peachland. BC. Canada, 12/01/2009 16:20
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let's face it, he's like every upper class male in Britain - biggotted and racist

- Ag, The Village of London, 12/01/2009 13:55
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Living beside a secondary school in London, I hear worse every day during termtime. This is a straight forward issue of banter. If the soldier Harry was talking about is OK with it, then who is anyone else to comment? If not, of course Harry should apologise to him - it's between them. This is not exactly world leading news in relation to say .... Gaza, economic climate and global warming now is it? Come on The Meeja, get a grip and stop reporting inconsequential drivel.

- Me, London, London, 12/01/2009 13:54
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The term "Paki" is quite different from "Brit"-the former is very often used as a derogatory term. It is offensive and hurtful to a significant minority and therefore should not be used. Not using terms which are offensive to a minortiy is not a great imposition on the majority. Those who continue to use them are either motivated by malice and/ or simply lacking in basic intellgience. I strongly suspect that Harry falls into the latter category. But it does make you wonder what all that expensive education (indirectly funded by the taxpayer)was for. Monacharists might also like to ponder the fact that he is within spitting distance of the throne.

- Alan, London, 12/01/2009 13:51
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'Sorry's not good enough'???
----------------------------------------
So, what do you want??

A public flogging?......Stoning?......Banged up in the Tower?.......Beheading?
Public hanging from a crane In Westminster?

We have all made stupid remarks in our lifetime, I know I have!

The guy has apologised!
Has anyone thought to interview the person to whom this remark was made?

He, in all probability thinks all this hullabaloo all well over the top!

I know I would if someone called me a "Honky", which on reflection I have been called over the years by various work colleagues.
I never gave it much thought at the time, as I thought it was a reference to my personal hygiene, I have since discovered that it is slang reference to a "Pig", and harks back to a time when cannibals used to eat us!

I agree, a person in his position should have known better, but I guess it's a family trait, (On his Grandfathers side) and I have a feeling this gaff is going to be just one of many!

GERONIMO

- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX, 12/01/2009 13:49
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Much ado about NOTHING!

I don't believe for one minute that Prince Harry meant it to be offensive or derogatory.

- Victoria, Cypress, USA, 12/01/2009 13:48
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I am speechless at all the comments on here and other newspaper websites!!!! How can any of you compare Paki with Brit or any other abbreviation of a nationality. The word Brit isn't spat at someone to offend on a daily basis. I have witnessed people refer to an asian as Paki in numerous occasions as a form of insult instead of or above the usual insults such as idiot , knobhead and others which I'll leave to your imaginations. I must say I've never heard any body referred to as an F'ing Brit as an insult. In his ignorance about the normal world Harry might have said something stupid witout realising he was being racist but every single person here who says that word is not offensive IS BEING RACIST. Try and say that to the asian shopkeepers who get called that word on a daily basis whilst suffering harrasment from the local yobs and thugs, try telling them that it's just a word without any malice in it.............

- Incensed, London, 12/01/2009 13:46
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Gordon Brown backs Prince Harry? That's the kiss of death if ever there was one!

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 12/01/2009 13:42
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If it was anyone else on the public payroll who had used this term, they would be sacked without question, regardless of the circumstances.

- Darren, london, 12/01/2009 13:42
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What's this got to do an unelected "BROWN"

Only reason is to curry favour with the Queen. He knows pretty well the Queen dislikes him immensely. Endless crawling and boot licking. Words can't describe the spineless creature.

- Asw, Hong Kong, 12/01/2009 13:29
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Paki is an abbreviation of Pakistani. It is like calling someone a Brit or a scot. We also use words like taffie (welsh) and jock (scot); these are taken in good humour and we do not all jump on the racist band waggon when these terms are directed at us. Harry is not the racist but the person who 'picked up' on this story and publicised it....they are the racists! This country really is becoming like a fascist state.....being told what we can or cannot do, say or think.

- David H, London, 12/01/2009 13:21
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The monarchy is an anachronism, the empire is long gone, yet serfdom and racism seem to be alive and well in Britain in 2009.

- Mick, London, England, 12/01/2009 13:18
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I guess part of the problem is the fact that there is no such ethnic group as Pak. They are Punjabis, Kashmiris, whatever. Pakistan could unravel quite easily. No wonder the subject is so touchy.

English is not consistent. Is someone from Uzbekistan an Uzbek or an Uzbeki? Likewise Afghan or Afghani?

Speech codes are costing lives. Would Charles de Menezes have been shot if his police trackers described him as a greaseball? Would a greaseball really have been confused with a Somali? I guess not - but what is a human life worth when compared to good manners? Clearly our Political Establishment think human life matters less.

- W R Stevenson, London SE26, 12/01/2009 13:13
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so here we go again. the PC brigade, they are the reason we no longer have, Gollywogs, call black people, chalkie,

Pakis pakis, and wogs wogs. Ozzies call the brits "Poms" is this an insult, well if you understand it came from "Prisoner of His Majesty" Time to live in another world

- Apointofview, USA, 12/01/2009 13:05
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It's Fuss over nothing, I think the country has far more pressing issues to get through, the press should move on and grow up!

- G Ghotra, Twickenham, UK, 12/01/2009 12:50
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The sun is the worst paper to call anyone racist.I remember them using these words frogs hun arggies aussies yanks the list is endless

- Dave Smith, Croydon, 12/01/2009 12:43
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I wonder which of his army colleagues was the traitor? Certainly whoever went to the press with this has no loyalty and is not fit to serve.

- Tom, Watford (UK), 12/01/2009 12:43
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Capt. Khan's family are quite correct. By getting a lackey to issue a so-called "apology" on his behalf is an act of cowardice on Harry's part. He should be made to appear on live tv to make an apology himself. Thereafter he should disappear from all public view for a period of time in an act of humiliation and repentance.

- Bob Christie, Burntisland, Scotland, 12/01/2009 12:40
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Because I'm white and obviously antipodean when I speak, many people I meet for the first time here label me an 'Aussie'. Even though I am not an Australian. I only react to make a joke of it, but I have noticed here in the UK many members of society are on a hair-trigger alert for 'being dissed'. Many of the students in their teens that I have taught violently attack other boys on the basis that the other boy 'dissed me Mam'. I feel that the reaction to the comment, which Harry made about a friend some years ago in an earlier part of his development toward manhood, has been taken totally out of both the time and the context in which it was used.
Language bridging cultures always has danger areas and how one uses a word and who one uses it to are areas that depend on context for an accurate 'take'. It's obvious that no sensible and mature person aware of UK culture uses the word 'Paki' in public here, but at the time Harry made the statement he was a few steps short of maturity. His derogation of the Taliban as 'Ragheads' is to be expected of a young soldier talking about an enemy at the stage of military life he was in at the time.
His imaginary salutation to his Grandmother was very funny and not at all malicious.
I feel that one should look at who benefits from digging up this incident from the boy's past.

- Kiwi Expat, London, UK, 12/01/2009 12:39
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The word is offensive and derogatory. However, having seen the video, it's clear this is not meant in an offensive way. It's just banter... I'm sure there would have been no fuss at all had 'gingernut' been used instead!!!

- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK, 12/01/2009 12:23
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I really am disappointed by a number of comments made on this matter. The term "Paki" is not similar to the term Scot, or Geordie or Brit since it has negative, derogatory connotations (as I thought was common knowledge). Now I'm not saying Prince Harry should be hung, strung and quartered for this but he was wrong to say it PARTICULARLY due to his station in life. Its one thing to say that the matter is being blown out of proportion (particular if the person to whom the slur was said was ok with it) but to condone use of such language is shameful. Assume a lot of the people on this page live in a lovely bubble where they have never been subjected to racial abuse!

- Mrs S, London, 12/01/2009 12:20
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Yes, he should not have said it while being filmed, as in the wrong hands this can and did give the wrong impression. I would also like to mention that I heard the word "Paddy" being used for Irish people loads of time in the papers on the TV and yet I do not hear a cry out of “Racist remark”. We hear the term "Pols" for the Polish and no one seems to cry out about that term as they are not "Pols" they are Polish and it is Irish people and not "Paddy's." This film was not meant for the public to see, it was boys being boys and I am sure they have a name for Harry that they string amongst themselves that could also be construed as savoury if published in the press. There are more worrying things in the world today then this. Once again there is some gluttonous person just trying to make a story out of nothing, to make a quick buck and once again try it with the old racist label. The best thing we can do is ignore this and concentrate on the bigger issues. There is not a race on this planet that does not have a nick-name for the other and I am sure there is not a person out there that has not used a name that could be construed as a racist remark, in jest, once in their life.

- Maria, Wiltshire, 12/01/2009 12:17
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The term "Paki" is not he same as "BRIT" in the context of everyday life. It has connotations. These connotations are very important and are what are at issue here. You can use such words without malice if the context allows.For example black people using "n....." without offence to each other. Jewish people may call themselves Jews. In the army amongst colleagues and friends possibly "Paki" as well. However imagine running down the high street shouting "..the problem with this country is that its full of P...., J... and N......"

- Michael, Switzerland, 12/01/2009 12:14
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What can't be denied is that if this comment had been made by a public official, they would have been sacked immediately. Obviously not something you can do to a Royal.

- Nick, London, 12/01/2009 12:10
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There's the country on its knees and all we get in the papers is Harry called a Packi a Packi, so would it be offencive me to call a Scotsman a Scotie, Knowing the financial situation we are in, would be nice if someone could find some solution to send loads of them back where they come from.

- Col, West London, 12/01/2009 12:10
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All the racists with excuses coming out of the woodwork again, I see.

Next thing you'll be saying, some of my best frieds are black.

- James Hennessy, london england, 12/01/2009 12:02
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I think the real story is who leaked the video to the press and for how much? Why do we all get a case of the vapours and behave like victorian nannies when these words are used? So now we can't use - Yank, Scot, Taff, Aussie and Kiwi? I think these two young officers can work it out between themslves without the "outrage industry" or "Daddy" getting involved. Why is Ahmed's Father getting involved, isn't his son a fully grown man and an Officer in the Pakistani Army who can speak for himslef? Get over it.

- Joe, London, 12/01/2009 12:01
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Have things in the UK moved on to the point where it is no longer acceptable to refer to a person of another nationality by a shortened or slang name? Presumably Russians can no longer be referred to as Ruskies, Americans as Yanks, Australians as Aussies or Scottish folks as Scots or the British called Brits! I find it all very odd to say the very least.

- Robert, Phuket, Thailand, 12/01/2009 11:59
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Have things in the UK moved on to the point where it is no longer acceptable to refer to a person of another nationality by a shortened or slang name? Presumably Russians can no longer be referred to as Ruskies, Americans as Yanks, Australians as Aussies or Scottish folks as Scots or the British called Brits! I find it all very odd to say the very least.

- Robert, Phuket, Thailand, 12/01/2009 11:58
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If it was someone from Dagenham he would have been charged with a crime and up in court. I always think its how things are said and not what is said but I don't like double standards. If its a crime its a crime and he should be treated no different from anyone else.

- Barold, Ilford, 12/01/2009 11:55
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doesnt a paki mean someone from pakistan?
if i call someone a brit, is that racist?

- Stephen Park, Dubai, 12/01/2009 11:49
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Being a sikh with a turban, when I was at school such terms were used very frequently by ignorant biggots, it amazes me that in twenty fives years, we as a nation have not progressed.
Are we sure that Harry didnt join the army only to kill pakis and ragheads - this will do nothing for international relations.

- Raminder Bhalla, Isleworth, 12/01/2009 11:46
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There are some members of the Royal Family who do nothing to impress us and frankly damage its reputation. Prince Harry should be able to opt out of the Royal Family and become a normal upper class twit. I realise he is not bright enough to go to Oxford or to join the Bullingdon Club, but he should be allowed to opt out of his role and the spotlight of publicity. Surely all we need is a small nucleus of Royal people to ensure that we always have a King or Queen. Those not suited to the role should be farmed out to America.

- R Dent, Ealing England, 12/01/2009 11:42
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He has apologised.

We all make mistakes, that is life, as long as he learns from our his mistake then I don't think he needs vilified.

Sometimes, generally, we don't realise that we have made an offence of insulting comment until we reflect upon it later, hopefully Harry has learnt that his use of the term was unacceptable.

- Kevin, London, 12/01/2009 11:34
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OK Prince Harry dropped a brick, on a scale from one to ten there are bigger fish to fry. Hands up those who have never made a regretful remark, this little incident happened three years ago for heavens sake ,get over it.During my Army service of twenty two years the Welsh were f------ Taffy's , the Scots lads were mad jocks the Muslims look for any excuse to moan about how unfair life is What a shower.

- Michael Joseph Ferris, Nottingham, 12/01/2009 11:25
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must adhere to but for pete’s sake get off his and my fellow country mans backs over what, many regard as every day language and which for most of the time is not meant in anyway to offend.

I am against any form of racial abuse but this political correctness thing has just got out of all proportion. It does nothing to calm hatred and only serves to give do gooders a platform to stand on and in turn helps to stir hatred.

Can we please get back to the real world live peacefully with one another? After all there are hundreds being killed and dying all over the world through no fault of their own.

Whoever is right or wrong I do not know but all we can do is criticise someone for the use of an alleged racist name, come on, where should our sense of correctness placed, in the use of a word or the death of thousands of innocent people which we could, in some way do something about?

- Richard Scott, uk, 12/01/2009 11:21
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At last, some sense from Gordon Brown.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 12/01/2009 11:19
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Surely there's more pressing issues in the world today than a few words that a young chap said three years ago.
Whether you like it or not the expression will contine to be used so get over it.

- Kyle, London, 12/01/2009 11:16
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Come on Ahmed, you know in your heart of hearts Harry did not mean to be derisive or insulting to you or your people .... it was probably used in humour and in particular as a term of endearment to his buddies, his mates, his comrades in his platoon ... as a Scot would you get insulted if you were called 'Jock' or 'Paddy' if you were Irish or 'Sheep--er? if you were Welsh, 'Jug' if you had big ears or 'Took' if you had a big nose? Ahmed, only you can stop this nonsense and let's join you in 'climbing off this lads back' - he's in an unenviable position and he's 'bucking' his own inhouse protocols as his mother did. I think he's a great rolemodel to us all, no matter what age we are!!

- Frank Houghton, M, 12/01/2009 11:14
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For once,I actually agree with Pa Broon on this.I'm sure hundreds will disagree.All a big fuss over nothing at all as far as I'm concerned.

- Steve, London, 12/01/2009 11:12
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Time to get a life. Do people from Newcastle, Liverpool or Scotland get upset when called geordies, scouser, jock. Of course not. Too many people running around saying "it's a dig at islam" and too many politically correct idiots backing them.
Look at all the comments in the papers in the last 2 days and the VAST majority think Harry has done nothing wrong
If you want this comment in 15 different languages you are in the wrong country. This is ENGLAND

- Trevn, Abu Dhabi, 12/01/2009 11:07
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The Royal Family are once again brought in to the headlines and conveniently it changes the focus away from the incompetent communist-influenced Labour Government. How very convenient.

Labour 1997-2009; a period of wasted opportunity under undoubtedly the worst ever British Government.

- Joe, Thornton Heath, UK, 12/01/2009 10:57
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This story is a joke. It's the army. That's how they speak. They aren't these gallant gentlemen, marching off to battle. It's rough and dirty. It's the same as people demanding footballers act like respectable role models. And as for the "P" word ... I've lost count of how many times I've heard it said on TV or seen it in print over the weekend ... probably more times than I heard it at school, and that was in the 70's.

- Ben Farrell, London, 12/01/2009 10:56
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Oh grow up everyone stop making mountains out of mole hills.

The Asian community is hardly one to lecture anybody about race or religious tolerance. They don't have abusive terms for others.

It is a colloquialism that just doesn't put people in a good light when they use it. Is using the first four letters of a country of origin that offensive? Ban the word Scot then if you think that.

The racist overtones are purely put there by the ignorants and the thought police.

- Duncan, Kent, 12/01/2009 10:54
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Here we go again. the press merry-go-round is in full flight. these comments were made 3 years ago when he was pretty reckless. i think that he has matured alot in the last years and should be left alone.......................

- Jonny, London, 12/01/2009 10:52
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If you listen to the video you will hear that the term is not voiced in an offensive manner at all, in fact the emphasis is on 'friend'. If he had said someone was 'ginger' would he be criticised? He caould have used the unabbreviated term 'Pakastani' in an offensive way - he did not - is it a crime to abbreviate, eg calling some on a 'Brit'? He is a soldier. Soldiers say things like that. Grow up and move on!

- Adam, UK, 12/01/2009 10:47
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i think its disgusting that nothing more is being done about it i think if it was a normal working person the police would have some thing to say about it but because he a royal he thinks he can get a way with it! he is suppose to be a role model for kids but he telling them call people whatever you like just apolgise and that will be the end of it!!

- K Matthews, portsmouth, 12/01/2009 10:42
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It's quite possible that the use of these words within a context of trust , friendship and mutual respect might be perfectly acceptable to all parties. If this is a case of the media creating a scandal by flashing private parts completely out of context, then it is the newspaper and not Harry who has a case to answer.

- Anth, Walsall, UK, 12/01/2009 10:27
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Harry is a young man, and was younger still when these comments were videotaped. I spent my adult life (ages 17-42) in the US military, and hardly left it the same young man as when I entered.

I'll bet a dollar (or a quid or a Euro) that Harry was a wiser young man even before someone tried for their 15 minutes of fame by releasing this video.

Keep a stiff upper lip, Harry!

- Scott, Texas, USA, 12/01/2009 10:27
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First sensible thing gordon has said since he's been elected!

- Jh, London, 12/01/2009 10:26
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It is merely an abbreviated form of a word, I don't take offense to being called a 'Brit'. Surely it has to be one rule for all. If only they would quit playing the race card at every opportunity and maybe other cultures would start to be accepted.

- Edward, Aylesbury, 12/01/2009 10:24
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More like an understudy to Prince Philip....

- Mcw, London, 12/01/2009 10:13
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The word 'Paki' is a derogatory and racist word. Gordon Brown is just condoning Prince Harry's behaviour. When we have privileged and educated men like him saying such words, it makes it worse, because he should know better. Makes one think what kind of comments they are making to the Iraqi citizens. In fact, I'm all for a bit of joking but comments like these should not be condoned. Its what brings the Army into disrepute and ruins the hard work that the majority are doing.

- Jk, London, 12/01/2009 10:11
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Why has it taken 3 years for Harry's comments to be made public? Should I feel offended now when being called a Brit?

It seems to me that alleged racism is a new industry.

- Viola, London, UK, 12/01/2009 10:10
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Your in trouble now Harry, Gordon the Gormless has backed you, things can only get worse.

- Roger, Surrey, 12/01/2009 10:10
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