Pakis, Swedes, and Prince Harry Once More

Prince Harry has been forced to apologize for using the word “Paki” as a nickname for a Paki friend in his own platoon, after a three-year-old video clip has surfaced and been published by gutter rag News of the World.

The reporters refer to the young man in question, politically correctly, as “Asian” – a word they also frequently – quite absurdly – use as synonymous with “Muslim”.

As for myself, I don’t feel offended if I’m called a “Swede”, and for me it is inconceivable how “Paki” could be regarded as offensive – unless it is preceded by “fucking”, or something along that line. The man in question has not complained, and the apology issued by the palace says that the Prince used the word “without malice”. Sure. But his father is on the phone from Pakistan, saying that “Paki” certainly is a depreciatory term… What has the world come to? Soon every fucking kangaroo will object to be called “Aussie”!

But maybe I’m wrong here! Maybe I should object to being called a “Swede”, and demand to be called “European”? If I did, I might be able to claim compensation every time someone calls me a Swede?

~ by harryflaker on 11 January 2009.