Friday, February 20, 2009

Who Needs Xenophobes?


Angelina Jolie last week called on Thai authorities to respect the boat people Rohingya, a Muslim minority, escapees from Myanmar's dictatorship. The military does not acknowledge them as citizens. 

One of their reported abuses last year included having around a thousand of the Rohingya towed to the sea, left in boats with no engines. Some of them got to India and Indonesia weeks after, although they say there were a hundred others who died. 

Myanmar's consul-general to Hong Kong told the South China Morning Post that the Rohingya are as ugly as whores, and have dark brown skin, unlike the natives who have fair and soft skin.

In related news about offensive high people, Prince Harry, 24, was to be included in a diversity-and-equality course by the British army. 

Last month, a 2006 video surfaced with him using a term offensive to a Pakistani officer.

He had also mocked another cadet by the use of an epithet for those of Middle Eastern ancestry.

Last week, Stephen K. Amos, a black comedian, said that Harry last year told him he did not "sound like a black chap."

He has said his words and actions were without malice, but when you are third in line to the throne, does it even matter? Could it ever be appropriate for him, or anyone?

In 2002, Harry was sent to a rehabilitation facility after admitting to alcohol and drug use. The tabloids had a field day calling him "Harry Pothead."

In 2005, he was caught on camera waering a Nazi uniform as costume in a party, with an armband of a swastika.

Last month, he and his father Prince Charles, and brother Prince William, were said to call an Asian friend "Sooty," although he reportedly did not take offense.

I know this makes them royalty less boring, but this is too much. With officials like these, who look down on their own citizens, who needs xenophobes?

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