Nazi Harry and William the Leopard-hearted
By now, many of you will have heard of the latest kerfuffle across the pond, where prince Harry attended a recent costume party dressed as a Nazi officer. Click here for CBC's coverage of it.

Jewish groups internationally are outraged by his insensitivity, and understandably so. What's frustrating to me, is that the theme of the party is getting none of the same raising of eyebrows. The party, which was attended by both William and Harry, was a "colonial and native" themed party. We in the developed world like to forget the evils committed in history by colonialism. Maybe there aren't enough natives left to complain about the nature of that party, or maybe they are just tired of trying to make people care. I am certainly not sympathizing with neo-fascism, but Nazi's weren't simply the embodiment of antisemitism.

The guy is 20 years old. I don't care if he's third in line to the British throne, and a potential head of the Anglican church (historically you have to be both), the costume parties I've been to with 20 year-old guys are full of guys with distasteful costumes. Certainly his had the capacity to offend Jews, but also any soldier (and their families) who fought and/or died because of Hitler's imperialism (including Axis and Allied troupes). It was a joke, and you can acknowledge that you don't think it's funny, but remember that it was a joke.

Wait until he follows the family tradition of divorce and infidelity before you throw up flags of moral outrage.

   [ posted by William @ 4:22 PM ]