So, Prince Harry is off to Iraq. In a decision by the British military, he is being shipped off for a 6 month tour in Iraq. To me, this seems like a stunningly awful idea. For better or worse, we are in a war--sending a rather important government leader (aka 3rd in line for the throne behind Charles and Wils) into direct military combat. They already know he's coming and have already made statements that they will target all British forces. Good *sarcasm*.
How is this going to be a good idea? Okay yes its a statement that just because hes a prince he is the same as everybody else. But, IF something were to happen to him? If he were to be killed? What would that do to the already struggling morale of the English? And, exactly 10 years after his mother's tragic death?
Maybe I am completely off base, but I think this is a terrible mistake. Whaddya think?
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I am proud of Prince Harry (I don't know perhaps becuase I was an American who lived in England for several years) but also scared for him. I am proud of a member of the royal family going to fight for his country more than I am proud of a President who escaped the draft on purpose and yet makes rules about soldiers going into war..oh well, I don't want to spill a can of worms, but Prince Harry is carrying on a tradition. That's just the way it is.
I understand the tendency to become a patriotic Anglophile after living in England. As a citizen of both the united states and England, its a bit different of a perspective.
As far as presidents go, neither candidate for the last election was a good choice, so dont worry about that can of worms. I dont have a problem with Harry fighting per se, but the timing of it is awful, especially given that most Brits dont support the war anymore.
Hug a musician, they never get to dance.
i seem to remember learning of a time when it was the kings of countries who lead them into war and fought along side the others. i think that's honorable.
At least he's fighting at all. It's his choice, he knows what he is getting in to.
Its not actually his choice. It is what he wanted, but its not his decision. The time of kings leading their country to war has long past, but not because the kings got less honourable. Everyone knows that royals in England are nothing more than a figurehead, unfortunately.
Hug a musician, they never get to dance.
No way;
I think it shows tremendous leadership that he's going. Good for him! I'm sure his family would be proud.
Figurehead or not, keeping him from the battlelines would have sent the wrong message. Additionally, it would have wasted his years in school and training for combat.
I find it amazing that we bitch and moan that our own President isn't directly sending his offspring onto the battlelines, but then we'll scoff at another country for doing so.
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/fanaile-essence
For the record, I never suggested anyone in our president's family should go to war. Maybe not in Bush's case, but in the case of a more popular president it would be a huge crusher to the country if anything were to happen.
Hug a musician, they never get to dance.
> How is this going to be a good idea? Okay yes its a
> statement that just because hes a prince he is the same as \
> everybody else. But, IF something were to happen to him?
> If he were to be killed? What would that do to the already
> struggling morale of the English? And, exactly 10 years
> after his mother's tragic death?
On the one hand, these are the questions that any family has to ask itself before sending their childrent into harms way in the armed forces. I think it says a lot about the young prince that he is willing to risk his life alongside his subjects (even if the crown he may one day wear is just symbolic).
As for what would happen if he were killed? Lets just say I pity the terrorists who manage to kill a member of the British Royal Family. The Brits are nealy as wishy-washy as we are when it comes to good old-fashioned vengeance.
percivale
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Arthur: Which is the greatest quality of knighthood?
Merlin: Truth. That's it. Yes. It must be truth, above all. When a man lies, he murders some part of the world.
(From John Boorman's Excalibur)
I agree that any family has to ask these questions before sending children to war, but in this case, they have an entire country to consider in the decision.
As far as vengeance towards terrorists, I feel the Brits are far more efficient than we are. Remember 7/7/05? Those 5 men were recently convicted and given life sentences--less than 2 years later. Where are we on Osama, al-qaeda, any of our fool's errands that we've sent ourselves on?
Hug a musician, they never get to dance.
That is very unfortune. I believe that those people are in denial and don't want to acknowledge the problem. How unfortunate....
Thank you for the nice comment! It is very nice to know that someone else thinks of the movie as I do.
TCHO