No malice in Princes' words
REGARDING the furore concerning the so-called racist remarks uttered by Prince Harry and Prince Charles.
During the first six weeks of my National Service in June/July 1946, with the Seaforth Highlands at Fort George, in our platoon of about 30 squaddies, two of us were not Scots – myself from South Shields and a lad from Whitburn.
We were addressed as Geordies, which we happily accepted. There are other nicknames attributed to various people and nationalities – Welshmen are known as Taffy, Irishmen as Paddy, Cockneys instead of Londoners etc.
Any Scotsman away from his own environment would be Jock. Aside from nationalities, a tall man would be known as Lofty or Shorty and, rather cruelly, during our school days, a boy with a walking problem would be known as 'Limpy'.
There are so many other nicknames attributed to people in various parts of the country, so why do some people take umbrage when a nickname is used without malice? It's just ridiculous.
I think the remarks made by the two Princes have been totally taken out of context and I'm surprised the Army authorities and Gordon Brown have voiced their objections to the Princes' actions.
No doubt the perpetrator who sent the video to the News Of The World will be laughing all the way to the bank when he deposits the cheque for a five-figure sum.
Dennis Wright,
South Eldon Street,
South Shields.
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Weather for South Shields
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
