Princes and Swastikas

[kenny]

Hail CompanionsI'M British and over here were have a parasitical freeloading out of date Royal Family.and theres a member of this Family called Harry.Anyway this so called prince is 20 years old and just recently thought it a good idea to go to a fancy dress party dressed as a Nazi,, I mean you couldnt make it up,,, And this same guy is going to Sandhurst to become an officer in the British army,,, Never forget what Napoleon said about British Soldiers Lions lead by sheep.Anyway my point and relevence to Alexander is that his excuse mongers said hay hes 20 and only a kid,, Compare to Alexanders 20m years already a victorious general and now king getting ready to invade Asia.Alexander and Philip true kings and leaders of men compared to regal families of today,, people of inherited wealth and titles without merit who fleece the sheep they are supposed to realm over.RegardsKenny

[ruthaki]

You're right there, Kenny!

[lucian]

Yeah, you got a point. But then we are living longer, and the price we pay is that at times we're not expected to grow up fast. By age 15 most man in ancient and medieval times were already married with children. There was such a thing as a "youth" but not a teenager, and although Harry is 20, do we really expect much from him other than look nice and act appropiately? He's not gonna be king, so I suppose in his mind he can mess up how many times he wants...he is rich afterall. Or may he wants attention.

[Nax]

Uhm, I think its safe to say that only in SOME cultures men are still allowed to be boys at 20, cuz even today, acting like a kid after the age of 12 is a luxury a lot of nations can't afford and don't approve of. So they're more in line with Alexander's world

[marcus]

Of course, Kenny, at the age of around 25/26, Alexander started wearing Persian dress, the regalia of their recent enemy. This action angered the Daily Mail readers within his council, much as Prince Harry's lapse of common sense (as most of us see it) has brought the UK's Daily Mail readers out in their droves.(I'm not defending Harry, and I certainly don't agree with the "he's only 20" rubbish - by the age of 20 everyone should have learned a modicum of common sense. I have to say, however, that I don't see what on earth it's got to do with his proposed entry to Sandhurst. Whether or not he should know better, the fact is that a lot of 20 year olds do a lot of very stupid things; but that doesn't mean they can't knuckle down when it's required of them.)All the bestMarcus

[jan]

You have a good point there, Marcus. Maybe Prince Harry is getting too much bad press on this subject, but I do see how your mind thinks now. That is something to think about realizing that some of the Macedonians probably did feel that way too. After all, isn't it a bit ambivalent to burn down a room out of revenge while wearing the clothing of the Persian kings. I really liked that thought, Marcus.As for Prince Harry, his Aunt Fergie is defending him. She made an appearance here in Arizona and I took a liking to her. I saw her in person, and I admire her for sticking up for Prince Harry.Sorry, Kenny, but I just can't get too upset about the private party. I would have killed the story and nobody would have had it to discuss at all. I think the aged queen deserves a break from her errant grandchildren.

[kenny]

Janet and MarcusWith due respect how do you compare a regal king wearing customary clothes as respect to his peoples.To a complete spoon fed idiot getting aled up with his high classed pompous mates all sharing the one brian cell,,, To attend a fancy dress party as a Nazi.I made reference to his age as his backside lickers used his young age as an excuse,,, Fergie well a fallen Royal,, whos only way to make a living is peddling her past contacts in the USA.Where it not for what they were no oner would bat an eye or know anything about them.Kenny

[Linda]

I think in a lot of cultures through the ages rich spoiled young men act with a lack of sensitivity to other people. Harry has no purpose in his life, and hasn't got the intelligence or need to be any different from his rich spoiled friends. I bet in Athens in 400BC there were a lot of rich spoiled young men who caused trouble, upset respectable citizens, mocked the gods...Actually, I thought the actor who played young Alexander was physically very like the busts of Alexander, except he reminded me occasionally of someone - Prince Harry.... that put me off..

[jan]

HI Kenny, For awhile this was discussed on several talk shows here in the USA, and one thing that came out was that it was the only costume that fit him. He and Prince William had looked for costumes to wear, and Harry had a problem as this was his only choice. Apparently, the theme of the party was to wear offensive garments, so in that sense it was appropriate. That is the problem with taking things out of context and jumping to conclusions! He did not intentionally try to offend! He did not think that any but the partygoers would see him. Give him a break! I had students in my class draw swastikas all the time, and even salute me, and do a goose step and call me Hitler! That is kidstuff! They did the same to Ronald Reagan! Called him HItler! It is a stage, a phase...I just thought of Dave Phillips when I heard about it and wondered what kind of message it is that Prince Harry was trying to send. As it turned out, no message, just a size problem in finding clothes to fit! I was once accused on running my classrooms like a military operation...the kids loved me for it! I have all kinds of proof of that in the many signatures in my yearbook and their remarks! Kids like to have fun and get you going. You learn to live with it! Such is life here in the USA. Nazi swaztikas are quite common anymore as none of today's children ever had to live through the real thing, and it is all meaningless to them!

[marcus]

Hi Kenny,I was being slightly facetious, but consider what the Greeks and Macedonians thought of Alexander's adoption of Persian dress. Respect for the Persian subjects or not, they didn't like it.Actually, what worried me more about Prince Harry's gaffe, was that he should think a Nazi uniform appropriate for a party entitled "colonials and natives". It doesn't really seem to fit the theme, in my opinion.Still, there you go.All the bestMarcus

[beausefaless]

Greetings Marcus,When I was young kid (around 1950) my great aunt from Germany came to the US and barely spoke English. To play a joke I would lay my hair to the side place a black comb under my nose and march back and forth kicking my legs straight foward with my right arm in the air saying "Aufmerksamkeit eine zwei drei." Then my aunt would vigorously reply; Kein Hitler war verr++ckt und kein gutes! Translated: No Hitler was crazy and no good! Like I said I was six or seven at the time maybe the young prince is 20 going on 7, just *joking.* I remember John Lennon took a photo of himself with a toilet seat around his neck and he thought that was hilarious. To each his own. I agree with you, no big deal it's all in fun, isn't it?All the best Andrew

[amyntoros]

Whoah! I want to back up for a minute here. The public is so concerned (and rightly so) about Harry's costume, but hasn't anyone questioned the propriety of a member of the royal family being present at a party themed as "colonials and natives"?What on earth were they thinking? Colonials and natives, indeed. I shudder to think what some of the other costumes must have looked like. And people I know here in New York wonder why I don't express any interest in the royal family. Sheesh.Best regards,Linda Ann

[amyntoros]

I seem to be following you around the forum today, Marcus. People might be beginning to think I'm a stalker!

[marcus]

Oh don't worry - the whole issue of the theme of the party has been thrown around almost as much (but not quite). What I found quite interesting was that the shop where he got his costume is in the next door village to Stroud, where I now live. I wouldn't have expected a shop in Nailsworth even to *stock* a Nazi uniform - I mean, you can't get Achaemenid tiaras there! It was in a pub just outside the same village where Harry was caught drunk and stoned, when he was about 15. I tell you, if you want to misbehave, then you're in the very best company in Gloucestershire.Anyway, let's move on - this is hardly relevant to Alexander! :-)All the bestMarcus

[Linda]

Ah - don't move on before I tell you my theory, that he was being ironic, and he was representing the colonial power in the UK if the Nazis had won..Hmm