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BS: Prince Philip
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Subject: Prince Philip From: Fiolar Date: 02 Mar 02 - 05:18 AM So Phil the Greek has been shooting his fat mouth off again. His latest pearl of wisdom occurred when he asked some Abroginal dancers "Do you still throw spears at each other?" He was answered by William Brin (Ngoo Nvi) who said "No we don't do that any more." He should have added "only at ignorant white men" but I suppose the chap was too polite. Other gems over the years have included "If you stay here much longer, you'll be slitty eyed" to British students in China (1986). "You managed not to get eaten then?" to a student who had been trekking in New Guinea (1998) and "Deaf? If you are near there, no wonder you are deaf" to young deaf people in Cardiff referring to a school's steel band (1999). His latest statement is excused by saying that "it was taken out of context. B...s! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: gnu Date: 02 Mar 02 - 08:10 AM Recall that he is getting up there in age and may be prone to statements which have little thought behind them. Besides that, imagine the shape of one's mind after that many years of having the easiest job on earth. All he ever really HAD to do was... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: MMario Date: 02 Mar 02 - 10:17 AM crap! 99 out a hundred other people could say those things and no one would think a damn thing about them - except possibly they were trying to make a joke. Or agreeing with them (especially about the band) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: The Walrus Date: 02 Mar 02 - 04:04 PM According to one of the TV news reporters, Phil had been told (by an Aboriginal/Insert pc term here, park ranger/guide) that part of one of the rites of passage to manhood for local tribes had once been to fend off thrown spears using just bare hands. Maybe he was thinking of that? Walrus |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 02 Mar 02 - 05:09 PM He's an equal opportunities offender. For example: To a driving instructor he met during a stroll in Oban, Scotland: "How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to get them past the test?" That's from a site with a collection of his gaffes. (And other peoples.)
I imagine if he'd been at a theme park where there were Scots dressed like Rob Roy waving claymores about ceremonially, he'd have likely asked them if they still used them on rival clans.
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Hrothgar Date: 02 Mar 02 - 08:20 PM It's not just old age. About thirty years ago, he asked the managing director of a knitting company "Are you the head nit?" If anybody else said these things, the worst anybody would think is that maybe they're not quite politically correct. It must be terrible to have his rather laboured sense of humour while occupying the position he does. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: GUEST,Tone d' F up 't North Date: 02 Mar 02 - 09:05 PM Perhaps he's discovered a sub class of Tourettes syndrom tentatively we can call it ooooh... errr... Princes disease in which the sufferer takes fairly harmless words and puts them in the most insulting way possible... Nahh just call it ignorant greek who can get away with it because his wufes queen syndrome |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: JennieG Date: 03 Mar 02 - 01:19 AM I reckon he opens his mouth sometimes just to change feet...... Cheers JennieG who has never seen real live royalty in the flesh - and doesn't care either - |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: GUEST,Boab Date: 03 Mar 02 - 02:02 AM ---a bliddy eejit---- |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Bob Bolton Date: 03 Mar 02 - 02:32 AM G'day all who have just noticed this tendency, I seem to remember singing a song: Royalty, Royalty Shock, set by local Sydney songwriter John Dengate to the old English tune Poverty, Poverty Knock.
This included, inter alia the verse:
Phillip faux pass every week, Not dead accurate (his old passport was Danish ... and he's a Sax Coburg Gotha!) but good fun in its time. Regards, Bob Bolton |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Celtic Soul Date: 03 Mar 02 - 09:31 AM Sheesh...This guy is worse than Dan Quayle! Only problem for you Brits is that you can't vote him out. :::grateful that Dan missed his bid for Republican Presidential candidate::: Danny boy is responsible for the following gem (as well as many others): When speaking to the United Negro College Fund, he said "To lose ones mind is a terrible thing". That's *supposed* to be "A mind is a terrible thing to waste".
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: alanabit Date: 03 Mar 02 - 11:35 AM I can't get too passionate about the witterings of an irrelevant octogenarian... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 03 Mar 02 - 11:37 AM To my mind royalty are just an odd kind of lottery winners. I can't see why people get any more irritated at them than at any other lottery winners. It's not like they had any power. Their role is to make sure that the Thatchers and Blairs never get to be classed as head of state.
Personally I would favour a monarchy in which the head of state was a dog or a horse. The present royals could even stick around as hereditary dog or horse attendants. Who'd notice the difference - the Trooping of the Colour could continue precisely as it is today, which would be fun.
An old bloke pottering around and saying the same sort of things old blokes anywhere are likely to say, not particularly funny, not particularly offensive - and so what if they were anyway? It's the equivalent of those TV programmes of home videos where people keep on falling over - mildly amusing, but hardly worth getting in a tizz over. < The difference with Dan Quayle is that he was only a heartbeat away from being the most powerful man in the world. (Now of course someone of equivalent intellectual stature to Quayle has the job anyway.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Herga Kitty Date: 03 Mar 02 - 11:46 AM I heard the Australian Cultural Attache say on BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House this morning that spearing is a traditional tribal Aboriginal punishment, and has been a big issue in Australia for the last 30 years because of the double jeopardy incurred by people who offend Australian and aboriginal law. She cited a particular case of someone who was released from prison and was then speared on returning home. That's just what I heard on the radio, so if anyone with direct knowledge would like to comment, I'd be interested to hear. Kitty |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Cappuccino Date: 03 Mar 02 - 02:31 PM Our American friends might like to know that one of the politest terms for the Duke of Edinburgh here in England is simply 'Phil the Greek'. According to a report recently, his indiscretions go back right to the early days of being the queen's consort - it was reported that after a few weeks of marriage, he actually told his aides, in the hearing of reporters, that the Queen was 'insatiable'. Queen Elizabeth the First would have had his head off for that... if you'll pardon the expression. - Ian B |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: DougR Date: 03 Mar 02 - 02:33 PM My, my, my. Lighten up folks! If you live long enough, you too, will be an octogenarian! I read that in the paper and thought it was funny. I suspect that is how he intended it to be. Big deal, I say. DougR |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Snuffy Date: 03 Mar 02 - 06:30 PM Kitty, I thought the Australian Cultural Attaché was Sir Les Patterson, but now you tell me it's a woman. Not Dame Edna, perchance. WassaiL! V |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Snuffy Date: 03 Mar 02 - 07:02 PM Kitty, I thought the Australian Cultural Attaché was Sir Les Patterson, but now you tell me it's a woman. Not Dame Edna, perchance. WassaiL! V |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 03 Mar 02 - 07:37 PM Mind there are times when you wonder whether Prince Philip is another Barry Humpreys persona. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Sorcha Date: 03 Mar 02 - 07:39 PM Well, it might make life difficult if your only real function/job was to get the Herself pregnant as many times as possible as quickly as possible. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Blackcatter Date: 03 Mar 02 - 08:31 PM Hey, if you don't like the guy vote him out of office - oh wait. Our own mental midget "Dubbya" is just as bad. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Kenny B (inactive) Date: 03 Mar 02 - 08:47 PM North of Hadrians Wall HRH PP is known as Chookie .... or to give him his, fool or is it full? title "Chookie Embra" *BG* ;>) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 03 Mar 02 - 08:51 PM Be fair Sorcha - not "as many times as possible as quickly as possible", rather "as often as required, when required". The traditional formula for the aristos is supposed to be "an heir and a spare" - in this case they decided two extra spares might be handy. Not a particularly large family.
I still can't see why there should be any more animus towards them than against any other lottery winning family. They carry out the rather strange function that it's been decided they should carry on, as part of the price of the winning lottery ticket.
I suppose they could change the system and have the thing done as a conventional lottery. But I don't think that being Queen would be the first prize - too many hassles compared with just getting the money and buggering off. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Herga Kitty Date: 04 Mar 02 - 02:51 AM Snuffy Although I was expecting to hear Sir Les Patterson, the lady concerned was called Rebecca - and she appeared to be a supporter of the monarchy too! Kitty |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Steve Parkes Date: 04 Mar 02 - 03:34 AM Speaking of BBC Radio 4, was it yesterday morning someone said they're waiting for a tabloid newspaper to refer to Prince Charles as "the millionaire son of a Greek immigrant"? But back to the Immigrant himself: I'm never too impressed when people take offence on behalf of others. It's not as if the native Australians (is that pc?) don't have the gumption to complain themselves if they need to, and I think it smacks of patronising and condescension. If P theG made some not-very-funny wisecrack about Folk singers/musicians, we'd have no problem letting him--and the world--kow what we thought, would we? And if I thought it was actually funny, I'd say so. There are plenty of professional comedians who are genuinely offensive, so we shouldn't be too hard on HRH. Steve |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Cappuccino Date: 04 Mar 02 - 03:57 AM I think that if his remarks actually were funny, we'd all be a lot happier. - Ian B |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: GUEST,Keith A of Hertford at work Date: 04 Mar 02 - 06:00 AM I also heard of the spearing punishment. It reminded me of the song Johnny A Day about an aboriginal who is sentenced to such a punishment. I sometimes sing it because it is a good story but get ridiculed by anyone who remembers it as a Rolf Harris song. Anyone else does it? Back to the point, I sometimes shoot bows and arrows, and once threw javelins. Is it insulting to ask if old skills are perpetuated? Keith. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Nigel Parsons Date: 04 Mar 02 - 06:07 AM "Australian Cultural Attache" isn't that an oxymoron ? or some kind of moron anyway. I thought an attache was a type of case, so the "Senior Australian Cultural Attache" must be a head-case Q.E.D. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 04 Mar 02 - 06:10 AM I gather this happened in a setting where the Australians were in traditional gear, with the spears and firesticks and all.
It was rather as if the old lad had gone along to a Sealed Knot re-enactment and had asked whether the Roundheads and Cavaliers still fired muskets at each other for real. I suppose if he had there might be some people who would say that was disrespectful to the people who died in the English Civil War...
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: greg stephens Date: 04 Mar 02 - 06:28 AM Was there actually any controversy about what the old boy said? Isn't this rather more to do with the fact that Guardian (in company with some other bits of the press) is running a republican campaign these days, and any old stick to beat the monarchy with will do. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Steve Parkes Date: 04 Mar 02 - 07:06 AM I see no one so far has suggested that the "Australian Cultural Attache 'oxymoron'" thing is offfensive or insulting to white Australians. Pots, kettles and the "B" word spring to mind ... Steve |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Rick Fielding Date: 04 Mar 02 - 11:08 AM He REALLY said "the head nit?" Bravo! I can just immagine all the asides I would have muttered, if I'd been forced to walk 10 paces behind the Queen for fifty years! What a lousy job, being a Royal must be. It's not like you can spend all that money doing FUN things! Rick |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: GUEST Date: 04 Mar 02 - 11:17 AM So the Queen is insatiable? I'm so delighted for her - I can see her in a whole new light now. And Prince Philip seems to be a likeable old codger. Long may he say whatever the damn wotsit he likes. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: DougR Date: 04 Mar 02 - 11:49 AM Hear, hear, Guest! DougR |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Steve Parkes Date: 04 Mar 02 - 12:04 PM Insatiable ... reminds me of the old joke from the sixties (which only works in the Midlands and a few other select parts ogf Britain): Q. Why has the queen got so many children? A. Because it says "ER" on her nightie! If I have to explain it, you won't understand it! Steve |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Mrrzy Date: 04 Mar 02 - 12:20 PM So, does the US have their own Prince Philip, or does the UK have their own GWBush? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Melani Date: 04 Mar 02 - 01:30 PM So what else is new? He's always been known for statements like that. Actually, I quite like the "head nit" comment. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Desdemona Date: 04 Mar 02 - 02:47 PM "Insatiable", eh? Perhaps his tactfulness and mental acuity are not the only areas in which he's lacking....?! In truth, this sort of stuff just makes me laugh---Dan Quayle provided us with some excellent fodder, and Dubyah's doing his memory proud; I'm just sorry he has to be the "leader of the free world" instead of having the stand-up gig in perpetuity for which he's sooooo much more qualified! My favourite Quayle-ism: while on a tour of Latin America, he commented on how friendly everyone had been, and only wished he'd "paid more attention in Latin class so he could speak to them in their own language"!!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: alanabit Date: 04 Mar 02 - 03:55 PM Yes - I have always felt that the appeal of Dubya for the Americans is that he seems to embody the intellect of Ronald Reagan combined with the moral authority of Richard Nixon... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 04 Mar 02 - 04:04 PM That site I gave you up there isn't just Prince Philip - it's also got Dan Quayle (and many others).
Rather disappointingly it says the speaking Latin quote didn't actually happen, But here are a few real ones that did.. Just as goofy. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Herga Kitty Date: 04 Mar 02 - 04:11 PM Steve Parkes - I've just caught up with today's posts. As far as I can make out here, most of today's adverse comments were based on previous remarks by their subjects, but Nigel's comments were just based on outdated stereotypes of whom Sir Les Patterson was the epitome. Luckily he was invented by an Australian, as was Dame Edna, so that's alright then... Kitty PS I always thought Phil the Greek was the dishy guy you could buy fish and chips (and other edible stuff) from the White Horse caff in Sidmouth after the pubs closed in Folk Week. PPS Chips = the English, chubby, version of French fries (or deep fried potatos, for all you Dan Quayle fans) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Desdemona Date: 04 Mar 02 - 04:19 PM I'll check that site out---quelle disappointment about the Latin; I've always gotten a warm fuzzy glow picturing Dan earnestly saying things along the lines of "agricola, agricolum...." to some poor confused Brazilian! And I'll check out Phil the Greek's fish & chips this summer, too! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Herga Kitty Date: 04 Mar 02 - 04:33 PM Mc Grath - thanks a lot, that was great fun! Desdemona - good to hear you'll be in Sidmouth this summer (if I've understood you correctly). Kitty |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Desdemona Date: 04 Mar 02 - 04:38 PM I have family in Warwickshire, and we spend a few weeks every August in a combination of visiting family/friends & "mediaevalising" (I work in an arms & armor museum & like to get up to friends & colleagues at Leeds as well). last year we were able to get down to Sidmouth, and had such great fun that I hope to make a repeat visit, and possibly get to Whitby for a bit as well, depending on specifics! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Herga Kitty Date: 04 Mar 02 - 04:45 PM Desdemona, this might be creeping a lot, but hopefully that means you'll get to Warwick festival too. But hey, arguably this whole thread is about creeps .... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Desdemona Date: 04 Mar 02 - 04:55 PM It all depends on various variables, but we shall endeavour to do our best...what are the dates of the Warwick festival, BTW? (Yes, we're creeping, but who really wants to talk about Prince Philip & dan Quayle anymore anyway?!) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Herga Kitty Date: 04 Mar 02 - 05:04 PM Desdemona As far as I know, Warwick festival will be the last weekend in July, ie the weekend before Sidmouth starts. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: Desdemona Date: 04 Mar 02 - 05:08 PM It's a possibility! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: CarolC Date: 04 Mar 02 - 05:10 PM I think these gems deserve to be posted even if they are about Dan Quayle and not Prince Phil. The main difference I see between Dan Quayle and Prince Phil, is that Quayle's misstatements don't appear to belittle whole groups of people as Phil's seem to do. Still, it is a bit scary to think about the fact that Quayle was second in line to be President of the known universe for a while in our recent past...
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."
"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child."
"Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts."
"Mars is essentially in the same orbit . . . Mars is somewhat the same distance from the Sun, which is very important. We have seen pictures where there are canals, we believe, and water. If there is water, that means there is oxygen. If oxygen, that means we can breathe."
"What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is."
"The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I mean in this century's history. But we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century."
"I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change."
"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is 'to be prepared.'"
"Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things."
"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future."
"The future will be better tomorrow."
"We're going to have the best-educated American people in the world."
"People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history."
"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."
"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe."
"I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican."
"I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix."
"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."
"When I have been asked during these last weeks who caused the riots and the killing in L.A., my answer has been direct and simple: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame."
"Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it."
"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
"For NASA, space is still a high priority."
"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children."
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
"[It's] time for the human race to enter the solar system."
---------- These quotes are all true and verifiable. Oh, and for what it's worth, Qualye NEVER said "I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have was that I didn't study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people." (Neither did Gore.) This was a JOKE, which lots of people believed. Quayle doesn't need to have words put in his mouth; he's said enough bonehead things on his own. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Prince Philip From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 04 Mar 02 - 05:13 PM "I work in an arms & armor museum "
Do those swords and spears come in handy for dealing with enemies, Desdemona? As Prince Philip would no doubt ask you. |