Much can be said about Prince Harry's bad taste, poor sense of history, and lacking sense of responsibility, and I will in a minute. But there's something more troubling over the glee with which the press has attached itself to this. I can't imagine that a single editor of the tabloid press was actually unhappy about this incident.
You have to wonder whether the Royal family more regrets the publicity than the actual event, what with all the crap they have to put up with anyway. And you also have to wonder whether the foolish prince (and his brother) will learn the right lesson from all of this.
Because for the future head of state for the United Kingdom, the legacy of World War II isn't limited to a visit to Auschwitz, no matter how much it will (and should) shake them up. In fact, in today's climate, the princes might be tempted to categorize Nazis as someone who primarily hated Jews.
What would Winston Churchill have said? And what would he have done if he had Harry to himself for a half hour? My guess is that Sir Winston would have a) used some naughty words, and "shag" wouldn't have been one of them; and b) he would have kicked Harry's butt, in spite of the age difference.
The point is that Churchill's generation would never dream of making light of the Nazis, and somehow Harry and William's education have failed if they think this kind of stunt is even remotely appropriate. Harry might be a bit of dimwit, but the royals have to face the high probability that his education failed.
So, in addition to a trip to Auschwitz, the boys should also:
- Get caught up on 20th century British history, with a special emphasis on terms like "the Blitz," "Al Alamein," "Market Garden," etc.
- Read some of the more scary books on the nature of Nazism, such as Eichmann in Jerusalem or if Arendt's too highbrow, Apt Pupil by Stephen King.
- Get a tour of London with someone who knows what the destruction was.
- Talk to some of the British, Australian, Canadian, and other Commonwealth veterans who can tell of the hardship
- Read up about their great-grandmother Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who was possibly one of the greatest British heroes of WWII
- And other stuff - it should take a year, and afterwards, they can write an essay for publication in the rags
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