Prince Philip appointment shows severe lack of judgment
Toronto, June 11, 2011 – Citizens for a Canadian Republic is breaking its longstanding policy of avoiding criticism of the British royals by expressing its shock and bewilderment at Prime Minister Harper’s decision to appoint Prince Philip as an honorary admiral and general in the Canadian Armed Forces.
“Generally, we take the stand that it’s Ottawa and not the British Royals that’s the obstacle to head of state reform in Canada,” said CCR spokesperson Tom Freda. “However, on this occasion, we have to ask why someone who has often been referred to as arrogant, racist and sexist deserves such an honour in Canada.”
“This is the same person,” Freda adds, “who, when asked in 1976 what he thought of his tour of Canada, said derisively, “We don’t come here for our health.””
Prince Philip is also on record with the following quotations:
To a British female sea cadet in 2010: “Do you work in a strip club?”
To a British student in China in 1986: “If you stay here much longer, you’ll go home with slitty eyes.”
To Australian aboriginal leader William Brin in 2002: “Do you still throw spears at each other?”
On viewing a fuse box in a Scottish factory said: “It looks as though it was put in by an Indian.”
To Paraguayan dictator General Stroessner: “It’s a pleasure to be in a country that isn’t ruled by its people.”
The prince has even had to defend his and his family’s Nazi ties. In the recently published book “Royals and the Reich,” by historian Jonathan Petropoulos’, a photo is shown of him surrounded by relatives in Nazi SS and Brownshirt uniforms.
Explaining the attraction of the royals to the Nazis, Prince Philip said, “There was a great improvement in things like trains running on time and building.”
“Obviously, a Canadian with these kinds of associations and black marks would not even be in the top 100 of a list of candidates for such an appointment,” adds Freda. “Prime Minister Harper needs to explain to Canadians how honouring questionable British royals coincides with our tolerant values.
Media Release – Prime Minister of Canada – PM announces the appointment of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to the highest ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces
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