Travel0 min ago
Why was this allowed to take place?
15 Answers
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1 193742/Sacha-Baron-Cohen-marches-camp-Queens-g uards-hot-pants-London-premiere-Bruno.html
After watching that glorious spectacle that took place on Horse Guards Parade on Saturday, I was appalled today to see these disgustingly offensive pictures of effeminate men parading in Bear Skins and Hot Pants through the streets of London.
Compare these individuals with all those brave and courageous 'real' Guardsmen on Saturday, some who have took part in many tours of the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. Many that are just fresh from their initial training at Catterick, and soon to be serving in Afghanistan, and others that are already on the front line there.
Stage promotion spectacles if they are thought necessary, but they should never be allowed to insult and disrespect the uniform of our historic Guards regiments in such a way.
After watching that glorious spectacle that took place on Horse Guards Parade on Saturday, I was appalled today to see these disgustingly offensive pictures of effeminate men parading in Bear Skins and Hot Pants through the streets of London.
Compare these individuals with all those brave and courageous 'real' Guardsmen on Saturday, some who have took part in many tours of the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. Many that are just fresh from their initial training at Catterick, and soon to be serving in Afghanistan, and others that are already on the front line there.
Stage promotion spectacles if they are thought necessary, but they should never be allowed to insult and disrespect the uniform of our historic Guards regiments in such a way.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I think our guards are something to be proud of.
So are firemen, policement and nurses. So Barbara Windsor tiptoeing round with her knockers out in the Carry On Films presumably 'disrespects' nurses uniforms. Would you complain about that?
Or is it just the army?
The likes of Peter Cook and Monty Python let us laugh at the likes of army officers, judges and politicians. Are we saying things were better when we more po-faced?
So are firemen, policement and nurses. So Barbara Windsor tiptoeing round with her knockers out in the Carry On Films presumably 'disrespects' nurses uniforms. Would you complain about that?
Or is it just the army?
The likes of Peter Cook and Monty Python let us laugh at the likes of army officers, judges and politicians. Are we saying things were better when we more po-faced?
If you ask members of the armed forces why they joined, many might answer along the lines of "To keep our country free".
A free country must , by definition, permit freedom of expression. 'Free speech' and 'free expression' must include the right to offend. We've already got far too many restrictions on our way of life simply because 'some people might be offended'. That is not sufficient reason for prohibiting any form of behaviour. For example, as a naturist, I should have the right to walk down the street stark naked if I choose to do so. The fact that some people might be offended by my nudity is completely irrelevant. A truly free society is not one where people are protected from offence; it is one where people can be freely offended, without prohibition, throughout every minute of every day.
Chris
A free country must , by definition, permit freedom of expression. 'Free speech' and 'free expression' must include the right to offend. We've already got far too many restrictions on our way of life simply because 'some people might be offended'. That is not sufficient reason for prohibiting any form of behaviour. For example, as a naturist, I should have the right to walk down the street stark naked if I choose to do so. The fact that some people might be offended by my nudity is completely irrelevant. A truly free society is not one where people are protected from offence; it is one where people can be freely offended, without prohibition, throughout every minute of every day.
Chris
Firstly, the Bruno publicity thing wasn't intended as 'disrespectful'. True, I doubt they care if it was, but it was really just 'themed' - the soldiers are an icon of London/Britain, so they used that image the same way they used a Bull suit in Spain.
But even if it was intended as disrespectful, frankly, it's still irrelevant. People have a right to be disrespectful to our forces if that's the view they hold and whether you personally think that's immoral is completely irrelevant. You're forever harping on about what you see as treading on eggshells over offending ethnic minorities - it's no more morally pure to scrap basic freedoms because anyone else (including you) happens to be offended.
But even if it was intended as disrespectful, frankly, it's still irrelevant. People have a right to be disrespectful to our forces if that's the view they hold and whether you personally think that's immoral is completely irrelevant. You're forever harping on about what you see as treading on eggshells over offending ethnic minorities - it's no more morally pure to scrap basic freedoms because anyone else (including you) happens to be offended.