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INCE the age of eight, Prince Harry has
wanted to serve in the army. After entering
the army, he publicly said he would quit the
army if he was stopped from serving in the
frontline.
Originally, Prince Harry and his regiment was to
be deployed to Iraq (伊拉克). Rather unexpectedly, the
British Army later reversed course and announced
the prince would not be sent to Iraq for his and the
regiment’s safety.
Considering the safety of the people around him,
the prince could only leave his personal wishes aside
for the time being. Do you think this is a correct
decision? If realising your wish will bring misery to
others, what will you do?
S
RULES
Personal Development and
Human Relationship
Think about it
Dream to join the army
1) As a British prince, what ambitions does Harry have? Why has he
not yet been able to realise his dreams?
2) Do you think the British Defence Ministry decision in not sending
Prince Harry to Iraq is correct? What effect will the decision have
on Harry, the army and the British?
A rebellious prince
3) Why was Prince Harry called a “rebellious” bad boy? Do you think
he is a reckless youngster? Why?
BREAKING
BREAKING
RULES
Thursday, June 7, 2007
4) Some say “being rebellious is happiness plus freedom”. Do you
agree? Have you ever been rebellious doing something for your
own happiness and freedom?
Class discussion
5) If you were a Defence Ministry official, will you support sending
Prince Harry to Iraq?
6) Do you agree with the British government stopping the media
from reporting about Prince Harry in the army?
7) Do you have ambitions? What will it cost you to realise your
ambitions? Will it affect others? If yes, by what criteria will you
choose your course of action?
The price of royalty ... that’s what Prince Harry is paying, writes Janet Wong
Translated by Anvil Ong
Class vote
News extracts
E06
PRINCE Harry, the third in line to the British
throne, has always been regarded as a “rebellious”
bad boy. The media is keen on reporting him lingering in bars and clubs, smoking marijuana (大麻)
and cheating in exams, which has been a headache
to the royal family.
In middle school, compared to his brother
Prince William (威廉王子), he was a bit behind. But
his stubbornness in trying to realise his ambitions
has earned him much respect.
Harry has always wished to serve in the army.
But when he graduated from Eton College (伊頓公
學 ) , his grades were not good
enough to grant him admission to
the Royal Military Academy
Sandhurst (桑赫斯特皇家軍事學
院). In order to get into the elite
military school, 18-year-old
Harry worked very hard with
strong determination. He
finally qualified for the academy with two A-levels.
In February, the
British
Army
announced that
Prince Harry would
be deployed to
the frontline in
Iraq in May. Earlier, on his 21st
birthday,
the
prince said he
would like to be
treated like an
ordinary soldier.
He had even sug-
Prince Harry’s diary
gested if he could not serve in the frontline, he
would rather quit the army.
The media took great interest in the prince’s
safety in Iraq. At the same time, Iraqi insurgents (伊
拉克武裝組織) said they would kidnap (生擒) the
prince, claiming the prince’s photos have been
downloaded and distributed to their members. The
prince would certainly be the main target of Iraqi
insurgents if he were in Iraq.
According to a Daily Mail (《每日郵報》) report,
British police responsible for protecting the prince
have been sent to Iraq to make preparations. However, the Defence Ministry (國防部) announced
on 16 May the prince would not be sent to
Iraq. The reason was that the prince will
become a “bullet magnet” raising
the risk of others disproportionately
(不成比例地).
The prince was
very disappointed with
the news and was so
unhappy he almost cried.
But later he said he fully
understood the decision
and would not quit the
army.
According to recent tabloid
reports, the Defence Ministry has
another plan to send Prince Harry to
Afghanistan (阿富汗) to help deal with Teleban extremists (塔利班激進分子). But some
reports say the army has some reservation on the plan.
1984: born on 15 September.
1998: entered Eton College, performed
badly and was
often under media
attack.
2001: reported by the British World
News Journal as holding a marijuana party in
his father’s home and later sent to receive
rehabilitation.
2004: went with his brother Prince William to a
nightclub in May, got drunk and allegedly
indecently assaulted a nude model.
2004: in October, the prince’s art teacher said she
was told by the school to write text for
Harry’s art coursework, earning him a “B”
grade in art.
2004: attacked a reporter while leaving a nightclub
early in the morning.
2005: entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Sun showed him in a Nazi costume for a party, which drew international
flak.
2005: on his birthday, the prince said he did not
want to be sitting at home after graduation
from Sandhurst, while his comrades (同袍)
were fighting for their country.
News chat
Mrs Smith, who lost her son in the Iraqi war
two years ago: “Phillips was my prince but he was
sent to Iraq. Prince Harry would be just another
soldier when in uniform. I feel sorry for Harry,
because his grandma is the Queen and things
become different.”
An intelligence officer (情報官員): “The army and
the royal family both know Harry is not an ordinary soldier. If he were unfortunately kidnapped,
the insurgents would be in control of the situation.
What will Prime Minister Tony Blair do if they
threatened to behead the prince?”
Wife of a British soldier: “If he were to be
exempted from duty, then why enter the army in
the first place? Is the prince to be sent to safe
places and do simple jobs only, while others have
to take the risk of losing their lives or limbs?”
Netizen 707: “I respect the prince’s fearless spirit,
but his presence in Iraq will greatly increase the
risk on his regiment. So his wish is only a selfish
dream that will only bring misery to others.”
An ex-pilot of the Royal Air Force: “A soldier not
serving in the frontline is just like a firemen not
being able to fight fire. It’s meaningless to stay.”
Defence analyst Tim Ripley (國防分析家里普利):
“Harry would always be a victim of his own status.
Unless his lifestyle becomes more low profile, or
gains some kind of anonymity (隱姓埋名), he will
not be able to shake off his celebrity status.”
Iraqi Shiite member
(伊拉克什葉派成員):
“We are
ready to cut Prince Harry’s ears off and send them
to the Queen.”
Sainsbury Bishop David (聖斯伯利主教大衛): “Harry
is the third in line to the British throne. Sending
him to Iraq will damage the neutral position of the
British, making people think the British support
sending troops to Iraq.”
Ex-foreign minister Douglas Hurd (前外交大臣韓達
德): “Making the choice to be in the army means
making the choice to take risks. The army should
not be announcing where Harry is going and the
media should stop all related reports too.”
I THINK Prince Harry’s decision not to go to Iraq is:
1) rational, because of threats of Iraqi insurgents.
2) against his wishes and he should quit the army.
3) a mature act, taking into consideration the safety of others.
4) disappointing, as he is willing to fight for his country.
References
Prince Harry
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3763132.stm
The Prince of Wales
http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/personalprofiles/princeharry/
Father of a soldier killed in Iraq: “Harry’s military life has come to an end because he could not
keep his position. I thought he was a good soldier, a
good leader. But a good soldier does not choose
where he is to be deployed.”
Special Defence Ministry committee (國防特別委
“All decisions have to be made in the interest
of the army.”
員會):
Prince Harry’s friend: “Harry says he is not
afraid to die, because of his own mother’s tragic
death, but he is very afraid for the soldiers fighting
with him. He thinks that because he is so high profile, one of his men may end up being captured and
held to ransom or even killed because of him.
That’s something he couldn’t bear and knows he
would be held to account for it for the rest of his
life. He also fears the brickbats that he knows will
be thrown at him about not being up to the job if
one of the men under him is injured or killed.”
E07