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Why Is There So much Fuss In Britain Over the Use of the Word ‘Paki’ By Prince Harry? Is the Word Paki Really Offensive?

Few days ago it was revealed that Prince Harry had called one of his cadet friends at Sandhurst academy a “Paki” by saying that “I have a Paki Friend as well”.
Now being a Pakistani who lives in UK, I have always been amazed by the sensitivity shown by the whites and the browns over the use of this word when in Pakistan itself slogans like “Paki Power” , “proud to be Paki” and “don’t mess with the Pakis” are frequently used during cricket matches played in Pakistan.
The word Paki was first used as a short form for Pakistani when many immigrants arrived in the UK from Pakistan in the early 60s. Then later on it was started to be used for all brown people (immigrants from all of the subcontinent and from Uganda and Kenya).
I can understated the unease of the Indians at being called Paki when clearly they are not from Pakistan but I cannot understand it when people from Pakistan start oos and aws at being called or referred to as Pakis.
People from Afghanistan are Afghanis, not Afghanistanis, people from Tajikistan are Tajiks; not Tajikistanis, people from Uzbekistan are Uzbeks; not Uzbekistanis so why the people of Pakistan are Pakistanis and not Pakis.
What I am trying to say is this, any word can be used as offensive if people for whom it is intended take offense. Paki is not an offensive word and must not be added into dictionary as such.
I look forward to hearing your comments.
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Comments

  1. Anonymous19 January 2009 at 15:46

    Paki is definately offensive for Muslims who are not from pakistan, who wants to get related to a failed terrorist state

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous20 January 2009 at 12:42

    Why would Muslims who are not from Pakistan be called paki???? My personal opinion...its not offensive if one 'paki' uses it for another 'paki.' However, if the purpose of using it is to label them or discrimminate against them, then ofcourse its offensive....

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  3. Anonymous29 January 2009 at 17:05

    Very unique post. Yes Paki is a short form for a native from Pakistan but in Britain it is also used as a offensive term for south asians. While MAY be ok to use this word elsewhere in the world in Britain it is considered offensive. Check the following link.
    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4SPDA_enIN310IN310&defl=en&q=define:Paki&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

    P.S, I will however not be surprised if after Prince Harry's video tape, the work Paki may be considered derrogatory across the world.

    ReplyDelete

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