The American Spectator

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James Bowman correctly identifies the hypocrisy and self-interest in the press response to the antics of the most of recent of Britain’s dim-witted royals. How long has it been since the popular media have, for the most part, removed themselves from serious comment about society? Is it a dumbing down of society, or just a dumbing down of the media?

The dominant form of comment today is the ellipsis. Prince Harry went to a fancy-dress party tricked out as a sort of Nazi Wehrmacht infantryman; well, we all know what that means … ! Except, in truth, we have very little idea what that means. Mr. Bowman correctly identifies the fact that Harry rented a rather clumsily put-together costume that suggested the Afrika Corps and the Nazi party but which really had no connection to the theme of the event he was attending.

What can we conclude? Harry’s a no-longer-so-secret Nazi admirer/sympathizer (like his great-great-uncle)? He wanted to draw attention to himself? All the drunken Parisian limo driver costumes had been taken? Or perhaps, Harry is so profoundly stupid that he not only couldn’t figure out the party’s theme, but that it still hasn’t dawned on him that the reason he can occupy his life with booze, cigarettes, and fancy-dress parties is because he has a privileged position. And when we set the price of that privilege as low as “don’t wear the symbol of racist, mass-murders,” he still can’t get it right. If Harry had actually written The Producers I’d be prepared to cut him some slack on his Nazi references. But I’m certain he could never understand the play’s rather simple, straightforward conceit — “you can never tell how people will interpret you.”

p>Prince Harry’s role in life is to be a symbol. If he doesn’t like that, he can renounce his title and his claim to the throne and head off to the labor exchange. But the same media that beatified his rather childish, self-centered, and unpleasant mother and subsequently raised her to popular sainthood, will constantly be gunning for him. He’s just too easy a target. So who can blame them? br> — David McGrath br> Calgary, Canada /p> p> James Bowman just doesn’t get it. br> — Dan Mittelman br> Cherry Hill, New Jersey br> /p>