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February 19, 2007

Prince Harry's Canned War

When I read that Prince Harry will have special protections to keep him safe as he goes off to war, I am reminded of those canned hunts, where the wealthy can go in and be guaranteed a kill of a trophy animal, but they don't have to actually hunt it, gut it, skin it, or take it to the butcher. When the mount comes back from the taxidermist, they can hang it proudly on the wall and brag to all their friends about what a mighty hunter they are. Meanwhile, the real men may hunt for years, sometimes climbing and hiking for hours a day in all sorts of weather, and never find such an animal, let alone have a shot at one. When they do kill an animal, it is for food, not just a trophy. They personally gut it and carry it out on their own backs, sometimes for miles, and prepare it for the butcher.

Harry will someday be able to inspire younger men to follow his leadership because he will have the credentials of having "fought" in a war, and maybe to some that inspiration makes the lie worthwhile. He will come home a hero, without having ever actually risked his life for his country. The dishonesty of it disgusts me. People will applaud him because they will believe he understands the fears and sacrifices of the common man, but he will never understand them.

Posted by Becky at February 19, 2007 09:48 AM