David @ 13, happy1ga @ 14:
I think we all agree it’s a minefield, and that ‘offence’ is a highly subjective thing – people can take offence when it’s not intended, and not take offensive when it is intended. I’m familiar with blacks using the ‘N’ word in the US, and I’m sure some British Asians do the same. But take it from me, when whites in the UK use the word Paki it’s usually meant as an insult.
Susan @ 12: we’re using the term ‘Asians’ here because that’s who we’re talking about in the context of Harry’s remarks – Asians, not Muslims. The word Paki was used as an insult against all Asians long before Britons had ever heard of bin Laden or suicide bombers. You’re right that the term ‘Asian’ is often employed (eg by the BBC) instead of ‘Muslim’ to avoid causing offence, which rightly angers Hindus, Sikhs etc.
An unfortunate side-effect of the current row is that it enables troublemakers like Mohammed Shafiq to claim to be speaking on behalf of British Asians, when in fact they only represent Muslims, and the more extreme Muslims at that – it gives them a veneer of respectability, which is dangerous.
