Chimene
Courtier
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- Apr 13, 2007
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Whether you agree with Harry receiving the award or not, Pat Tillman's concern that he is too controversial and divisive a figure has certainly borne true when you see the furious discussions taking place, not least in this thread.
For me, I look behind the scrum to peer at the machinations of the PR machines organising these things, and their work is pretty clear.
Apologies, I meant to refer to Pat Tillman's mother!Whether you agree with Harry receiving the award or not, Pat Tillman's concern that he is too controversial and divisive a figure has certainly borne true when you see the furious discussions taking place, not least in this thread.
For me, I look behind the scrum to peer at the machinations of the PR machines organising these things, and their work is pretty clear.
Meghan Markle doesn’t have cachet into anywhere, so it falls on Harry to provide the access required, but he is being devalued by every attempt at grabbing onto relevance. Soon he will no longer be useful. When you have 50,000 in counting signing a petition about your latest stunt, I would say the jig is up. But no, people are now being asked to research the facts before signing… I don’t think you want people to rehash old news because you know… the truth is rather inconvenient.I see that Marcus Rashford received this award a few years ago. I love Marcus Rashford to bits, and think that the award was well-deserved for his work regarding free school dinners - but, as a Premier League and England international footballer, he is neither an unsung hero nor an American, both of which are comments that people have made about Harry. I assume that no-one complained about his winning it, so, as other people have said, it shows what a divisive figure Harry has become.
With respect HenRach, I think you have all the information you need both here and elsewhere, and it is very clear why people are objecting. It really doesn't require further explanation IMO. For example here is a quote from someone else who signed the petition which is being widely circulated:I'm still trying to understand what's wrong with Prince Harry personally receiving an award for his work on the Invictus games.
Is it because philanthropic work shouldn't be celebrated and the work itself should be reward enough? Because there are many people who personally get rewarded for their philanthropic work. Heck, the O.B.E. is routinely giving to such people.
Is it because of his high social-economic status that he shouldn't be rewarded? Because Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Oprah Winfrey, all with much higher social-economic statuses, have been given philanthropic awards before?
Is it because Prince Harry was born a prince of Great Britain and the British Royal Family doesn't receive awards? Not only is that not the case (King Charles for example: List of awards received by Charles III - Wikipedia), Prince Harry represents no one but himself and his projects, so why should he be beholden to that, especially since other family members have won awards before?
Is it because Invictus started while Prince Harry was a working royal? Even the BRF considered Invictus a private patronage of Prince Harry, which is why he got to keep it, so why should great emphasize be put on that point when even the BRF didn't?
Is it because Invictus should have be awarded solely? Unfortunately, not many people know Invictus outside of Prince Harry, and if the organizations wants more eyes, patrons, participants, and donations, why would they hide away their most visible member and not put his name forward when they have no other similarly famous face?
Is it because Prince Harry has been working for himself, his wife, his children, and his personal causes rather than the British people and gets accolades in spite of "backstabbing" the BRF/Great Britain two years ago?
"Pat Tillman sacrificed his life for duty and country! Harry walked away from duty and country & spit on his commander in chief, country, duty & family on his way out."
Ah, but I don't believe PH works hard for Invictus. Other people are doing the hard work for him, and always have done IMO; that's why it should be the Invictus Games as a whole that receives the award.I don't understand this requirement for him to stick with his family, country and duties no matter what that means, or does, to him. It's family and a job not slavery. He felt it wasn't the right place for him and he has the right to feel that way and act on it.
Plenty of people move away from their family and their country and it doesn't negate all the good they do.
I also don't understand why people can't differentiate their feelings for Harry as a person from his hard work for Invictus (for instance).
I neither like nor dislike Charles, but I do recognise he has so much for the environment in the UK. Despite his habit of flying private aircrafts.
Thankfully whether a bunch of people online think Harry is unworthy of this award is moot. ESPN has decided he is and that's all that matters. It's their award, they can give it to whomever they like.
This conversation is going round in circles.
Some of us posters here in Britain have tried to explain what the issue is.
I don't think we should bother anymore. It's a waste of time.
I’m never one to back away from a debate, and I love nothing more than to elaborate and provide context, but yeah, let’s not purposely get this thread closed again.
I don’t know honestly. If ESPN was looking for publicity, well they’ve certainly got it, but I doubt this is the kind of publicity they had in mind.I have to say this couple and their antics can raise the temperature in here at any given moment. Every time I hope for something positive to happen that will help renew their credibility and respect another public relations moment backfires and makes us thing is this for real? How is he even nominated to an award considering his track record and the comments he made about opposing soldiers?
But it's a done deal and he is going to get the award and photo ops and I still hope when he goes on stage the emphasis is about acknowledging the people that made Invictus happen and invited him to be the front person. That, if it happens, will be a kind moment if he gives credit to those putting the hard work to organize these events for the veterans. Would that be too much to ask?
And do I hope Meghan doesn't go on stage with him. Would that be too much to ask?
That is exactly what the RF have done, moved on without Harry.Hey, break-ups happen. They are often very painful, especially if you feel the other person has wronged you and continues to live a decent life while you have to pick up the pieces left behind. You can decide to stay angry and wallow in what they’ve done to you, or you can move on.
Yep. Jake Wood's company Team Rubicon received a $250k grant via Archewell courtesy of one of its donors. So it's a given he's going to sing the praises about PH. To quote Mandy Rice-Davies: "Well he would, wouldn't he?"One word, well really three: quid pro quo.
I have been very critical of the RF in other posts here and elsewhere. In my opinion, what has happened and is currently happening could have been avoided if they hadn’t afraid of whatever.I'm not a fan and never have been and I agree their leaving could have been handled better, but the hate they seem to get is disproportionate to what has happened. And all of it seems to focus on them. People seem to have forgotten the BRF has been called "the most disfunctional family" for a very long time. In the same way I just can't understand why Meghan needs to forgive her "poor, ailing father" when that idiot keeps selling his story to the media.
But to each their own.
What’s sad is he didn’t need an award for relevance then either. I used to like Harry, okay let me be honest, loved the guy, but what I felt back in 2016-2017 was more like disappointment.How very sad that it has come to people arguing about whether Harry deserves an award. Of course, we know now that the palace protected him but I’m just remembering how loved he used to be. And I think that is part of why some people are so hurt and angry with and about him. He is just not who some people (myself included) thought him to be.
If only others had the grace to move on like the Mountbatten-Windsors have.That is exactly what the RF have done, moved on without Harry.
The chair of the foundation, by the way, is Leadership - Marie Tillman | Pat Tillman Foundation, Tillman's widow. Apparently she had no issue with Prince Harry receiving the award, so do you take the side of his mother or the foundation chaired by his widow? I'm guessing confirmation bias will come into play here.ESPN defended its choice of Harry in a statement to TMZ Sports, telling the outlet “ESPN, with the support of the Tillman Foundation, is honoring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, specifically for the work of The Invictus Games Foundation as it celebrates its 10th year promoting healing through the power of sport for military service members and veterans around the world,” a representative for the network said in a statement. “While we understand not everyone will agree with all honorees selected for any award, The Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work, and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating.”
She doesn't. However good their relationship was previously, he sold her out for thousands of dollars and I understand why she has no contact now.I'm not a fan and never have been and I agree their leaving could have been handled better, but the hate they seem to get is disproportionate to what has happened. And all of it seems to focus on them. People seem to have forgotten the BRF has been called "the most disfunctional family" for a very long time. In the same way I just can't understand why Meghan needs to forgive her "poor, ailing father" when that idiot keeps selling his story to the media.
But to each their own.
Yes, I recall that being said in the past. However I don't think it holds true, or as true as it was, today. Leaving aside H&M, and Prince Andrew to a certain extent (although he is still within the family fold), today's BRF seems to me to be a very tight and loving bunch; witness all the friendly and loving familial interactions at Ascot.People seem to have forgotten the BRF has been called "the most disfunctional family" for a very long time.