The Tsunami in South East Asia (Reactions of the Swedish Royals)

[Dennism]

Originally Posted by Lyle

Hopefully we'll hear something soon, and our worst fears of a selfish Victoria will be proved wrong.

Yes, let´s hope so.

[hrhcp]

Originally Posted by grecka

most Americans don't hear much on the events

why do you think this is so ?

[StefanievonRantzau]

Originally Posted by grecka

I hate to say it, but here in America it's as though no one cares. Today at New Year's dinner, my family did not speak a word about the tsunami and President Bush, though fortright in his assertions of aide, has not mentioned it much. Aside from news reports, I think, most Americans don't hear much on the events in Southeast Asia and aren't thinking of it much.

My own experience thus far has been that the tsunami disaster & subsequent relief effort have been the dominant topics in my state. Apart from the continuous coverage provided by the media, international aid organizations headquartered in my state have received an enormous outpouring of assistance from individuals, local organizations and churches. Aid collection centers have been established. Prayer vigils & moments of silence have been held. I can only conclude that my own community, and indeed my entire state, cares greatly about the terrible events in Southeast Asia and will try to do as much as possible.

I am troubled by CP Victoria's absence. I hope that her absence is not due to a medical issue or some other equally urgent reason.

[rere]

I also agree that this situation reflects poorly on CP Victoria. However, I believe, she is mourning right along side her countrymen. In America, our president (Bush) is facing criticisms for his initial reactions to the tsunami disaster. I think that just like him, Victoria, will show her leadership skills when she emerges. I don't think it's fair to call her selfish without all of the facts. There could be a reason (plane delay, deciding her future with Daniel) for her absence at the fundraiser. Victoria appears caring, very sincere during the two times I watched her and other people. The actions of her father is the best example for one who's still learning how to one day be a good ruler.

These photos of Hannes Bergstroem with his father brought tears to my eyes.
1. 18-month-old Hannes Bergstroem has been reunited with his father Marko Karkkainen.
2. Two-year-old Swedish boy Hannes Bergstroem, right, is reunited with his father Marko Karkkainen, in a Phuket hospital, Thailand, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004 in this image made from television. Hannes was found alone in the wasteland of a tsunami-hit resort island in Khao Lak, southern Thailand.

[machievelli]

I'm pleased that Carl Phillip and Madeleine made their presence known with their parents. It's nice to see them pulling their weight and showing compassion during this tragedy. It's a bloody shame that Victoria has chosen not to do the same for the time being. She's the Crown Princess and should have done better. It's disappointing and is not good form at all. But the King, Queen, Carl Phillip, and Madeleine have done some good.

[susan alicia]

I do not know a lot about this royal family but had the impression that she has a sterling reputation uptill now.

mere speculation on my part:
she is not allowed to marry her boyfriend.
she is allowed but he does not want to.
she is considering giving it all up and becoming a commoner.

anything short of an enormous personal crisis, it is too strange to think that she is crying in a corner about the victems and does not think about the sorrows of others first and foremost and supporting them by her visible presence

[Yennie]

”Sorg var tabu på den tiden”
Kungen pratade om att mista någon nära


Kungen var bara nio månader gammal när hans far omkom i en flygkrasch.
Först i skolåldern fick han chockbeskedet.
-Det var tabu att
tala om sorg på den
tiden, berättade kungen under SVT:s insamlingsgala.
Kungaparet besökte kriscentret för drabbade på Arlanda i torsdags. Kungen berördes starkt av de återvändande barnens öden.
-Vi träffade två pojkar, åtta-nio år, som mist båda sina föräldrar. Det var väldigt starkt. Då kommer tankar tillbaka och funderingar, berättade han för programledaren Claes Elfsberg under SVT:s insamlingsgala i går kväll.

Pappan dog i krasch
Den 26 januari 1947 omkom hans egen far, prins Gustaf Adolf, tillsammans med 22 andra vid en flygkrasch utanför Köpenhamn.
Då var kungen knappt nio månader gammal.
Men det tog lång tid innan familjen gav honom beskedet.
-På den tiden bearbetade man ju inte sorg på samma sätt som man gör i dag. Det var tabu. Det var ingen som talade om det, säger kungen och fortsätter:
-Jag visste inte förrän jag var fem-sex år eller mer, att jag haft en far, så när jag lekte tillsammans med mina kamrater så kallade jag deras föräldrar för pappa.
Kungens egna erfarenheter är att drabbade barn ska få svar på sina frågor om nära och kära.
-Man ska tala försiktigt när de är mogna. Man ser att de frågar. Man ser ju i ögonen när de behöver någonting.

Viktigt att minnas
Han menar att det också är viktigt att hålla de dödas minne vid liv i stället för att bara försöka glömma.
-Framför allt tala om hur föräldrarna, de som gått bort, hur de var. Hur mycket de älskade sina barn. Hur de var som personer, vilka jobb de hade, hur deras karaktär var och så vidare. Det tror jag är oerhört viktigt för att man ska kunna bearbeta det här för framtiden, säger kungen.
Han berättade också i SVT att han försökt nå den thailändske kungen Bhumibol Adulyadej, som själv förlorat anhöriga i katastrofen, utan att lyckats.
-Det är också en tragedi om något, att mista ett barnbarn, sa kungen som tänker göra nya försök att få tag i sin thailändske kollega och vän.

http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyhete...583205,00.html

[Yennie]

I missed the royal family on TV yesterday, both on SVT and Tv 4....
Does anyone have a link to or a saved clip of the interviews?

[mixer2002de]

Originally Posted by hrhcp

Either she's over there .... getting a spectacular photo-shoot done, or she's in the process of getting pregnant ...

I think this was a rather unappropiate comment of yours.

[Alexandria]

Originally Posted by grecka

Aside from news reports, I think, most Americans don't hear much on the events in Southeast Asia and aren't thinking of it much. Therefore, I think Victoria isn't really acting outside the norm or in deriliction of her duties in remaining silent, but is rather acting as many other Westerners in response to hearing of the tragedy- some sorrow, yet a measure of ambivalence.

I live in Ontario, Canada and I cannot pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV and not hear about this tragedy. And by comparison to the four or five thousand Sweden is missing, Canada is missing about 150 people, with 5 confirmed dead (as of Saturday's Globe and Mail). All-news channels have this tragedy covered wall to wall and even during other shows, the news breaks between commercials lead off with stories about this tragedy.

If the coverage of this tragedy is so vast for a nation that is missing "only" 150 people I cannot imagine what the coverage in Sweden must be for a nation that has been so severely hard hit by this tragedy with the number of tourists in the area at the time. And purely by that fact, I cannot imagine that there would be any ambivalence by anyone in Sweden at this time. But even here in Canada, from everyone I've talked to, there has been no ambivalence about this tragedy for which the magnitude and the devastation is clearly understood.

I read on the Scandinavian Royals MB that Sweden is a relatively small nation population wise, of roughly nine million. And to be missing 4,500 people is like for larger sized nations to be missing 110,000 people. I don't know how accurate those numbers are but in the least those 4,500 Swedes are someone's son, daughter, mother, father, sister, brother, friend, colleague, and for those people the loss must be devastating.

For the future Queen of Sweden to be ambivalent at this time is unacceptable and severely lacking in understanding of what and how this tragedy has impacted the people of her nation.

[Emily]

Grecka - I want to respond to your statement only because I am involved with people who are not only discussing, but are actively helping to get food to the Tsunami victims. It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that our "President" hasn't gotten more deeply involved sooner, but I don't want his lax actions to reflect the people of our country who care and are hard at work trying to help. I, also, am surprised that Victoria is not more actively involved and I hope her reason is sound.

[Alexandria]

Originally Posted by rere

I don't think it's fair to call her selfish without all of the facts. There could be a reason (plane delay, deciding her future with Daniel) for her absence at the fundraiser. Victoria appears caring, very sincere during the two times I watched her and other people. The actions of her father is the best example for one who's still learning how to one day be a good ruler.

In a post by Lena above, with excerpts from an Expressen-article, the Royal Court has stated that Victoria is on a "personal trip abroad." So no plane delay. And as for deciding her future with Daniel, I think that could be put on hold for a few days, or even a few hours here and there while Victoria makes apperances alongside her parents and siblings to show her support for her fellow citizens. Quite frankly, if deciding her future with Daniel can't wait a few hours here and there or a few days, then they don't have much of a future.

The fact that Victoria has always appeared to be a caring and considerate individual is why I'm extra disappointed by her lack of appearance durinig this crises. She has never been an individual who was publicly aloof or distant, but someone who strived hard to do a good job for her country and who tried to connect with the individuals she came into contact with. But now, at a time when her country is so devstated she can't show her face and is instead on a "personal trip" abroad is truly disappointing and a major let down. It makes me think that when she is Queen and other crises arise Victoria will not be an effective leader, or at least be able to recognize when leaders are needed.

[laduchesse]

I agree that CP Victoria's absence and lack of public show of support doesn't look well; however, we do not know the exact circumstances of her absence, nor do we know of her exact whereabouts. Up until last week, many people had a lot of good things to say about Victoria - i.e., she is a thoughtful, caring, sincere person,who understood her roles and responsibilities. I would like to think her heart is going out to all of those affected by the tsunami. It's easy to jump to conclusions, but perhaps we should give her the benefit of the doubt until we know all the details first.

[GrandDuchess]

Originally Posted by rere

I think that just like him, Victoria, will show her leadership skills when she emerges. There could be a reason (plane delay, deciding her future with Daniel) for her absence at the fundraiser.

There's been 1 week now since the catastrophe took place, and Sweden has been in shock and mourning for almost as long - ever since it emerged how serious it was. When do you mean she should appear? The King should've demanded her home the day after it happened, basta!

Just as the Royal Court and people on this forum has said, Victoria is on a personal trip abroad – and there are absolutely no excuses for her being so at this time of national mourning in Sweden. A plane delay, are you serious? So you mean there have been a constant plane delays for all flights out of where she is for one week (private and public aviation)? That’s impossible. She should’ve taken the first regular flight home, or then chartered a plane or the Government could’ve sent one of theirs.

And as for deciding her future with Daniel – do you seriously mean that this has to be done abroad during Sweden’s worst catastrophe in modern history for 24 hours a day? Victoria and Daniel has all the time in the world to decide this, it doesn’t have to be done 24 hours a day during these tragic and sad times.

This is a time when we want to see our Head of State/the King and the Royal Family out showing support, sympathy and grief for and with the people. I’m very grateful for the wonderful things our King and Queen are doing at this time, and it was also very nice to see two of the royal children make and appearance and show their emotions to the very emotional Swedes now.

It’s rock bottom rotten of Crown Princess Victoria, the future Head of State for Sweden to be abroad a times like these.

[hrhcp]

Originally Posted by GrandDuchess

There's been 1 week now since the catastrophe took place, and Sweden has been in shock and mourning for almost as long -

It’s rock bottom rotten of Crown Princess Victoria, the future Head of State for Sweden to be abroad a times like these.

I can't but help think of the analogy of the bad press issue that Carl Gustav had with his comments about Brunei.

Both of these issues I am inclined to believe include the deft handling of their advisors

Given the involvement of some politico's of wanting to have a republic ... where does that leave public sentiment ?

[Ennyllorac]

It truly is a shame that the Crown princess has not made an appearance. There has to be more to the story than just being abroad. I would hate to think that she is being so irresponsible with her duties. Has the Swedish press made comments of her absence?

[Dennism]

" The article further tells, that Madeleine started to cry, when she left the TV-studio."

So sad. A good opinion of her from me continues to grow. As for Victoria, Her reputation has indeed been sterling. I am saddened to read all of your comments. But also I am saddened by the fact that I agree with most of the comments made these last couple of days.

"The fact that Victoria has always appeared to be a caring and considerate individual is why I'm extra disappointed by her lack of appearance durinig this crises. She has never been an individual who was publicly aloof or distant, but someone who strived hard to do a good job for her country and who tried to connect with the individuals she came into contact with."

Well said and unfortunately, all of the actions or inactions of the last couple of days seem to be uncharacteristic.

"It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that our "President" hasn't gotten more deeply involved sooner, but I don't want his lax actions to reflect the people of our country who care and are hard at work trying to help."

Well said, Emily. I hear stories of Sri Lanka of communities working together in harmony to clear up the debris and to provide help for others long before the governments and aid agencies reached the villages. I´m sure this was true in other countries as well.