Mabel criticizes President Bush on AIDS; December 2005
 

here's an article from Today's Telegraaf.

http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/2...eert_Bush.html

I will very roughly translate:

At an Aids conference in Amsterdam yesterday Princess Mabel lashed out as President Bush's policies.

She feels the Bush administration's policies harm the fight against HIV/AIDs among drug users and stigmatizes prositutes. The Open Society Institute where she works (headed by George Soros) has filed a law suit against the US government.

She said the US has done all within its power to keep measures to promote clean needles for drug users out of UN documents. despite the fact that clean needles among drug users prevents the spread of HIV/AIDS. Drugs and HIV/AIDS are often related she says. in Russia 80 percent of drug users are HIV positive.

The Open Society law suit has to do with prostitutes. The Bush administration will only fund help organizations that take an explicit stance against prostitution.

"sex workers are the victims of stigma, violence and discrimination," and now " organizations that help these people with money from the US government are required to judge them." she said. Bush's policy led the Brazilian government to refuse a 40 million dollar subsidy this year.

The Open Society hopes that it's lawsuit will lead to courts striking down the antiprositution rule as unconstitutional.

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Ok, I really really DON'T want to start a discussion on Bush and AIDS as that is way too explosive, we'll never agree and besides it's off topic.

My question is: is it appropriate for Mabel to give a speech like this? she's not a member of the royal house. but she is a member of the royal family and closely associated with the dutch head of state.


could she give this speech if parliament had approved her marriage to Friso and she were a member of the royal house carrying out official duties?

I really dont know. tell me what you think.

Wow, that's a though one. I personally feel that it's up to Mabel herself to decide what she can say about topics like this. Let's not forget: she's a very educated and politcally moved lady and I think she surely knows what she is talking of in this kind of matters. Next to that she is not a member of the Royal House anymore, so she lives a much more anonimous life than her sisters-in-law Máxima and Laurentien do and so she never speaks with the voice of the Royal House. I personally find that she could not have done this if she still was a member of the royal house.

Is it wise though? I don't know. Probably not, future will tell. I even think we'll be hearing more of this kind of speeches from her in future. Mabel is a very outspoken lady and I think that she won't let herself be held back by her royal connections or anyone else to speak out her mind and to fight for the causes she stands for...

I think Mabel has been a strong figure since even she wasn't married, so, i don't think a marriage to a royal house will not stop her to fight what she believe in.

I don't think it's a defect, but something we should be proud of.

true, but she's involved a lawsuit against the government of one of the Netherlands most important trading/economic partners.

i'm not sure she could have done that if she were in the royal house. maybe things actually worked out better for her.

as an American (whose civic duty is to question my qovernment at every turn) i applaud Mabel for her views and courage to say them. Bush doesn't care about anybody but his rich cronies and how to help them make more money so make no mistake about it, all she said was TRUE. I applaud and respect her for fighting for her worthwhile, life saving organization. i'm proud of her and hope she keeps on fighting the bad guys.

Independent from Texas

I know the royals are supposed to be impartial, but i think more royals should be more pro-active in fighting for poverty, aids, and other important subjects. They have a power to influence others, and i think they should make the best out of it.

sure Mabel have had some past, but no one is perfect.
and i'm really proud seeing her now. she's an independent and strong woman, just like Maxima & Laurentien. they are all fighting to what their believe in; maxima in microcredit & laurentien in illeteracy. and HM the Queen should be proud of. I just hope the oranjes boys are more pro-active than their wives.

I think Mabel was right to give this speech and it's made me think differently about her. She isn't another princess who is playing Ghandi. She seems to care and she isn't making wild allegations - she's quoting fact. I think that it's a very brave move and one which should be applauded.

I think she knows pretty good what she's doing, with or without our beloved Royal House. ;) Okay, she made some bad choices in de past and maybe she'll make them again in future, but I think she just thinks it's worth the effort :p.

I think it was very good of her, to say these things. At most occasions royal family members should feel free to give their opinion about it.

Hey, I'm an America lover and Bush hater so what she says doesn't bother me in the least! She said something that's true and from the heart, so I think it was appropriate. Go Princess Mabel!

Ok guys, back to royalty: I would seriously challenge you all to ask you yourselves if Mabel were party to some measure that we all disagreed with.

say she was filing a lawsuit challenging the US policy of letting women vote. ( and I do hope we all would disagree with that ;) )

wouldnt we say that it was innapropriate of a daughter-in-law of a head of state to attack the policies of another country???

or would you say it was fine and appropriate for her to speak out on the issues she cares about, even if that be against women's suffrage?

Now that I have cooled off... :)

She has a right to her opinion. BUT!!! As the daughter-in-law of the Queen of the Netherlands, it is in VERY poor taste to criticize another country's policies so openly like that.

Royal families in Europe who do not rule anymore, but reign, are supposed to be APOLITICAL IN PUBLIC.

Whether she likes it or not, when she married the prince her behavior had to change with it.

The only reason people are supporting her, and let's be honest, on here, is because she is criticising President Bush...and people take every chance they get to support anyone, no matter, the issue when he is attacked.

You all the have the right to question your government, but, stop ripping apart a president at every chance simply because you all hate him...even if the issue that she has with him is he will not help prostitutes..

Why should he???????

Just because people intensely dislike his policies does NOT mean they automatically wish him dead. The two certainly don't go hand in hand.

BACK to Mabel - If there were seriously a problem, I think we would have heard about more fuss about her comments from inside The Netherlands. Since it doesn't seem like it's a big deal there, I don't think anyone really cares whether or not she criticized a politician from another country based on something that is true - a sketchy track record on AIDS.

well the speech was yesterday so we still have to see if there is any reaction. it got prominent billing in one of holland's biggest papers, that much we know.

Mabel is no longer a member of the royal household...so i guess her speech does not need to be "carefully spoken" like her other 2 sisters-in-laws....
besides...AIDS is an issue that people should care worldwide...it's not like other political issues....so BRAVO to MABEL!!!!!!

Lady Marmalade - I had a physic vision of what you'd feel on this one! Would you feel the same if she was criticising Tony Blair? For me, it doesn't matter that she's attacking Bush - she's speaking her mind and I for one am fed up of this silent wallflower image that most Princesses are forced to take on. It's brilliant that someone in her position is doing something good - she isn't criticising him on climate change - she's trying to help people with AIDS and I think thats to be applauded.

Lady M - It's not name calling or having a pop at Bush - she hasn't said, "He's an ugly swine who only cares about himself". She's criticised his stance on AIDS treatment - can't someone speak out against him? Is he that precious? I think bringing Mabel's past into it is a bit much - she's entitled to an opinion. Bush isn't free of critcism and I truly believe that Mabel was trying to do her best for a serious cause.

i applaud mabel's proactive stance....i just wish certain princesses would do the same instead of just waving hands and looking pretty.:rolleyes: since she is no longer a member of the royal house i dont see the problem in her voicing her opininons.

I think Mabel has a right to Freedom of Speech. I also think those who tout their Christianity need to remember that Christ did very much reach out to the outcast -- that includes prostitues.