King Abdullah & Queen Rania: Current News, Part 19

[snowwhite]

I don't know if anyone has access to People Magazine but they supposedly have a special separate issue out just on royalty and Rania I believe may be in there.

It's called.

"The Royals: Their Lives, Loves, and Secrets."

It came out about the 1st September.

[RhapsodyBrat]

Jordan king sees Mideast peril without peace deal
http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusintl...vts=9720062010

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 — The world will be "doomed" to years of violence in the Middle East if there is no major effort by 2007 to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Jordan's King Abdullah warned in an interview published on Thursday.

"I believe the Lebanese war dramatically opened all our eyes to the fact that if we don't solve the Palestinian issue, the future looks pretty bleak for the Middle East," the monarch told Time magazine.

and the story from Time Magazine's website:

A Monarch's Dire Warning About the Middle East
http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...532808,00.html

Striding past ceremonial Circassian guards into a sitting room at Basman Palace, King Abdullah II is looking fresh and energetic, as if he has just come from another spin around town on his treasured Harley-Davidson. But his natural ebullience masked an uncharacteristic inner gloom that deepened this summer when the Middle East was plunged into yet another conflict with the Israeli-Hizballah war in Lebanon.

As the 44-year-old monarch settled into a stuffed sofa for a 1-hour TIME interview for a story to appear in the coming week's magazine, he drew a dark picture of a region consumed by conflicts old and new, threatened by emerging Sunni-Shiite tensions and at risk of being completely destabilized if the U.S. attacks Iran. "I believe the Lebanese war dramatically opened all our eyes to the fact that if we don't solve the Palestinian issue, the future looks pretty bleak for the Middle East," he said. "I'm one of the most optimistic people you'll come across. For the first time, I started becoming pessimistic towards the region."

[shrifia]

Originally Posted by snowwhite

Perhaps I was not particularly clear in my original quote, I really meant this in two ways. I think for people looking in from the west at Rania as a muslim woman she gives a great impression that is not just about women in shrouds, scuttling behind their men with no voice, which is a stereotype that I think many in the west have of women from this culture. When she first really visited the US/UK I can remember the great surprise that some members of the press had when they first saw this beautiful queen - articulate, dressed in western clothes, face visible, conversant with world issues, standing next to her husband. It was a shock to them I think - their expectations were certainly not someone like Rania.


I stand by what I say in that I think that Rania, despite yes being in a position of great privilege, can show especially young muslim women (well women of any creed in fact) that if you use what you have, beauty, brains, class, dignity, compassion for others (things which I believe she possesses) you can make an impression and break away from perhaps supposed customs and restrictions that are imposed on your sex and make your own impression in the world. Rania to me tries to do that through her position to make things better for others, of course she can't obtain world peace, she can't find a cure for cancer, there are many things she can't do - I'm not suggesting she is some kind of special being above all others because she is Queen but that position does lend to her the opportunity to make things better, which she could ignore and do nothing or take action and she has taken action. However, I do feel that she creates a great impression (at least in the west) for what she had achieved so far and I hope as she matures she will reach out and do more.

That's not to say other muslim women leaders don't attempt similar good works and don't posesses her attributes - but she is the one that probably attracts the most attention especially in the west. And if she can make one muslim girl think that there is a different way to be and that you can be modern/western without comprising your muslim beliefs then all to the good.

I see what you mean snowwhite and it's what I teel that she don't represnts muslim's women. I think that you didn't read my quote so do you really think that a women in pakistan or egypt or even if in jordan Will accept her like Representative of the muslim's world after the covres of magazines she did in Bikini it's Scandal for them :an arabic and muslim's queen in Bikin????!!!!! or do you think that the muslim women likes what's she Said about covering had in opera show.maybye you in the west you think that islam it's one culture but it's not true there is A LOT OF MUSLIM'S COUNTRY WITH A LO OF TRADITIONS AND CULURES you don't know nothig about it so it's suits you to say that someone represent that part of world . it's bad that you think that The development and modernite in arabic and muslim's world it's only beauty and dressing in western clothes ......
I insist that no royal women can represent the whole muslim world
I hope that you see my point and sorry for my english

[Salomé]

Originally Posted by snowwhite

And to respond to Salome:

That's not to say other muslim women leaders don't attempt similar good works and don't posesses her attributes - but she is the one that probably attracts the most attention especially in the west..

That suffices me when you said that, muslim women didn't wait Rania to be an example for them to try to make their lives better and to get more rights,and the west attention is not a reliable or good index for what is the reality of things.

Others accomplished a lot the last years without the attention of the west on their first ladies,and as far as I know,not the jordanian women since QR became a Queen and got THAT BIG attention from the west (using what you called her "best attributs" to the best of her ability)

[niki]

Does anyone have pictures of the king and queen yesterday at princess Basma's son's wedding to Samantha?

[salma]

Originally Posted by snowwhite

Thanks for the link to the magazine Salma (lahamag), I enjoy looking at the pictures if not understanding the words! And thank you for the link to the picture of Rania in that lovely purple dress - that colour really suits her I feel.

You´re wellcome Snowwhite.

[salma]

Originally Posted by niki

Does anyone have pictures of the king and queen yesterday at princess Basma's son's wedding to Samantha?

I only find pic of Ghazi and Samantha.

[lil Monkey]

that was the only pic posted,I honestly think that The bride isnt cute at all, she looks way older than him, is she?

[snowwhite]

I can only talk from a western woman's point of view Shrifia.

For me Rania blows holes in western preconceptions of what a muslim woman is meant to look like and how she should act. Obviously to other muslim women what she does or says may not be so welcomed even offensive to some so I don't mean to imply she represents the whole muslim world.

You mentioned her appearing in a bikini (?) I think in your previous post, I have seen her wearing a red one piece bathing costume on holiday with her husband. Now as a western woman I am totally baffled as to why appearing in a swimming costume with your family on a private holiday (but snapped presumably by a paparazzi) is shocking. However, that is because I have western sensibilities not muslim ones so I realise there is a difference.

But to western eyes her Oprah interview went down very well from what I gather when she discussed how muslims are perceived, how she prayed, how she lived, her thoughts her values, her views on the troubles. And there she was sitting on that sofa, uncovered, articulate, unafraid to speak and obviously supported by her husband and yes stunning to look at lets be honest here, to share those views on national TV across America and the world.

She paints a totally different viewpoint on what it is to be muslim - it might not be the right one for others but it creates a good impression with me personally and others from what I've read in the media. Especially at this time with so much fear over terrorism and war and many are prejudiced towards muslims in general usually through misplaced fear and lack of understanding.

And I see nothing wrong in young muslim girls (if they so choose) following her lead as best they can, they don't have the palace, or the jewels but that doesn't mean they cannot use certain aspects of Rania as an example of for their own futures. For me Rania's attributes don't end with her western style of dressing and the fact she is beautiful - that is not enough for me to respect ANYONE. Rania does not strike me as a woman who has abandoned what it is to be muslim but she has created a life for herself that is modern yes works within a muslim foundation and yes I imagine she is often criticised for it especially back home - she "pushes the envelope" so to speak and good for her!

You are absolutely right in that not all western values are great and good. However, I would say that goes both ways. Can all muslim laws and values be considered GOOD and none bad or detrimental? (especially where it concerns certain women's rights which is what I mostly think of being a woman!).

I am not a muslim as I've said before whilst I imagine most posters on this board are so I'm sorry if I have given offence with my views, I certainly don't pretend to be some expert on muslim culture and tradition, I have visited some muslim based countries and the culture is wonderful, varied and complex, it is far more interesting and vibrant than what I have back home. One day I would like to visit Jordan, Rania does a good job of promoting it when she speaks of the country as does her husband.

[snowwhite]

salma:

I only find pic of Ghazi and Samantha

She sounds very western!

[lizz70]

Originally Posted by snowwhite

I can only talk from a western woman's point of view Shrifia.

For me Rania blows holes in western preconceptions of what a muslim woman is meant to look like and how she should act. Obviously to other muslim women what she does or says may not be so welcomed even offensive to some so I don't mean to imply she represents the whole muslim world.

Snowwhite, you can only express an opinion for yourself. You do not speak on behalf of 'Western Women' in the same way that Rania does not speak for all 'Muslim Women'.

The Oprah interview was a great piece of PR for the Hashemites. It does not represent the reality of life for most Jordanian people or most Muslim people as anyone who has sopent time in the Levant and Middle East will tell you. there is crippling poverty in Jordan and ordering Domino's pizza is a no-no for the majority of people who struggle to buy basic foodstuffs.

Rania can only represent herself and in a limited way her country. Arabs constitute only a small proportion of the Muslim Diaspora as Shrifia was trying to point out. Rania does not represent every woman from the Levant to the Gulf to the Turkic nations to Indonesia and Asia and she does not speak for the majority of Muslim women - perhaps those who like her are from middle and upper class backgrounds maybe but not the majority, even in Jordan where many cover up.

In addition the actual achievements that have been attained in this current reign are minimal, there is lots of talking but not much action. Not very much has changed for the average Jordanian but what is put forward by Rania certainly sounds good.

Rania isn't a groundbreaker, she is just following in the footsteps of Alia and Noor and before them Queen Zein. Alia was feted as the modern young queen who wore jeans, had a foreign education and a modern outlook - so was Noor and now Rania. The honour killings issue has all but been abandoned by Rania, just for an example and she has even made a trite remark about to focus on honour killings is miss the big picture!!!!!

I appreciate your viewpoint and you are entitled to an opinion but please don't hink that a huge PR exercise is the gospel truth. Rania represents Rania and nobody else, being at the top of the tree just means she can be more visible, that's all.

[Avalon]

Please, remember that this is King Abdullah & Queen Rania Current Events thread, and not a thread about Queen Rania - Representative of the Muslin Women.

Thank you for Cooperation

[fanletizia]

King Stresses the Role of the King Abdullah II Center for Excellence

http://www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2006/Sep/11/15420I.htm
http://www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2006/Sep/11/15422I.htm

[Little_star]

King to Participate in Arab- US Forum

Amman, Sep. 11(Petra)-- His Majesty King Abdullah II will take part in meetings of the 1st Arab-US business forum, which will start on Sep. 18 in New York.
LINK

King's interview with Time Magazine

Amman, Sept. 10 (Petra) His Majesty King Abdullah II affirmed that if a just solution was not reached to the Palestinian issue " the future looks pretty bleak for the Middle East."

In an interview with Time magazine correspondent Scott Macleod, to be published in Monday's issue King Abdullah stressed the need for tangible results on the ground. " If we don't see tangible results on the ground by 2007, then I don't think there will ever be a Palestinian state. Then we are doomed to another decade or decades of violence," His Majesty said.

LINK

President Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah II of Jordan yesterday10/9/2006 agreed that it's high time for reviving the Middle East peace process through“serious moves for addressing the Palestinian question,” a Presidential spokesman said.

LINK

[Veram98]

By CYNTHIA SIMISON

SOUTH HADLEY - Thirty years ago, he knew the boy he thought would become king.
Today, retired Police Chief William L. Schenker revels in the achievements of the man who is, indeed, now the king of Jordan.
Schenker, just returned from Jordan in July from a trip with faculty from Deerfield Academy and the Eaglebrook School and friends of the king's from across the region, finds himself an ambassador of sorts.
He wants to ensure that Americans understand who the boy he knew simply as "Ab" has become, his vision and the work King Abdullah II has done to establish a $62.5 million boarding school, built in the image of his alma mater in Deerfield.
"I want people to know what a visionary he is. ... If all the world leaders were as open-minded and dedicated to his people as he is, the world would be a better place," Schenker said. "My job is to see that people know about his vision and not to stereotype all Muslims."

Full article:

http://www.masslive.com/metroeastplu...190.xml&coll=1

*

[Little_star]

The Arab Business Challenge (ABC) – a Pan-Arab business plan contest that was televised on Al Arabiya in a 12-part reality series – announced its two winners at a lavish gala dinner in Dubai..............

The event, which was attended by more than 600 guests and saw keynote addresses by Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan and Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Economy, UAE, also marked the official launch of ABAN.
LINK

[Joumana]

An article about The anniversary of Queen Rania. The article talks about her activities.

http://pdf.lahamag.com/pages/09-2006/312People01.pdf

[Veram98]

see the following article:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...4432224&EDATE=

[Little_star]

Amman, Sep. 14(Petra)—His Majesty King Abdullah II re-stressed Jordan's solidarity and support to Lebanon to overcome the impact of the Israeli aggression and rebuild what have been damaged by the war.

During a meeting on Thursday with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, the King expressed belief that Lebanon, through the unity of its people and their adherence to their national constants, will be able to overcome the current difficult stage and resume progress.
LINK
Picture:
http://www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2006/Sep/14/15621I.htm

[Little_star]

Originally Posted by Veram98

see the following article:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...4432224&EDATE=

Congratulations to Rania on her new position, I wish her all the best.