Crown Princess Mary of Denmark Visits Jordan: August 20-22, 2013

[julliette]

Mary's visit can also help in other aspects than just people donating money.
It can be a source of motivation to the danish aid-workers there in the refugee camp to know that people value their work. Like when royals make short visits to their military people stationed in places like Afghanistan.
I'm sure the danish aid-workers also have complaints and maybe ideas about how things work over there and most of all about things could improve in the work done back in Denmark. (There is a whole world of logistics done back at home to keep these guys there and things don't always work perfectly). Complaining to Mary could open them doors, since Mary could be a messenger, and I'm sure those back at home would think more about a complaint done by the Crown-Princess than by one of their many workers there. Mary can do a lot of backstage work.
Mary can also learn lots of things about how refugees camp work,etc, which she can then use to improve her work as Patron of the DRC.

Her visit won't surely solve the problem but there are many reasons that makes it worth it to send her there.

[Emmily]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

This is not against Mary, because she is invited by her patronage/government but I dont like the idea of royals going 'global', what the point of such visits other than PR because the representants mostly don't have a clue, they go with their designer dresses, high heels & diamond rings, its all about posing and photo ops and I sometimes feel sorry for the refugees/victims of all kinds that they are being exposed/used again like that.

Its sad that we need 'royals' to go there because only for that reasons the pictures will end up in certain magazines, so Mr Bach or the organisation will have extra coverage because of Mary, because if the experts on the issue go on their own nobody will notice.

Especially Mary is hardly working in Denmark any longer but increasingly going for a 'Rania-like' role, Africa, now Jordan, next week Morokko, I am a bit clueless why a Danish or whatever country's CP has to go there to promote what kind of interest again? But maybe its just the world we are living in, you need a pretty woman with a certain social standing to 'raise awareness' which means what, looking at the pictures afterwards, and Mary is a good candidate to fit such a role.

It is sad that we need "royals" to make these visits, but that seems to be the reality. I don't see why it's such a horrible thing for them to to.

Don't agree that Mary is hardly working in Denmark anymore. She is making overseas trips, but she certainly seems to work just as hard at home.

Originally Posted by NoorMeansLight

Since Diana was mentioned above, I must say that back then at least we learnt a thing or two about Angola, for example. That was a fact, people in the West didn't even know where Angola was, let alone about the landmines and so on. Now what is the purpose? Tell me, who hasn't heard YET that there's a civil war in Syria and thousands of refugees and famine, diseases and so on? Know what, I would be hugely insulted by this visit if I were one of these women.

Thankfully for you, you are not one of these women. And they don't seem the least insulted by her visit.

[NGalitzine]

While people generally do know there has been a civil war in Syria, there has been precious little coverage about Syrian refugees in Jordan, their numbers or their living conditions and much less about the strain refugees put on their host country so I would think any such efforts to raise awareness would be applauded.
It seems many posters believe in times of crisis it is better to ignore the problem, no need to being attention to those in need as the problem will either not be solvable or will I guess miraculously solve itself. With thinking like that it is amazing man ever moved out of the caves.I really pity such people.
I am not sure if their animosity towards the Crown Princess and the Danish Refugee Council is the result of jealously or if these people are just all round nasty to begin with. I certainly hope they are never in need of anyones help or assistance or need a spotlught on a cause that might aid them.

[Frelinghighness]

The whole premise in this argument about needing royal ladies to publicize international crises is illogical.
Just because some posters were unaware of Angola and landmines before Diana publicized them, doesn't mean that everyone was unaware and therefore her role was useful . I was aware of the problem.
Just as now I was already aware of the refugee crisis from Syria.
Because I'm already aware doesn't mean there aren't others who are, in the 90's and now. Ignorance is out there, and imo people are less informed now than ever.

[NGalitzine]

Does it really matter if attention is brought to the issues by a Crown Princess or by a UN Goodwill Ambassador/movie star? Is it not better that these people use the media attention they get to try and aid those who need help? Would posters rather they ignore such situations? If people contribite more aid funds because they saw a story about Mary in Jordan on the evening news is that such a bad thing? Should she or anyone else in a like position really be criticized for trying to help? You might very well know everything about what is going on in Syria and in the refugess camps. Good for you if that is true, but it may not be true of others. If it is true of you have you done anything to try and help these refugees or did you just turn the page of your newspaper or change tv channels and move on?

[Archduchess Zelia]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

... Especially Mary is hardly working in Denmark any longer ...

What an odd thing to say. She rarely work outside of Denmark and in the majority of the time when she does work outside of the country, she is working for Denmark. The comments on this thread are just getting more and more ridiculous.

[tommy100]

I never understand why people criticise these type of visits. Surely people see that the whole point of visits like this is to show support for the refugees and encourage the people/aid agencies working to help the refugees. Just as when Charles and Camilla visited a refugee camp Mary is there as a representative of her country showing/symbolising her counties support for the refugees and aid agencies and their staff.
Do these trips costs money? Of course they do, but let’s be real it’s not as if the money is being taken away from the refugees.
Then take in to account the fact that Mary being there will have raised awareness, this does not have to mean first informing people but simply reminding them of the effects of something people may already know about. This will likely lead to at least some extra donations to charities helping the refugees so what ever the cost its really similar to charities spending money on galas etc as a fundraising tool.
This is what royal visits are all about, recognising what is going on and the recognising the good work of people. Its not as if the Queen gets criticised for visiting hospitals and not helping out, "oi Daisy get a mop and bucket and clean the floor while you’re here..." As if. I think IMO that some people just don't like Mary and are using this to have a go at her even though she is only doing exactly what other royals do.

[Eden]

Originally Posted by carlota

Syria has been in the front pages of the online version of my newspaper every week since the conflict started. i presume this has been the case in other european media also.

a UN committee is over there at the moment judging on the use of chemical weapons. if 99% of the people around the world heard about syria this week, it is because of this UN field trip and NOT because of mary's visit.

personally, i like seeing royals visiting other countries and that's why i visit this thread. but i certainly DO NOT believe, like the previous posters here, that this visit had much impact in the people's perception of the syrian conflict or on its refugees. with this being said, maybe a donation of money directly to the UN would go a much longer way than this visit: particularly considering the costs of security, of plane and hotels for mary and all her staff, of her designer clothes. just that amount of money would make these refugees happier than a visit by yet another diplomatic representant who comes, smiles, takes pictures and leaves back to his/her 5 star hotel.

If this visit has had the effect of bringing attention in Denmark to the plight in Syria. If this also means donations can be made or the social conscious of the Danes puts pressure on the government to do something. If ONE person is now wiser to what is happening in Denmark. Then as far as I am concerned the Danish Crown Princess has been successful in Denmark of letting the Danes know this crisis is not over. If at the same time as her visit the gassing of over a thousand innocent civilians is made a little more poignant in Denmark as it has occurred the same time their Crown Princess was there, then it makes it more real and a little scary.

Don't lose sight of who this was aimed at and why. The fact we are talking about this means Mary has had an inadvertent affect on people outside Denmark, it has made us talk, wonder and consider. The more you complain the more attention you bring to this situation and you make everyone here want to be better than you by not running a good intention down. Your comments have made me donate money to the Red Cross and start a fund at work to donate, your attitude has shamed me into giving a damn, so thank you for your insensitivity :)

[grevinnan]

Originally Posted by Eden

If this visit has had the effect of bringing attention in Denmark to the plight in Syria. If this also means donations can be made or the social conscious of the Danes puts pressure on the government to do something. If ONE person is now wiser to what is happening in Denmark. Then as far as I am concerned the Danish Crown Princess has been successful in Denmark of letting the Danes know this crisis is not over. If at the same time as her visit the gassing of over a thousand innocent civilians is made a little more poignant in Denmark as it has occurred the same time their Crown Princess was there, then it makes it more real and a little scary.

Don't lose sight of who this was aimed at and why. The fact we are talking about this means Mary has had an inadvertent affect on people outside Denmark, it has made us talk, wonder and consider. The more you complain the more attention you bring to this situation and you make everyone here want to be better than you by not running a good intention down. Your comments have made me donate money to the Red Cross and start a fund at work to donate, your attitude has shamed me into giving a damn, so thank you for your insensitivity :)

I doubt there is a single Dane that has now discovered the Syrian crisis because of Mary. I have found Danes to be very aware of international politics and events and very well informed just like their Nordic neighbors. If Mary wants to be travelling around that is her and the Danish people's business but let's not think that she brings any new attention to the crisis.

[tommy100]

Surley the fact that there is a 4 page thread dedicated to this trip means this has raised attention, though some people are more interested in critising Mary than talking about the issues she is promoting here. What does it matter if her trip hasn't educated people who didn;t know about it, many people who already knew about Syria and the refugees will have been reminded of the issue and that is a good thing.
Maybe we should focus on the actual, life threatening, issue and not start making up issues of our own.

[NGalitzine]

Since she was there in her capacity as Patron of the Danish Refugee Council she was presumably there because that is where Danes wanted her to be. I am sure left to her own wishes she might have found a more enjoyable way to spend the day. I fail to understand why her presence in a refugee camp has caused such a negatove reaction, although perhaps for some posters everything Mary does causes such a reaction.
I would bet there are some posters on here who have given little to no thought about the Syrian civil war or the refugee problem until they had the chance to take a run at the Danish Crown Princess and by extension the Danish Refugee Council.

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

Since she was there in her capacity as Patron of the Danish Refugee Council she was presumably there because that is where Danes wanted her to be. I am sure left to her own wishes she might have found a more enjoyable way to spend the day. I fail to understand why her presence in a refugee camp has caused such a negatove reaction, although perhaps for some posters everything Mary does causes such a reaction.

Isn't this what it's all about? I doubt there would have been similar reactions if some other Crown Princess had been to that camp....
Quite opposite, actually.

One of her patronages, the Danish Refugee Council, invited her to visit Jordan and the camp where they work. She also visited UNFPA, a second patronage, also working in the camp. The local shelter for battered women is supported by and a partner organization of Danish organizations. Violence against women being a theme for MaryFonden and something she's worked with before and she's also patron for LOKK, the National organisation of women’s shelters in Denmark.

It seems pretty logic, that she would go on a trip like this. I hardly think Mary's main objective is to "save the world".... How someone can come op with a word like "disgusting" in connection with a visit like this, I really can't understand....

IIRC, some years ago, when Mary had taken on these patronages, she was heavily criticised by some posters for NOT travelling abroad to get to know the work they do in camps etc....

[wartenberg7]

I´m really upset about this debate! No matter if she brings attention to refugee-causes or not, no matter if posters here were aware of syrian refugee suffering or not does not matter a thing! The CPss was invited to go to Jordan and politely she accepted. She is a patron of an organisation dealing with (women)-refugees, so it´s nothing but natural that she HAS to go to some crisis areas of this world to get a personal impression of the terrible circumstances these people suffer! Thirdly, it is very obvious to see that she brightend the day of these poor people! Either women or children seemed to be very happy that a beautiful princess from abroad came to talk and listened to them! Just look at the photos again and you´ll see nothing but joy and happiness in their faces to see Mary. Is that alone not the visit worthwhile?!

[tommy100]

Wow, well I think this has all gone to far. I think we should move on.

Is Mary still in Jordan or has she returned home? Does she have any more engagements in the country?

[Roskilde]

Originally Posted by tommy100

Wow, well I think this has all gone to far. I think we should move on.

Is Mary still in Jordan or has she returned home? Does she have any more engagements in the country?

Yes, I guess she has returned back home to Denmark. She has official events in the coming week. She and Christian Friis Bach's visit was of good reasons not publicly made​​, but several newspapers reported that their last day in Jordan was Thursday.


A couple of unseen pics of Mary with a charming little boy in one of the crisis center

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BSVqxRwCQAERhJ0.jpg:large

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...58866179_n.jpg

[tommy100]

Thanks! I thought she would have returned home but as there was no end date on the thread title I wasn't 100% sure. I wonder if she visited the king & queen while she was there even if it was privately.

[Al_bina]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

This is not against Mary, because she is invited by her patronage/government but I dont like the idea of royals going 'global', what the point of such visits other than PR because the representants mostly don't have a clue, they go with their designer dresses, high heels & diamond rings, its all about posing and photo ops and I sometimes feel sorry for the refugees/victims of all kinds that they are being exposed/used again like that.

Its sad that we need 'royals' to go there because only for that reasons the pictures will end up in certain magazines, so Mr Bach or the organisation will have extra coverage because of Mary, because if the experts on the issue go on their own nobody will notice.

Especially Mary is hardly working in Denmark any longer but increasingly going for a 'Rania-like' role, Africa, now Jordan, next week Morokko, I am a bit clueless why a Danish or whatever country's CP has to go there to promote what kind of interest again? But maybe its just the world we are living in, you need a pretty woman with a certain social standing to 'raise awareness' which means what, looking at the pictures afterwards, and Mary is a good candidate to fit such a role.

[my bolding]
I am in full agreement with you and you pose a very good question. Queen Rania cut down her glamorous international presence after the troubles started looming in Jordan. All these feelgood PR trips yield no tangible results in the end. Raising awareness means to facilitate cash flow in the form of donations, which will be mostly spent on various administrative expenses.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

[my bolding]
I am in full agreement with you and you pose a very good question. Queen Rania cut down her glamorous international presence after the troubles started looming in Jordan. All these feelgood PR trips yield no tangible results in the end. Raising awareness means to facilitate cash flow in the form of donations, which will be mostly spent on various administrative expenses.

Then let's go through it again.
In the wake of the Arabic Spring the Danish government supports human rights organisations in Arabic countries. Among these organisations are some who work to improve womens rights.
The purpose of Mary going is of course to create awareness in Denmark, but also very much to be a tool for the Danish government. I.e. in creating attention in Morocco and the rest of the Middle East among primarily the womens rights organisations that have sprung up there, by Mary being such a high ranking and highly profiled person and representative for Denmark. Also that Mary through her position opens doors and create attention a minister is unlikely to be able to.
Abuse of women is also very much a subject Mary has involved herself in, in Denmark, through the Mary Foundation.

[Humera]

Alright, that's enough guys.
Obviously some members are incapable of carrying on a discussion without insulting other members. The offensive post in question and responses have been deleted.
Let's move on because we're obviously going in circles.

Humera
Jordan Forum Moderator

[grevinnan]

Questions to our Jordanian posters; has Mary's visit been covered in the Jordanian press? Are the conditions in the refuge camps written about in the local press or has Mary's visit drawn attention to conditions of which local citizens are not aware?