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With all of this storm damage and horror in the world, a bit of compassion

Peter King

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Even if it just comes from a "Royal" in this case King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands.

He visited one of the "old neighborhoods" of the Netherlands which is famous being so pure and authentic (but not in a touristy manner) of Amsterdam. Where the regular people live who do not have 6 figure wages and live in and along the "posh" part of Amsterdam. It is called the Jordaan and he visited there with the seriously ill mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der Laan (a social democratic politician but very beloved in his town and in the Netherlands). Van der Laan has cancer and is undergoing treatment for advanced lung cancer (spread through his body) who is in the end stage of his time left on earth but has said he wanted to remain mayor of his Amsterdam until it was so bad that he could not work anymore.

As said they were visiting the Jordaan neighborhood, went to a local bar, had some rose wine and ate some bar food and then they went on to other parts of the Jordaan and then these pictures were taken:

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Where King Willem Alexander can be seen supporting the mayor by walking arm in arm with him because mayor van der Laan has trouble standing up.

Now I know it is not a great act of compassion or great act of humanitarianism but it does show that even royals can be just as human as you or I. And I think that is the way modern monarchies have to advance to remain acceptable and relevant. Not like the royals of some countries behaved in the past. Too cemented stuck in their ways of proper etiquette and only thinking about "how it ought to be" but more human and approachable.

Monarchies like the one in the UK are doomed to failure if hey remain stuck up snooty institutions, I hope the future king will be able to do away with the distance between the royals and the public.

Like in Liechtenstein where the royals have absolute power over the country which was stupidly given again to the current leader of that country by his own people. In 2003 the prince of that country demanded more absolute power or he and his family would move to Austria and would quit their role of royals. His new powers included being able to veto any bill (without parliament being able to overturn that veto) and the power to hold referendum if he wants one held. In return they got the right in Liechtenstein to hold a vote to end monarchy which he would not be able to veto.

If my king would come up with such a demand for absolute power I would say that he could get lost and leave. That the people of Liechtenstein agreed to this is mind boggling. But that is a very different issue.

So good for royals who act like they are there for the people and in many ways equal to people rather than stuck up people who act like people should worship the ground they walk on (like some kings and dictators/leaders around the world).
 
Even if it just comes from a "Royal" in this case King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands.

He visited one of the "old neighborhoods" of the Netherlands which is famous being so pure and authentic (but not in a touristy manner) of Amsterdam. Where the regular people live who do not have 6 figure wages and live in and along the "posh" part of Amsterdam. It is called the Jordaan and he visited there with the seriously ill mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der Laan (a social democratic politician but very beloved in his town and in the Netherlands). Van der Laan has cancer and is undergoing treatment for advanced lung cancer (spread through his body) who is in the end stage of his time left on earth but has said he wanted to remain mayor of his Amsterdam until it was so bad that he could not work anymore.

As said they were visiting the Jordaan neighborhood, went to a local bar, had some rose wine and ate some bar food and then they went on to other parts of the Jordaan and then these pictures were taken:

View attachment 67222631

View attachment 67222632

Where King Willem Alexander can be seen supporting the mayor by walking arm in arm with him because mayor van der Laan has trouble standing up.

Now I know it is not a great act of compassion or great act of humanitarianism but it does show that even royals can be just as human as you or I. And I think that is the way modern monarchies have to advance to remain acceptable and relevant. Not like the royals of some countries behaved in the past. Too cemented stuck in their ways of proper etiquette and only thinking about "how it ought to be" but more human and approachable.

Monarchies like the one in the UK are doomed to failure if hey remain stuck up snooty institutions, I hope the future king will be able to do away with the distance between the royals and the public.

Like in Liechtenstein where the royals have absolute power over the country which was stupidly given again to the current leader of that country by his own people. In 2003 the prince of that country demanded more absolute power or he and his family would move to Austria and would quit their role of royals. His new powers included being able to veto any bill (without parliament being able to overturn that veto) and the power to hold referendum if he wants one held. In return they got the right in Liechtenstein to hold a vote to end monarchy which he would not be able to veto.

If my king would come up with such a demand for absolute power I would say that he could get lost and leave. That the people of Liechtenstein agreed to this is mind boggling. But that is a very different issue.

So good for royals who act like they are there for the people and in many ways equal to people rather than stuck up people who act like people should worship the ground they walk on (like some kings and dictators/leaders around the world).

The guy on the right looks like european trump, just blew everyones minds!!!!
 
The guy on the right looks like european trump, just blew everyones minds!!!!

Except he is in nothing like Trump. He may be royalty but compared to Trump he lives like a pauper, no golden loos and nonsense like that. His children are regular kids. Just like he and his siblings were regular kids. He studied, went and served in the armed forces and lives more in touch with regular people than Trump lives. He does not live in a golden penthouse where it looks like it is a french kings palace. Sure, it is a palace but not the kind of Trump palace.

If you compare this

kate-middleton-king-willem-alexander-villa-eikenhorst-a.jpg

To the Trump house in New York, the difference is enormous. One looks like a French Kings court and the other looks like a very luxury room.
 
some more nuggets about this picture, when the mayor walked out of the building he was a bit ahead of the king and said to one of his employees from the city that the king would walk ahead of them "because that is how it is supposed to be" (he is the one people want to see) but when the king walked out he offered his arm resolutely to the mayor and said "Come on we are going to walk together". They mayor first was unwilling to take his arm but the king insisted that he wanted to walk arm in arm with him and in the end the mayor took his arm and they walked together for the rest of the trip.

The visit was not announced, he just showed up to meet people in that neighborhood, going into a grubby bar to have a wine and enjoy what we in the Netherlands call "borrel garnituur" (food to have when drinking, cold cuts and some cheese, stuff like that). You know, "slumming it" with the rest of the people as normal rich people would call it but for the King it is meeting his people, because that is how he sees them. He may be the King but a king is not worth anything if not for his people. Here are some pictures of him just having a tipple and just hanging out in a pub.

HTP1_Ren_20170908koningRB05.JPG

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Sadly his time as mayor of Amsterdam has come to an end. His doctors have told him they are stopping treatment and his end is close and they advised him to stop working. Van der Laan has written a farewell note to his citizens:

Dear Amsterdammers,

In January I wrote you that I had received bad news from my doctors, but that I hoped I could remain your mayor for a little bit longer. The last eight months I did that with a all of my heart. Your support has helped me enormously.

This bit longer has now come to an end. Today my doctors told me that they could no longer offer me any treatment.

I have called the commissioner of the King Remkes to report that I had to stop working. My functions will be taken over by the assistant of the mayor Kasja Ollongren.

It was a great honor to have been your mayor of the most beautiful and loving city in the world. I thank you for the trust you have put in me, for your passion and for all the support and objections that I received from you in the last 7 years.

Take good care of our city and of each other.

Goodbye

Eberhard van der Laan
 
Sadly his time as mayor of Amsterdam has come to an end. His doctors have told him they are stopping treatment and his end is close and they advised him to stop working. Van der Laan has written a farewell note to his citizens:

These public servants who can not fully do their duties because of incapacitation but who refuse to leave because they make it all about what they want rather than the best interests of people annoy people.

Citizens who sit back and let this happen are twits.
 
These public servants who can not fully do their duties because of incapacitation but who refuse to leave because they make it all about what they want rather than the best interests of people annoy people.

Citizens who sit back and let this happen are twits.

He was not unable to do his job, maybe not as fast as before (he may have given off functions to his assistant) but he still did his job. When he announced his health issues he was sent tens of thousands of letters, flowers and messages from his citizens.
 
Well over one thousand people massed around the official residence of the Mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der Laan, who resigned his duties this week due to his poor health (cancer), to applaud and serenade him for his many good deeds he did for the city.

 
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