- Joined
- Feb 19, 2012
- Messages
- 29,957
- Reaction score
- 14,680
- Location
- Netherlands
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Moderate
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:
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).
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:
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).