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Friday, May 19, 2006
Queen Rania on the Oprah Show!

This is really a breath of hope to all of us in the Middle East in general and for us Jordanians in particular. We all know and acknowledge that Oprah is such a media giant and her influence cannot be doubted or ignored; I personally admire and adore this strong lady and think of her life legacy as a role model to all women out there. Queen Rania, our Queen Rania, was interviewed by Oprah and from what I read; the show was a great success and I cannot wait to see it myself.

 

Unfortunately; we did not get to see the show, but our fellow bloggers in the New World had this chance and gave us great feedback on their blogs; refer to Memories Documented for more details.

The reason I wanted to post about this despite I did not watch the show, is that I wanted to emphasize my deep admiration to our beloved Queen Rania. I adore her personality and her approach to raising awareness both internally and externally. Indeed; she is the best ambassador any country can wish for and we are blessed to have her as our queen.

 

I must say that having a young king and queen has its great advantages and we are reaping the benefits already. The positive change that the country has witnessed in recent years has put Jordan on the global map and instead of being just another third world country; Jordan is recognized as a leading country and plays a major role in the region’s stability.

I read in the Arabic Magazine “Laha” that Queen Rania has been elected as one of the most 100 influential people in the world for 2006, and I am so proud of her and happy that she is showing the world the beautiful face of Jordan and Jordanians.


posted by Khalidah, in Jordan Related @ 11:19 PM, , (31) comments
On May, 19, 2006 11:37 PM , natasha
from United States said:

I watched it... it was wonderful. There is a link on my blog if you are interested

On May, 20, 2006 3:10 AM , Oprah-not-me
from Jordan said:

Khalidah,

I do not see how a show on Oprah is meant to be our (your) hope? The show only served to introduce the Queen to the West as a model, typical Arab mother. She is hardly so, hardly representative of the reality on the ground and as such does not qualify to be an Ambassador for anyone but herself and the tiny class of people who can afford to live as she does.

You think the survival of Jordan and its welfare depends on the Queen appearing on Oprah? And dont you think that its in fact an insult that a Queen for a country is given an appearance on Oprah once, and after 7 years of ascending the thrown?

I think this Queen is the Abmassador of herself only and of the Jordanian women who exist in the imagination of a few like yourself.

On May, 20, 2006 3:41 AM , Khalidah
from Jordan said:

Oprah-not-me,

If you don't see the queen as an ambassador of the country that she is queen of, then you are far off base.

I don't think that it is an insult as you described .. and I do think that it is hope for all the region that such an intellectual individual such as HM is representing us and sending a message to the west to change the stereotyped idea they already formed about us (Arabs)

Did you see the show and have something to say as positive critisizm or you are just throwing accuzations from your own convictions??

Do you know how the queen lives her private life? do you know how she raises her children? how do you know that she is not the typical Arab mother?

I expect all my readers to show the minimum amount of respect to the posts and people featured in them especially if it was as HM the queen ..

If you believe so much in what you have said here, why do you hide behind a nickname and a fake email ID??

On May, 20, 2006 8:22 AM , Fadi K
from Jordan said:

Hi , I think having the Queeen as a guest is something extremely good because she introduced Jordan to everybody who watched the show.

On May, 20, 2006 10:03 AM , Khawaja M.
from Jordan said:

Hehehehe...

Few days ago, We (@ PSUT) were lucky to have Queen Rania laying the foundation stone of QRCE (Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship), I was luck to meet her shortly right after the ceremony, since I work as a PM for on the major 3 projects in this center. The Queen was so humble; greeting everyone and give them all enough time to express themselves and speak out.

concerning the Show, I hope we could find it online or on TV soon. Please keep us posted if you find it somewhere.


PSUT: Princess Sumaya University for Technology.

On May, 20, 2006 11:53 AM , Hal
from Jordan said:

3o2baal ma Oprah decides to invite all us Jordanian female bloggers to her show, to highlight us as WOMEN CHANGING THE WORLD, ya rab!!! Here's to hoping!

On May, 20, 2006 12:08 PM , قويدر
from United States said:

To Opera-not-me (with your permission Khalida)
This is not the first time the Queen is a guest on Oprah check here: http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_past_20011005_d.jhtml

On May, 20, 2006 12:22 PM , Tololy
from Egypt said:

Oh my! Khalidah you beat me to this. It is a good step forward for Jordanian women in general to start getting global recognition, this is the light in which I see this "event" if I may call it so.

On May, 20, 2006 4:19 PM , kinzi
from United States said:

Oprah-not-me...I guess you don't get it. Americans need a little celebrity help to understand the rest of the world...they understand celebrities have have royalty-envy mish ma3uul.

I have heard from countless compatriots that the King and Queen have done more to untarnish the name of Arab Muslims (and Palestinians)than any other voice from the region.

Khalidah, as usual, says it well. (Waynik, ya Kahlidah?)

On May, 20, 2006 9:06 PM , ABu SInan
from United States said:

Oprah used here, and it is sad she was allowed to be used. If you watched this interview, and the previous Oprah interview with her, she was SO condescending to the Queen. I dont know whether the Queen saw it or now, but those of us in the West sure did.

She had to mention "how modern" the Queen was. As if using cell phones and computers makes someone modern. Maybe it does in the Middle East where all people ride camels and live in goat hair tents right?

Did the Queen bring up HER Palestinian people? Remember, she is Palestinian. Did Oprah ask her about the continuing crimes against the Palestinian people? Did Rania even want to talk about the subject?

The only time Oprah brings people like this on is to make all Western women feel how happy they should be to be here. Like Rania al-Abaz, it was a chance to slam Islam, to make culture jokes and look down on people.

How would Oprah deal with a Jordnian woman who wore hijab? What if she wanted to talk about Palestine?

Rania was only on Oprah because she "looks" Western, she "seems" modern. Oprah doesnt have a clue. Having a cell phone in the Middle East means nothing, as if most Jordanians dont?

It was a joke and she allowed herself to be used.

On May, 20, 2006 9:16 PM , Khalidah
from Jordan said:

Abu Sinan, I am not sure I got your point here ... who was used? and why? and how?

What is the point that you are trying to make here? Do you think that it was a bad move for the queen to be on the show? or it was bad on Oprah's side to invite the queen?

What is this with "She is Palestinian" and her people in Palestine??
We are trying so hard to erase these stupid discriminating facors that lead parts of the community to take sides .. who is Jordanian and who is Palestinian ... do you think that this is a message the queen wants to emphasize???

Did you want the show to purely talk about politics? when we are all looking at this as a positive sign, you come and say that it was a joke? I am not laughing .. are you?

On May, 22, 2006 2:51 PM , قويدر
from United States said:

If you want to see the show, I have a video clip on my blog. You're welcome to download and share. The clip was originally posted by Natasha Twal

On May, 22, 2006 4:03 PM , Khalidah said:

Quweider; thank you so much for this, I really loved and enjoyed the interview ... so inspiring

By the way, I like the new design on your blog!

On May, 22, 2006 4:48 PM , Abu Sinan
from United States said:

No, I am not laughing, I wish I would have been. Humour might have been something.

Did you see her first interview with Oprah? When Oprah found out that Jordanians used cell phones anc computers her reaction was like "wow, you are SO modern". As if all Jordanians are not so, as if all Jordanians still lived in tents in the desert.

I do not think any topics were covered at any level that would help anyone. I dont think enough was talked about politics, at least the important issues.

This isnt about discrimination factors, or taking sides. The fact is, she is Palestinian. As the Jordanian queen, should she forget this?

I guess it is kind of a waste of time for me to even talk about this. I am NOT a fan of any unelected government, not in Amman, Riyadh, or anywhere else. I completely reject the idea that because of birth into a certain family you have the right to rule over a people.

I am not a fan of the king of Jordan, who speaks better English than he does Arabic. I am not a fan of the fact that his relations with Israel, like Egypt's with Israel, have allowed the Israeli nation to commit mass murder.

I think like the other leaders in the Middle East, he values his own rule over that of the people. Indeed, like most Middle Eastern leaders, they have used the post 9/11 climate to actually crack down on civil liberties. This is well documented in international human rights reports as well as all over the net.

On May, 22, 2006 5:17 PM , Khalidah said:

Abu Sinan,

I just finished watching the interview and I really like what the queen had to say

No, I did not see her first interview with Oprah and I wish I had. Do you really believe that Oprah is naiive or stupid to give this reaction without something in her mind? this is show business and my guess is that she was trying to send a message to her people by reflecting their own feelings, maybe this is too optimistic, but let it be ..

The queen's role was never and will never ever be to talk about politics, and if she wanted to do that, it will not be in an interview with Oprah. I think that the interview was a real success because it delivered some of the messages that we want to the west. If you find it not enough, maybe because you already have more than a good idea about the east and that's why you found it not useful.

We really have to get out of the "Jordanian of Palestinian Origin" thing ... and the queen of all people must not promote this because no matter what you say; it is descrimination. She is Jordanian and she is the Queen of Jordan, period.

I too think that it would be a waste of everyone's time if you start a debate of something when it is not the time or place to start .. if you are not a fan of any type or shape of governement; this is not the place to express these feelings of yours. If you are not a fan of OUR king, that is your problem.

Please do not express your feelings towards the king or any Arab leader on this blog. This blog was not and will never be politically driven, so please do not try to drag me or any of the readers into a political debate that holds a lot of bad blood towards our leaders.

I am a Jordanian woman who is proud of her country and its leader, so you have chosen the wrong person and blog to vent about your rejection and hatred towards Arab leaders and their politics.

This is not personal, I am just respon

On May, 22, 2006 5:33 PM , Khalidah said:

Abu Sinan,

This is not personal, I am just responding to your last comment and I hope that you got my point of view ... thank you

On May, 22, 2006 5:48 PM , Abu Sinan
from United States said:

I get your point of view. It is nothing personal against your king, it is against the idea, period, that ANYONE has the right to rule based on which family they were born into.

I feel that people have a right to determine their own best interests and which way their country and lives should be led.

As to Oprah, she is uneducated, and thus I think she was genuinly surprised by the fact that a Jordanian might have and use both a cell phone and a computer. When 65% percent of Americans cannot even located Iraq on a map, the same country in which some 2,500 American solders have died and hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent, not to mention tens of thousands of Iraqis killed by American soldiers, then I am not surprised by anything.

I dont think Oprah knows the first thing about Jordan or the Middle East, beyond what her staffers gave her to read before the interview.

On May, 22, 2006 5:53 PM , Abu Sinan
from United States said:

By the way, posting anything regarding a head of state, is, in and of itself, a political post and bound to become a political discussion to one extent or another.

As to talking about the leaders of Arab countries, I am all for fair play. Bush and American policy gets blasted all of the time, all over the place, and I have no issues with that.

Freedom of speech is like that. I suggest if you dont want negative comments about the royal family it wouldnt be wise to post about them.

Sorry, just giving my opinion here. I am done, sorry again, no intent here to offend. I have many Jordanian friends here in the USA and I have never seen any of them display any love for the king.

Allah Ma3aki.

On May, 22, 2006 5:58 PM , Khalidah said:

Abu Sinan,

All the more reason that this interview has more positives than negatives.

If the Americans are ignorant about our geo-location or don't know the first thing about our cultures or daily lives ... what is better? to keep them as they are without educating them about us? or to do something like this and increase awareness about the real people of the Middle East?

And who is better than Oprah to start with? We cannot deny that she has a wide audience around the world and many follow her show religiously ... so what better channel to spread the word?

If she did not know anything about Jordan or the Middle East before, well; she does now! And so do millions of viewers around the world ... isn't that a good start? isn't that a breath of hope? Do you see now why we are thrilled that HM the queen did the interview?

I hope you do .. because you are one of my favorite readers and fellow bloggers and it is important to me that you keep visiting this blog and expressing your valuable thoughts!

Just on a side note; our king is doing a very good job and if we had to choose a leader, we wouldn't have chosen someone better!

On May, 22, 2006 6:10 PM , Khalidah said:

Abu Sinan,

If and when I post about any royalty member; it is not and will not be in a political context .. and even if it is .. consider me the first Jordanian friend of yours who loves and speaks good about the king and the royal family ... this does not make you feel different about me as a person, does it??

If we agree to disagree, that would be the best way to lead civilized dialogues, right?

On May, 22, 2006 6:47 PM , Abu Sinan
from United States said:

Agree to disagree indeed. Thanks Kalidah for having such an open mind.

No worries about me not coming back. I have all sorts of spirited disagreements with friends in real life, and on the blog, at the end of the day it is the ability to put those disagreements to the side that shows all of our commitments to calm and peaceful discussion.

The queen is intelligent, and Masha'Allah, hiya helwa. If you are going to have a queen, she is probably the best out there. }:>)

On May, 26, 2006 4:00 AM , Ahmad Quandour
from Jordan said:

Abu Sinan "hayaritna" you can write for hours and hours ,,, just take a look at you 1st 2 comments and compare them with your last 3??? come one your lack of constiutional structuring and politics shows in ...

Abu Sinan i have to admit you english is "very best" "miyah miyah" "3ashra 3ashra"

and Khalida just delete this thing ....your pride and your goodwill will always push you to answer and argue with bullshitters

On May, 26, 2006 7:39 AM , Khalidah
from Jordan said:

Ahmad Quandour,

Welcome to my blog and thank you for your comment

Abu Sinan in an American Muslim friend and devoted reader/commentator in my blog (that's why his English is perfect; he is married to an Arab woman and has 2 nice boys mashallah)

The matter that we disagree on something will not make me delete his comments altogether .. just as I will not delete yours .. and if he continued to debate I would have continued to reciprocate :)

The only thing that would make me delete a comment is if it was completey rude and used profanity or if it was a splog and these do not apply to the comments placed by Abu Sinan ..

I always expect my readers to conduct civilized debates and I encourage them to discuss their opinions as long as the minimum respect is bening maintained and put as a standard

Thank you again

On June, 01, 2006 8:58 PM , Diana Ponce
from Jordan said:

I loved the interview of Queen Rania and Oprah. I dont care what people in America or the middle east say. She is a beautiful and brave woman and above all intelligent. This is a good step for Jordanians. In your face my friend

On June, 04, 2006 11:49 PM , Typical Jordanian
from United Arab Emirates said:

I am a typical Jordanian.

I love Rania so much that I am more than pleased that they suck money out of the public treasury, through corruption and privelged business interests in order to live their lavish lifestyles!

As for those unpatriotic peope who think that this practice is wrong, let me tell you, it is only fair that most people continue to live a substandard lifestyle (which is becoming more and more expensive) as long as Queen Rania and her friends are happy!

Be fair, I mean, a Queen needs to go to Oprah to show other rich and upper middle class American women that Arab women can pretend to be just like white women!

Go Rania Go, at this rate while you wine and dine with the best of them, you are showing the western countries that we are just like them and they don't need to bomb, invade us, maim us, and impose their unjust and destructive economic policies on us!

You sure are a great lady!

On June, 05, 2006 12:13 AM , Typical Jordanian
from United Arab Emirates said:

Man, I hate the critical traitor people who don't appreciate the valiant efforts of this revolutionary queen!

The other day I had this extremely ignorant friend who saw the interview and made a very bad comment about the Queen of Hearts, he said: "Why does the Queen spend 10,000's of dollars on super expensive dresses and an ultra-lavish lifestyle if the vast majority in Jordan live in abject poverty which is worsening? Has she no conscience?"

I was extremely angry at this ignorant guy. I replied angrily saying "What kind of Queen has cheap dresses and small houses you stupid idiot? Before you judge her why don't you put yourself in her position? What if you had to meet all these other Kings, Queens, celebrities and statesment? Would you want to wear cheap clothes or invite them over as guests to a small house???"

I don't think he would, and he didn't reply.

Now the whole world knows what a wonderful person this angel of a human being is!! Long live the Queen!!

On June, 05, 2006 12:16 AM , Typical Jordanian
from United Arab Emirates said:

Man, I hate the critical traitor people who don't appreciate the valiant efforts of this revolutionary queen!

The other day I had this extremely ignorant friend who saw the interview and made a very bad comment about the Queen of Hearts, he said: "Why does the Queen spend 10,000's of dollars on super expensive dresses and an ultra-lavish lifestyle if the vast majority in Jordan live in abject poverty which is worsening? Has she no conscience?"

I was extremely angry at this ignorant guy. I replied angrily saying "What kind of Queen has cheap dresses and small houses you stupid idiot? Before you judge her why don't you put yourself in her position? What if you had to meet all these other Kings, Queens, celebrities and statesmen? Would you want to wear cheap clothes or invite them over as guests to a small house???"

I don't think he would, and he didn't reply.

Now the whole world knows what a wonderful person this angel of a human being is!! Long live the Queen!!

On June, 06, 2006 3:05 AM , Lama
from United States said:

i think Queen Rania's interview with Opera was exquisite. Queen Rania had all the right words to say and really situated the generalization of Arabs that most of the human race carries. I say Thank You to this Queen to honor her for her intelligence. This not only showed people around the world how wrong the generalization and sterotypes are but also how acquainted we are. And all these people who say poorly of Queen Rania, well ask yourself this, What have you done to help unruffle the situation, and what has anyone else done? Thank you again Queen Rania, you were amazing.

On June, 06, 2006 9:09 AM , HaSSaN HaSaNiN
from Jordan said:

ra7 ybithooha 3l MBC4
yoom el arbi3a2

On June, 06, 2006 5:39 PM , thecaller
from Egypt said:

asalam 3alaykom..yes..it'll be tomorrow at 21:00 on mbc4..
i watched the ad for the show during last week..and i felt proud even though i'm egyptian not jordanian..cause i saw oprah's amazment of queen rania..she looked like she realy liked and valued her..and this is always something good for us if you see how arabs are usualy represented on oprah and any other show..
as for the royalty ruling countries..things aren't open up for openion..cause every country has it's own nature..believe me republics aren't the best..i think that no ruling system is perfect cause after all kings and presidents are humans ruling humans,and both are bound to make mistakes..but sometimes it's better in one country more than another...
may allah enlightens us all..
i can't wait to see the show tomorrow and then we'll get the picture..

On June, 07, 2006 2:21 PM , Foof
from Jordan said:

the interview was gr8 and i think the queen showed the world that terrorism
is between the world and terrorists.