This week's Feedback takes a royal turn, just in time for the Queen's Day celebrations here in the Netherlands, including Queen Wilhelmina (seen below) in Arkansas, Queen Beatrix in the Netherlands, some very naughty posters and problems with presidents at the United Nations.
"I saw your story titled: "Fires and tornadoes wreak havoc in US" about my town of Mena, Arkansas.
I just wanted to let you know that our town has deep historical associations with the Dutch people. Our state park is named in honour of Queen Wilhelmina. There is a lodge in the heart of the park we call the castle in the clouds. For more info and pictures you can google "Queen Wilhelmina State Park Mena, Arkansas"
Thank you for you story."
Several Dutch queens seem to be making the news these days, with the discussion over whether Queen Beatrix (pictured left) will announce her abdication anytime soon, leaving the Netherlands with a king, [see Will Prince Willem-Alexander soon be king? by Nicola Chadwick].
Poster boys
But it is her mother, the late Queen Mother, Juliana, who died in 2004, whose birthday is actually celebrated as the famous Dutch "Queen's Day" on April 30, and it is that holiday has been causing a bit of controversy.
This year is the 100th anniversary of the late queen's both, and posters advertising the huge party that is held in Amsterdam on her birthday have eft some folks "not amused".
According to the news feature Queen's Day invitations spark controversy by Johan van Slooten:
"The city has put up large billboards to promote the events in its long running "I Amsterdam" marketing campaign. Using the tag line 'April 30: Best party in the world', the faces of world leaders are photo-shopped into stock photos of previous Queen's Day celebrations in the Dutch capital.
One poster shows a scantily clad woman wearing a huge orange wig, holding her hands up in a celebratory mood. That may sound like an ordinary party picture, except that the girl's face has been replaced that of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton."
Check out the article to find out how French President Nicolas Sarkozy looks with an orange feather boa, and to see what happened to Messrs Obama and Putin.
Several of our readers/listeners wrote in and seem to have found it all in the name of a good laugh, like Joseph from Australia, who wrote:
"Top photos - Great fun. Only a wowser or a Canadian would be offended. (Wowser is an Australian slang term for a party-pooper)."
Although we could not possibly comment on either the possible existence or possible lack of humour in Canada, it is obvious the photos were enjoyed. A sentiment echoed by Q [no country cited], who wrote:
"First time I found a politician's image funny! Great touch, even for a pro-monarchical celebration. Congrats."
However, an almost equal number of listeners/readers were not so amused, like Andre [no country cited], who wrote:
"Pushing it to the limit - that's typically DUTCH!"
And, Eduard Kalsbeek [no country cited], was very clear:
"Extremely POOR taste ! Without permission, it is not right."
Ooooh.. those presidents/that president
And finally something very different, a meeting of presidents that many found not right, on many different levels, and wrote in to tell us so.
According to Ahmadinejad triggers walkout at UN conference by Pieternel Gruppen:
"Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad caused commotion on the first day of the United Nations' anti-racism conference by delivering a verbal attack on the Israeli government, causing delegates from many nations to walk out of the conference hall...
Countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands had decided to stay away from the summit. But the remaining EU delegations left the room on Monday (see photo below) when the Iranian president lashed out at Israel with the remark that it had Israel had "established a totally racist government in occupied Palestine" after 1948."
Madi Helfrich from Oregon in the USA wrote:
"This is crazy. There is already so much tension going through these two groups. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should have not said things like that. That may be his opinion and the country's opinion but also for him to say that the Holocaust never happened doesn't just affect the Jews in Israel and Palistine but the U.S., Poland, Dutch, France, Germany, etc.
The Holocaust happened and to claim that it never happened makes me and others angry. The Iran president didn't need to make the meeting go in that direction."
John Bassey from Nigeria directed his anger at those staying away [edited, full text on website]:
"It's a shame that the highest government in the world (UN) is no longer respected anymore simply because a country (or it's representative) thinks some other rep. is going to rain words of abuse on him or his country...
I would just say, that all those withdrawing are killing the effort of the United Nations to make the world a safer planet."
Whereas Sandra from the Netherlands was angry with the UN:
"I agree with Van Baalen, the UN is worthless when protecting human rights since the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human rights. Giving voice to these dictator regimes that only want to show hatred towards Israel makes the UN lose it's legitimacy."
With all of the serious questions and problems of the planet, no wonder the Netherlands is looking forward to a bit of a party.
Enjoy your Queen's Day.
Tags: Amsterdam, Arkansas, Barack Obama, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Nicolas Sarkozy, Queen Beatrx, Queen Juliana, Queen Wilhelmina, Queen's Day, Willem-Alexander