Last Friday the king Juan Carlos I flew back to Spain from Botswana for surgery. Although the surgery went perfectly well, the important thing is that he had been in Africa with the intention of hunting elephants. This cruel sport is unfortunately still practised around Africa and Asia, but the question is, with the immense crisis Spain has, is it really necessary for him to waste all this crucial money?
Moreover, he knew it was something he shouldn’t be doing at this time of year because he kept it a secret. He would have liked to have kept it that way, but to do so, he should have tried harder not to fall down a step. However, his injury has not been enough to put a stop to what his citizens say about this event.
Do you think it’s politically correct to practise this sport while he sees how many people suffer and how some end up living in the streets? Do you think he has done wrong?
It is amazing that our King has been the first person in accepting such expensive journey knowing it was an incorrect decision as in today’s press conference, he has apologised for what he’s done. At least he’s accepted his mistake! It is not only the fact that he’s gone to Botswana to literally kill elephants and spend a huge amount of money there (around 40.000 dollars), but also the fact that in his Christmas speech he highlighted that everyone such tighten up their belt. Am I the only one who sees a contradiction here?
ReplyDeleteAnother point that I would like to bring into consideration is Queen Sofia’s preoccupation about elephant Susi; an elephant located in the Zoo of Barcelona. Precisely, she complained about its bad conditions, depression and solitude. What about all those families who haven’t got income due to the tremendous number of unemployed people?
Personally I think that our monarchs aren’t giving the Spanish citizens quite a good impression. The whole situation looks as if the elephants were more important that the awful situations that most families are going through in these period of crisis.
When I read this article, the first thing that I felt is astonishment. A King, someone who lives better than anyone and whose only “job” is to represent a country, should give example to the rest of the people and show how to behave, instead of generating so much controversy.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago, he was caught in Russia hunting protected bears. He apologized and no one said anything. But now, he is again caught hunting a protected animal in another country, and what’s more, making pictures of him with the dead elephant. I believe in giving a second chance to those who accept their errors, but no a third. To my way of thinking, the king has already gone over the top. The only question that this suggests me is: is the king useful, or should we establish a republic?
Moreover, these are not the only polemic acts made by the king. The press hasn’t made a big deal about it, but the king has had several lovers, and as a consequence, the Queen dosen’t live with him anymore. She now lives in London. Getting divorced would have obviously been too much for a monarchy which is constantly put into doubt, but I am sure that both of them wouldn’t have minded.
Furthermore, it seems quite Hippocratic the fact that the king recommends people to spend less money, when he is spending thousands of Euros on something illegal, and as it is the king the one who acts this way, the whole country is affected.
In conclusion, I wouldn’t mind having a king which acts as a king should act, but nowadays, our king doesn’t act according to his position, therefore, I think that the figure of the king should disappear once and for all, because we are now living in a modern society which isn’t conditioned by the king’s power, so, what is the point on having a king that gives a bad image of the country?
DAVID VILALTA PÉREZ DE OLAGUER
Well, I was personally outraged with this shocking piece of news!
ReplyDeleteI am quite against the monarchy in the first place and therefore found this easily believable...But that's besides the point.
All I can say is that I am in complete agreement with you David. As you have very well pointed out, what's the use of having a king when he doesn't do anything to help he country and is only a symbol? I mean, when this came out, he was in the news worldwide... What image does that give of our country, when we are suffering a national, economical crisis with more than 20% of the population unemployed?
What really makes me furious is the fact that he went to Africa not for a cause to end famine for example, but to actually hunt elephants (even though I must say, they are not protected and it is legal in Botswana as it contributes to tourism and the country's economy).
By the way, he is the president of honour at WWF/Adena , an organization that focuses on the conservation of nature. How's that for a change?
Nicole, I also agree with you on many things like the obvious contradiction between what he stated at Christmas and what his actions have been. I disagree with you on one thing though. Although Queen Sofia could have been worried about the elephant Susi, this has nothing to do with her husband and his adventures in Africa. As David said, they are practically divorced and she lives in London half the time. The queen did not come back to Spain when she new about her husband's accidant and simply stayed in Greece celebrating the orthodox easter. Yes, she could be concerned about us, but isn't that the king's job in the first place?
In fact, the king went to Africa with one of his long-time lover's,a german woman called Corina Sayn-Wittgenstein. Why don't we just give the queen a break, and let her be worried about elephants if she wants to?
After all of this, I do want to mention that the king apologized and that's pretty big, so I appreciate that too.
From this shocking piece of news, we can analise both sides of the conflict; first of all, how can elephant hunting be a legal or if not legal practiced activity in a 21st world country? and second but most impactant; how can THE KING OF SPAIN even dare to leave his country for elephant hunting which is one of the legendary activities more expensive we can even imagine in the economical situation our country is going through?!
ReplyDeleteAs few other articles pointed before, this was not the first time "MR. Juan Carlos" was caught hunting protected animals, he apologied for his action that time, but, why should we trust him if seven years later he is caught up again? and whatsmore, he apologises again just as same as the last time. On the other hand, we should take into account the situation we're living right know: lets be honest, if Juan Carlos would have been caugh hunting elephants in 2003, when spain was in her best economical situation this history would be diferent. The big deal of it all is the fact that spain is at the border of economic colapse and his maximum leader goes on hunting, and spends thousands.
Furthermore, let's faced it this way: the spanish goverment few months ago stablished an "austerity policy" which means NO USELESS SPENDING and what happens some weeks after this was announced? "King Juan Carlos of spain caught in Botswana hunting protected african elephant".
Moreover, there is, have always been and will always be a discussion : does Spain really need a king? if we think on it, the only role the king has now a days is representative, in other words he has to be an example for all the spaniards. But what kind of example is he giving?
In conclusion, monarchy is today in Spain hanging by a thread with all this scandalism going on, but in the other hand (always keeping in mind that what Juan Carlos did is deniable) we have to step into others people shoes; he is just as us a living creature and has the same rights as we have, and going out to Botswana forms part of his private live in which no one should get into.
LUIS CALSAPEU BONDIA
Lately, the Spanish royal family has suffered a lot of criticism: corruption, shooting accidents, animal hunting... The image of a calm and discrete family they had has disappeared. We already knew about the king’s romantic adventures, but we were quite tolerant with them, we accepted them as part of the family’s private life… until now. This is too much, too many things have happened in a short period of time and we cannot ignore them.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the king’s elephant hunt, I think it is despicable. It doesn’t matter if the money spent comes from our country or from an anonymous rich man, the damage has been made. Not only has he given a frivolous image, while his country is suffering all kind of miseries he is spending tons of money, but he has done it in a horrible and cruel way: hunting wild animals for the pleasure of doing it.
Above all, what I find most ironic is the fact that he is the honorary president of the Spanish branch of WWF. What will their members have to say now?