Quote:
Originally Posted by Untamed
4) His Majesty King Abdullah II, King of Jordan - How the $#@! does he manage to stay in the relative good graces of the arab AND western populations? Reading his background and following some of his initiatives is incredible, considering the stereotypical view westerners have of arabic people. Spending the day seeing the world through his eyes would be fascinating.
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It is because of his father. His father was a very intelligent and charismatic man. Also very humble. He balanced Jordanian needs, western expectations, and Middle Eastern viewpoints to where they all got along. My uncle was friends with his father and is friends with him and he would tell me stories about them all the time, one was about ten years ago, his father was holding a huge banquet for all the world leaders. Everyone was having like a pissing contest as to who had the coolest car. So when it was time to leave, everyone went outside to see what everyone else was leaving in. The King of whatever drove away in a custom bullet proof black Hummer H1, President of somewhere drove away in some Lamborghini, another in a Ferrari, and then the King of Jordan walks out, and everyone is watching to see what he drives away in. He walks down the stairs to the curb, with his son by his side, and proceeds to drive away in a beat up 1986 Ford LTD wagon lol He was humble. He would drive around Amman in a regular car, stopping to talk to his people and ask them how he was doing and what he could do to help his people better. He was loved and respected by most people, and his son is trying to fill those shoes. I've been to Jordan twice and if you go to Amman and walk around the city, and the King is there, you'll probably see him driving around, I did on both occasions.