Meghan and Harry spotted out and about - ¡Viva Colombia! Edition (Part 7)

[skullbabe]

Welcome to Part 7 of our positive threads, where we explore all things Meghan and Harry. From the causes they champion and their business ventures to Meghan’s (and occasionally Harry’s 😉) fashion moments, there’s a lot to chat about. This is a drama-free space, so let’s keep it upbeat! High five to @queentim for the original inspiration.

'[Colombia] was the first LatAm country to have an Invictus team!'

Yes, they joined in 2022 as did Nigeria and Israel, @TallerSally, and the Düsseldorf Games in 2023 saw Israel, Colombia and Nigeria joining the Invictus Games for the first time.

H&M have now visited Nigeria and Colombia and met with Invictus athletes, so presumably their next trip will be to Israel. Isn't something planned for October?

Yes, a white saviour press offensive doesn't do justice to the rich heritage of Colombia, or offer any contributions to the challenges faced there.

Some nifty quick changes from one outfit to another though! The focus was very much on the clothes, not the host nation.

Yes, @Baital "white saviours" is an apt phrase. I think it's a shame how some countries just get used for celebrity fashion shoots. There's so much more to highlight, but it would need people with more awareness.

I'm thinking that yes the focus has been on the clothes because this is what Meghan is known for - a clothes horse - and not much else other than scandal. People find it difficult to see philanthropy and care from someone who has publicly criticised and insinuated about so many others. They think " when will she turn on us?". She would you drown you if you were trying to save her.

It would need valuing complexity as well - of cultural diversity and the conflicts that have created that diversity.

'Meghan looks wonderful' fan girling doesn't provide any value, the host country is simply a backdrop to her rapidly changing wardrobe choices.

No, plus I think it's wrong to use people like that. If Meghan wants to do a fashion shoot for Hello! Or sell her jam, I don't have a problem, let her. I just don't know why she and Harry have to pretend to be some sort of King and Queen or Presidential couple. It's really weird.

I think the focus was almost entirely on the subsequent documentary film...

The people, the country, the culture was just a useful backdrop for them to pose as philanthropists. Meghan needed all those changes of clothes for the film optics.

Who are they representing on these tours? Not Britain or the US. I think that is why everyone is having difficulty understanding what it's all about. It costs a fortune to host them and what country can afford that these days? I just don't get it.

The thing is though "conversational" use of a language is a known term meaning you can carry out basic conversation without being fluent. I have what is universally known as conversational French from French GCSE. I can ask where is the bank, I'd like that cake please, good morning how are you. (Shout out to the Tricoloure handbook!) Fluent is different; it means you speak the language, well - fluently, in all situations and through every medium.

I know what you mean though.

Re. the first part of your post - I'm honestly not a troublemaker or someone that has a reputation for disrupting these H&M threads at all. But, it's widely reported -and can therefore I feel be taken as fact -that the Columbian public were kept away from all H&M events unless specifically invited, and all royal appearances were strictly guarded and controlled. So how would this raise the profile of Columbia as somewhere to visit? As it specifically and intentionally didn't really show the country and its people as is.

Addressing your second paragraph I also don't think cyber bullying is a top concern for Columbian teens. Fear of cartels and their own government I think would rank higher. Cyber bullying would be a more relevant issue in H&Ms homeland so I do wonder why they travelled to Columbia to mention it there.

No shit stirring here; I'm interested in reasoned replies and happy to be educated if I'm wrong!

Addressing your second paragraph I also don't think cyber bullying is a top concern for Columbian teens. Fear of cartels and their own government I think would rank higher. Cyber bullying would be a more relevant issue in H&Ms homeland so I do wonder why they travelled to Columbia to mention it there.

This, 100%.

I don't know who they think they are fooling - but tbf, they seem to have mesmerised some people..possibly with their designer clothes and jingly jools.

Cyber bullying would be a more relevant issue in H&Ms homeland so I do wonder why they travelled to Columbia to mention it there.

There will be some big UN conference about around child safety happening in Colombia in November.

I've seen on-line suggestions the Sussex's have applied to run some event as part of that and online safety stuff may be in support of that but no idea if that's true or just wild speculation which happens around them a lot.

@Theredfoxfliesatmidnight

Many people were unaware of the significant Afro Colombian presence in Colombia - myself included. The choices to highlight Afro Colombian culture and their profile was very intentional on the part of the Vice President. I for one have had my interest piqued by the places chosen and in turn have learned lots more about Francia’s background as a social activist and advocate for climate justice.

Latin American teenagers check social media an average of 67 times a day compared to the global average of 45 times - hence media literacy is indeed a concern for some Colombian teens. Not all Colombians would say that cartels are the biggest cause for their concern - and it was very evident from how Colombia was showcased that this is indeed not all Colombia has to offer. As I said - I was interested in the above claim because it challenged some of my preconceptions about Colombia just like seeing so many people from the diaspora did. I’m sure others will not be interested or actively want to dismiss what people who are interested say they have learned from this trip - that’s their prerogative and to each their own.

I'm very surprised that you didn't know about Afro Colombians, @skullbabe . The Spanish were prolific slave traders, using Africans, in common with most other nations of Europe and beyond.
Millions of Africans were traded in this way, and their descendants are in all South American countries, as well as Central America.
There's quite a colonial legacy in the Americas.

When I was learning Spanish at uni one of our tutors was from Colombia (it was great, we had tutors from all over Latin America and from Spain, pretty good for a wee city in the south of NZ). She told me they'd call me a frog in Colombia because my skin is so pale. Which was nice.

Is 6% significant? That is the % of the Afro Colombian population. I would have said higher if had been asked previously. These countries do have issues with the predominance of the descendants of the Conqistadors in political and economic life over indigenous peoples and slave descendants. This is why the VP is viewed negatively by some as she is vocal about much that only applies to 6% ( according to what I have read).

Well your idea of "an unmitigated success" differs hugely from mine.

And it makes my teeth itch when someone is so obsequious!

I agree - I have a degree in French, plus A level Spanish, but it's more years ago than I want to count!

I can communicate in both languages, but I'm far from fluent. Use it or lose it kind of thing!

'O' level German and Latin have pretty much deserted me now, more so German actually than Latin funnily enough!

More praise for Harry and Meghan’s global philanthropy in the Vanity Fair article below.

It’s been quite amusing to watch most of the British media and their disciples’ contortions about “what the hell was this Colombia faux royal trip all about?????!!!”.

It’s as if they’re so desperate for M&H to fit into the ‘royal outcast losers in exile’ box they’ve been trying to force them into for the past almost 5 years, that every time they do something that’s out of that box (which, frankly, is pretty much everything they do), their haters in the media and elsewhere are left scratching their heads and fuming with rage.

It’s not just amusing, actually, it’s hilarious! M&H are like whack-a-mole, try to knock them down into one hole and out they pop from another! 🤣🤩

It’s certainly to their credit that despite all the media and social media negativity, M&H maintain a laser-sharp focus on the causes they are activists and philanthropists for: mental health online, veterans issues and Invictus (I always call out Harry’s lovely work with Scotty’s Little Soldiers), women’s empowerment, their new online Parent Network, etc.

Folks who are able to focus on what matters have no issues obsessing about the “why” of M&H trips such as this Colombia one, and the Vanity Fair article makes this point quite clearly - defo worth a read.

I will later post some extracts from the VF article from behind their firewall.

https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/meghan-markle-and-prince-harry-have-reinvented-the-royal-tour-colombia

Yes, it's interesting that the term "royal tour" keeps being used. This does indicate their strong desire to be official royalty. I think they need to be honest now. Say openly that they love the titles, the status and privilege. They love tours where they are lauded by Heads of State or their deputies. They want the headlines and their pictures in the tabloids.
I think it's a strange situation and am not really sure why they're doing this, but I suppose they're a bit stuck really. It'll go on and on I suppose.

The Vanity Fair article is quite funny - full of inaccuracies and falling over themselves to gush over Harry and Meghan. It does read as a paid for puff piece.

Meghan 'delivered remarks' 😁. For 'remarks' read 'the usual waffly word salad':
"Because we are in your country my husband and I can feel this embrace from Colombia—it’s incredible,” she said. “The culture, the history—all of it was a dream— this trip was a dream. I can feel this community and this is the feeling that is the best thing right now.”

'The duchess connected earnestly with a group of regular people in a country other royals might not have been able to visit, at least not in an official capacity...' - so VF either didn't do their research or are deliberately ignoring Sophie's visit highlighting the fight against VAWG.

' For the last few years, Meghan and Harry have visited classrooms across the US and the UK, and Meghan has given similar remarks about the importance of female empowerment in cities from Los Angeles to Austin to Abuja, Nigeria.'
Well, they haven't visited classrooms in the UK for a good while, and while there are several comments in the VF article about them' giving remarks' (which is an odd phrase), weirdly, the 'remarks' are never articulated.

I've read the article twice and it really is a load of puffed up flim-flam which actually tells us very little.

I wonder how much these flattering puff pieces cost?

MagdaLenor

I dunno.
Can't cost much to get people to throw together a few meaningless words and random emojis on MN.
Vanity Fair probably charges more though.

Good point. It's extraordinary how Meghan can say so many words and mean nothing. It's actually quite a talent.