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Jordan's Queen Uses YouTube to Bash Clichés

Rania's youth-focused campaign focuses on Arab stereotypes

By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 6, 2008 7:58 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Jordan’s Queen Rania is taking on Arab stereotypes through a venue not particularly known for engendering serious discourse: YouTube. The Christian Science Monitor follows her successes and frustrations as she self-publishes videos, hoping the experiment can teach Arabs and Westerners more about each other. Rania began the series by asking Westerners to submit their stereotypes about Arabs.

“It was a leap into the unknown for me. But to be honest, everything has exceeded my expectations—the good and the bad,” said Raina, 37, who got 1.4 million hits in the first video of a series that continues through next Tuesday. “There's more misunderstanding than I had appreciated, more anger, more bias, but also more interest, more support, and more engagement.”

Queen Rania of Jordan is hoping to overcome suspicion and misconceptions between Arabs and Westerners through her YouTube site.
Queen Rania of Jordan is hoping to overcome suspicion and misconceptions between Arabs and Westerners through her YouTube site.   (AP Photo/Michael Sawyer)
Queen Rania of Jordan is hoping to overcome suspicion and misconceptions between Arabs and Westerners through her YouTube site.
Queen Rania of Jordan is hoping to overcome suspicion and misconceptions between Arabs and Westerners through her YouTube site.   (AP Photo/Michael Sawyer)
Queen Rania of Jordan is hoping to overcome suspicion and misconceptions between Arabs and Westerners through her YouTube site.
Queen Rania of Jordan is hoping to overcome suspicion and misconceptions between Arabs and Westerners through her YouTube site.   (AP Photo)
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Check out Queen Rania's YouTube site
YouTube

... and her Wikipedia bio
Wikipedia

 
Jordan • YouTube • stereotypes • Arabs • Queen Rania

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