Dronningens Nytårstale 2003

[Lagirl]

Queen Margethe's New Year's Speech was shown live on the internet, thanks to Denmark's TV2 so those Danes not living in Denmark could see the traditional speech she makes each New Year's Eve.. We, my husband and I watched it while here in northern Sweden.

Here it is in Danish.. I don't have time to translate it, but I will be on the look out for an English translation.



Hendes Majestæt Dronningens Nytårstale 2003
Igen står et nyt år for døren, et skudår oven i købet: 366 dage, 8.784 timer - mere end 500.000 minutter. Man bliver helt forpustet bare ved at tænke på det. Året bliver jo næsten opbrugt, før det er begyndt, ved sådan at stilles op i tal. Arbejdstid, fritid, ja sågar kvalitetstid prøver vi at sætte i system for at nå alt det, vi skal, og alt det, vi burde gøre - og så noget af det, vi allerhelst vil have tid til.

Vi savner den roligt fremadskridende tid, hvor årstiderne veksler med hver sit ansigt, sine gøremål, hvor uge lægger sig til uge, og månederne følger på hinanden i en rolig rytme. Sådan føles det bare ikke nu om stunder. Vi lever i en tid, hvor der kommunikeres som aldrig før. Uanset, hvor vi er, kan vi få en besked igennem angående vort arbejde, og vi kan sende en hilsen til den anden side af jordkloden og få svar næsten med det samme. Afstandene er ophævet, vi kan holde kontakt, og det går så dejlig hurtigt.

Den nye teknik giver os hidtil uanede muligheder. Men på et væsentligt punkt kommer den til kort. Selv nok så mange e-mails og SMS-beskeder, og hvad det nu alt sammen hedder, kan ikke erstatte den personlige kontakt, det menneskelige nærvær. Vi bliver let så opslugte og fortravlede, at vi glemmer, at der også skal være tid til at være sammen, til at tale sammen.

Meget er sket, siden det sidst var nytårsaften, i verden som helhed, i Danmark og for hver enkelt af os. Mere end nogensinde mærker vi, at begivenhederne i verden omkring os berører os alle, og at vi ikke lever isoleret her i landet.

I det år, der er gået, er der sket meget, som har sat sindene i bevægelse. Krigen i Irak, hvori også Danmark har deltaget, spørgsmål på den hjemlige dagsorden og begivenheder fra vores fjernere eller nærmere fortid har affødt diskussioner, som kan være nok så skarpe. Det overrasker os måske lidt, for her til lands har vi nok tradition for at sige vores mening, men helst sådan, at vi også kan blive enige. For tiden er det, som om meningerne brydes om næsten alle forhold i samfundet, store såvel som små.

Men er det nu så ilde en gang imellem at sige sin mening uden at lægge fingrene imellem? Det kan klare begreberne både for én selv og over for andre, og det kan rense luften, når følelser og tanker får lov at komme frem. Man skal ikke give køb bare for at få ro. Der, hvor det virkelig gælder, skal der klare linjer til; for gensidig respekt opnår man bedst, når man også véd, hvad alle parter står for. Først her kan virkelig samtale begynde.

Men det er vigtigt, at det netop bliver sam-tale: at tale sammen, at lytte til den anden part, så at det ikke bliver to enetaler mellem døve, hvor enhver holder på sit og ikke opfatter, hvad den anden har at sige, fordi man tror at vide det på forhånd. For den anden parts meninger kunne jo have forskubbet sig, bare lidt; og det kunne jo være, at man selv tog fejl. Man kan sagtens komme ud for at være enig med én, som man aldrig havde forventet at dele opfattelse med.

Den åbenhed, som vi bør udvise over for andre meninger, skal vi huske også at vise over for andre mennesker, helt uanset om de giver sig til kende eller forholder sig tavse. For det er ikke enhver givet let at finde ord og dermed blive hørt. De fleste mennesker har så meget mere i sig, end vi forestiller os; det berigende ved samtale er jo, at vi får øre for de mange forskellige klange, som ethvert menneske rummer. Mange spændinger i dagens samfund stammer måske netop fra de samtaler, som aldrig finder sted.

Danmarks internationale engagement medfører, at mange danske gør tjeneste i verdens brændpunkter, eller hvor katastrofen har ramt. Det gælder forsvar og politi såvel som dem, der er med i nødhjælpsarbejde. Jeg sender dem alle en varm nytårshilsen med tak for deres indsats og offervilje. De nyder stor anerkendelse overalt, og vi herhjemme kan godt være stolte af dem.

Rundt omkring i næsten alle jordens egne bor der danskere eller mennesker af dansk oprindelse. Til daglig er de travlt optaget af det, der omgiver dem, men her ved jule- og nytårstid går deres tanker måske tilbage til det Danmark, de forlod, eller som de véd, at de har rod i. De skal vide, at vi herhjemme også tænker på dem, og jeg ønsker dem et godt nytår. Det samme gælder de danske syd for grænsen. Lige dybt forbundne med Danmark som med den egn, de bebor, nyder de stor respekt, og jeg sender dem mine varmeste hilsener.

Et godt nytår ønsker jeg for Færøerne og det færøske folk; overalt hvor jeg møder færinger eller får øje på det færøske flag, fører det altid mine tanker til de øer i det store hav, som jeg holder så meget af.

Til sommer vil Prinsen og jeg på ny besøge Grønland, og vi glæder os over, at Kronprinsparret vil gøre rejsen med. Med et 'på gensyn' ønsker jeg et godt nytår for Grønland og det grønlandske folk.

Selv en nytårsaften går verden ikke i stå. Der er mange funktioner i samfundet, som stadig må holdes gående. Derfor sender jeg en særlig nytårshilsen til enhver, som til vands, til lands eller i luften passer deres dont ganske som sædvanlig. Dem skylder vi alle en tak.
Vi har netop fejret jul, og i aften skyder vi nytår ind med bulder og brag. Vi har været sammen i familien og med gode venner; overalt har der været lys og glade ansigter.

Disse dejlige dage, hvor går de hurtigt! Men for den ensomme, den glemte, den isolerede er det årets tungeste tid, der slæber sig af sted som én uoverkommelig, klæbrig masse, ikke til at skelne fra årets øvrige uger og måneder. Et nyt år; javel, vi skal skrive 2004, men gør det en forskel? Jo, måske det kunne gøre en forskel, hvis vi tænkte os om. Hvis vi forsøgte at gøre noget for hinanden, at tale med hinanden, at lægge mærke til, hvem der er blevet til overs, og vise dem, at vi respekterer dem og også gerne vil drage dem ind i vores travle dagligdag.

Prinsen og jeg og hele vor familie har meget at sige tak for i det år, der er gået. Vi har overalt mødt så megen varme og hjertelig medleven i al vor færden, og særlig i forbindelse med Kronprinsens forlovelse. Det er en begivenhed, som for altid vil præge mindet om det forgangne år, og som får os til at se frem til 2004 med glad forventning.

Jeg véd, at jeg har hele min familie med mig, store som små, når jeg nu ønsker et godt nytår med tak for det gamle og med ønsket om, at det må blive et godt år for vort land og for hver enkelt, og at 2004 må bringe nyt håb også for dem, der føler sig mest forladt.

GUD BEVARE DANMARK.

http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php?...164&forsidetop

[Askepot]

Wasn't it a lovely speech this year ! - The language used was sometimes a bit difficult and old-fashioned for me to translate. However, I have made an attempt for those that don't speak Danish at all - Like Linda, I tried to find the official English translation on the net, but failed.

I have put ??? where I got stuck. Perhaps, if someone is really good at Danish-Enlish translation, they might offer some advice at these points.

I am embarrassed to tell you how long this took me ... I have tried to give a colloquial English translation rather than a literal one! It's what we are supposed to do these days at uni. Hope I have not been too liberal in my interpretation.

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A new year is once again ahead of us. A leap year. into the bargain. 366 days, 8,784 hours - more than 500,000 minutes. You get completely out of breath just thinking about it. The year is almost spent by (calculating??) the numbers like this, We try to organise work time, leisure time, yes even quality time in order to do everything we have to, everything we ought to do and thus have time for that which we would do by preference.

We miss the quiet passing time as the seasons change with each one having it’s own character (face), it’s character, where one week runs into the next and the months follow each other in a calm rhythm. Only it does not feel like that nowadays. We live in a time where we can communicate as never before. Regardless of where we are, we can get a message though regarding our work. And we can send a greeting to the other side of the globe and get a reply almost immediately. Distance is abolished. We can stay in contact and it goes so beautifully quickly.

The new technology gives us hitherto undreamt of possibilities but at an essential point it fails.(Selv nok ???) e-mails and text messages and whatever they are now called cannot replace personal contact human closeness. We easily become so absorbed and busy that we forget that there also must be time to be together, to converse.

A lot has happened in the world as a whole since last New Year’s Eve, in Denmark and for each and every one of us. We notice, more than ever before, events in the world around us touch us all and that we don’t live in isolation her in this country.

In the year which is (just) gone, much has happened to set your mind / thoughts in motion. The war in Iraq, in which Denmark also took part. Questions regarding the domestic agenda and developments (??) in the far or more immediate future have stimulated discussions which then can be clear cut (??). Perhaps it surprises us a bit because in this country we have a tradition of speaking our minds but this way is preferable so we can reach an agreement. Because it is a time when opinions are divided about almost every aspect of society, large as well as small.

But is it so bad now occasionally to come out with your opinion without *****footing around? It can make matters clearer both for oneself and also for others and it can clear the air when feelings and thoughts are allowed to come out. You should not give in, for the sake of peace and quiet. Where it really matters you should have clear guidelines. Because you also achieve mutual respect best when you know what all sides stand for. Until then, dialogue cannot really begin.

But it is important that it should be a “discussion”. To speak together, to listen to the other side so that it does not become two monologues between the deaf., where each side sticks to its guns and won’t understand what the other has to say. Because you think you know it (i.e. their opinion) in advance. However the other side’s opinion indeed could have shifted just a bit and it could be that you yourself have got it wrong. You could in fact end up being in agreement with someone who you never had expected to share opinions with.

The openness, which we ought to display towards other’s opinions, we should also remember to show for other people, absolutely regardless of whether they are forthcoming or they remain silent. Because not everyone finds it easy to find the (correct) words and be heard. Most people have so much more in them that we imagine. The rewards of conversation are such that we get to hear the many different sounds that person contains. You see, a lot of the tension in today’s society perhaps stem from conversations that never take place.

Denmark’s international commitments involve many Danes serving in the world’s hot spots or where catastrophes have occurred. This applies to the armed forces and police as well as those who are involved in relief work. I send them all a warm New Year’s greeting with thanks for their efforts and spirit of self-sacrifice. They receive great recognition everywhere and we, here at home, can really be proud of them.

Everywhere you go, in almost every region in the world, there are Danes or people of Danish descent. Ordinarily they are busily engaged in that which surrounds them but perhaps at Christmas time and New Year their thoughts go back to the Denmark that they left behind or to where they know their roots lie. They should know that here at home we also think about them and I wish them a Happy New Year. The same applies to the Danish south of the border. Just as strongly connected to Denmark as with the region they inhabit, they enjoy (???) great respect and I send them my warmest greetings.

Happy New Year wishes for the FO and the FO people. Everywhere I meet FO people or catch sight of the FO Flag, It takes me (back) to the Island in the great ocean, which I hold in such great esteem.

In the summer the Prince and I are visiting Greenland and we are looking forward to the fact that the Crown Prince is going with us. So happy new year to Greenland and the Greenlandic people till we meet again.

Just because it’s New Years Eve the entire world does not stop. There are a lot of tasks in society that still have to continue. I therefore send a special New Year greeting to those at sea, in the countryside or in the air who are getting on with their affairs as normal, We owe them all a (big) thank you. We have just celebrated Christmas and this evening we are shooting (???) the New Year in with a bang and a crash (???) We have been together with our families and good friends and there has been candle and happy faces everywhere.

These lovely days. How quickly they pass! But they are the heaviest / most demanding times for the lonely, the forgotten, the isolated. The days drag by like an overwhelmingly viscous mass indistinguishable from the rest of the year’s weeks and months. A New Year yes, we have to write 2004 but does it make a difference. Well, perhaps it could make a difference if we thought about it. If we tried to do something for each other, tried to talk to each other, to notice who has been left out and show them that we respect them and would like to bring them into our busy everyday lives.


The prince or entire family and I have a lot to say thank you for in this year, which has just gone. Everywhere, we have met so much warmth and heart felt sympathy (empathy??) in all our activities. Especially in connection with the Crown Prince’s engagement. It is an event that will always be remembered / associated with the forgone year and which makes us look forward to 2004 with happy expectation.

I know that I have my entire family with me, large and small when I now wish you at happy new year with thanks for the old and with the hope that it will become at good year for our country and for each (and every) individual. And that 2004 brings hope also to those who feel most abandoned.
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Phew !!!!