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To: Albion Wilde
Noted that Michelle Obama, when she met the Queen, went with the bare-leg Hollywood look and also broke protocol by trying to hug the Queen

I seem to be unusual in America, but I object to those who think we should address foreigners by their titles or deferential forms of address.

For instance, I don't think a duke should be addressed by an American, in America, as "Your Grace."

I'm an American, and I don't recognize titles of nobility.

If I ever go to UK, in politeness I will attempt, no doubt ineptly, to follow the local customs in such matters. But then I expect foreigners, in politeness, to accept American customs when they come here.

I make exceptions for foreign heads of state, such as the Queen, when visiting America. But that's a nod to the sovereignty of her nation, not to her as a person.

I get seriously torked when commenters on the NRO website routinely refer to Conrad Black as Lord Black.

65 posted on 02/04/2014 8:09:25 AM PST by Sherman Logan
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To: Sherman Logan

I don’t favor Americans bowing to foreign heads of state — at all! But certain dress protocol respectful of the office, such as avoiding showing a lot of nude skin, as well as respecting a head-of-state’s personal preferences about whether a foreign official or his wife can lumber up and hug an 86-yearr-old woman are a matter of diplomatic courtesy that should be observed.


70 posted on 02/04/2014 9:28:24 AM PST by Albion Wilde (The less a man knows, the more certain he is that he knows it all.)
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