I was reading reactions from Nobel Peace Laureates to the events of 9-11 at http://www.thecommunity.com/crisis/ , and noticed that the Dalai Lama addressed President Bush as “Your Excellency.” That got me thinking, how do foreigners address the President, generally (I beleive that Americans generally go with “Mr. President”)? Furthermore, how do Americans address foreign heads-of-state/dignitaries? How do they (the HoS/Digs) address each other? Is it different? In short, what’s the deal?
[Izzard]
“Je suis le President de Burundi.”
…
“Ma Grandmere est flambe.”
[/Izzard]
I’m sure the Office of Protocol in the State Department has a very lonnnnggggg list of what everybody is called throughout the world.
I’m sure it varies widely.
I remember back during the Gulf War crisis, Bush the First adressed the Iraqi leader by his first name in his speeches. Didn’t even pronounce it right (he pronounced it like “sodom”). I recall thinking that this was very disrespectful and improper. Even if you don’t feel that Mr. Hussein is deserving of respect (and I certainly don’t), I thought that it diminished the dignity of the president to refer to him that way. Mind you, I think you and I can call him Saddam if we want, or Sodamn Insane, or King Assfucker. But the pres, in his official capacity, should use his proper title.