DoubleQuote: “forgoes a headscarf and sparks a backlash”

[ by Charles Cameron — diplomacy and dispute.. ]

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One of the simplest uses of the DoubleQuotes format is to take the sting out of an accusation. Michelle Obama was recently criticized for not wearing a headscarf during the Obamas’ recent visit to Saudia Arabia:

Barbara Bush did the same…

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But of course, the gander can be cooked as easily as the goose, so a DoubleQuote can also be used to put the sting into the accusation — as when the complaint is made that the First Lady did indeed wear a headscarf in Indonesia — so why not in Saudi Arabia?

Maybe the fact that she was visiting a mosque in Indonesia has something to do with it?

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On the subject of diplomatic protocol, there’s a terrific quote about Queen Elizabeth II and the late Crown Prince Abdullah going the rounds. You’ve probably seen it, but I’m thinking of making it the opening anecdote of my upcoming book on coronation and monarchy — yup, I have an agent nibbling at the idea — so here it is, as I first encountered it in tweet form from Shashank Joshi:

Sherard Cowper-Coles' anecdote about #KingAbdullah and the Queen at Balmoral in 1998 (reminded by @Doylech): pic.twitter.com/SO9GSp2RR9

— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) January 23, 2015

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Sources:

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And for extra points, Her Majesty the Badass Feminist in her Range Rover:

Sorry, no headscarf — you’ve already seen HM in hijab in my post Birmingham, a little light relief in tough times.