There was a minor international gasp!!! this week when the Michelle Obama touched the Queen this week. This was seen as a break of traditional protocol when dealing with the monarchy. This protocol includes that you are only allowed to touch her hand when she reaches out her hand first…and the touch cannot be a hand shake…it has to be very gentle. Some stories have traced this tradition to the fact that the Queen is technically in the position of the defender of the faith as the head of the Church of England. In the past, this position was thought to come with powers of healing, so you could not touch her…she could only touch you.

Whatever the reason is, it only drives home the reality of a bloodline monarchy. It truly offends my sense of democracy and the ideal that all people should be treated as being born equal. I do not think I could grow up in a country with a monarchy…I think it would be very frustrating…