Queen Elizabeth Forgot To Warn Indonesian Minister About Michelle Obama!

Must be a slow news day.

Remember the headlines?

• Michelle Obama Hugs Queen Elizabeth, Stirs Controversy
• Michelle Obama hugs Queen - breaks royal protocol!
• Queen Elizabeth hugs First Lady Michelle Obama? Holy crumpets!

That was just last year.

Now Michelle Obama has shaken hands with an Indonesian Minister:

Once the wait for President Barack Obama's return was over, Indonesian anticipation turned to another question: Would a conservative Muslim government minister shake the first lady's hand?

He says he did, but not by choice. Footage on YouTube shows otherwise, sparking a debate that has lit up Facebook, Twitter and the rest of the blogosphere.

"I tried to prevent (being touched) with my hands but Mrs. Michelle held her hands too far toward me (so) we touched," Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring told tens of thousands of followers on Twitter.

While Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, the vast majority practice a moderate form of the faith. But Sembiring has flaunted his piety, making a point of avoiding contact with women who are not related to him.

Last year, it turned out that it was a case of much ado about nothing:

A Buckingham Palace spokesman who asked not to be identified because of palace policy said he could not remember the last time the queen had displayed such public affection with a first lady or dignitary.

"It was a mutual and spontaneous display of affection," he said. "We don't issue instructions on not touching the queen."

And this year's incident? I don't know, and I don't really care.
But it is nice to see Facebook and Twitter being used for what it was originally intended.

Technorati Tag: Michelle Obama.