There was a TV ad years ago for army recruitment, depicting a group of American soldiers all wearing sunglasses, arguing with an angry and distressed Iraqi who wanted them out of his country. Guns were pointed, tensions rising. Then along comes a Brit. He stands before the Iraqi and removes his sunglasses so the man could look the soldier in the eye. Tensions drop, the situation is diffused. The Iraqi is placated. Always remove your sunglasses when talking to someone you don't know. This British tip flows from our inherent feel for protocol, good manners and respect. Americans are often regarded as gauche and socially clumsy. They just don't appreciate subtle rules of etiquette. Michael Obama even put his arm around the queen's waist when king nog visited us. You'd have had your head chopped off for that in earlier times.