My country's president was interviewed by a local radio presenter on the day he was celebrating his birthday. Later on that special show, the interviewer allowed listeners to make calls to the station to wish their head of state a happy birthday. As expected, virtually all listeners would say to him ''happy birthday Mr. President,'' but his reply to the greeting is what left me particulary puzzled. Indeed, I could hear him saying ''the same to you'' in response to each I-wish-you-a-happy-birthday greeting, which suggests it was not the slip of the tongue his response. My question is that don't we have limits concerning the use of the phrase ''the same to you'' as a polite answering to those who wish us happy something?
