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I really can't believe people actually give 2 second's thoughts to this. What's he supposed to do give him a custom handshake and chest bump? It's Japanese custom and it's respectful. Better than giving him the finger and kicking him in the scrotom like some of these conservatives would've wanted him to.
Like I said, if this is what conservatives are wrapping themselves around, re-election will be a cakewalk. Obama won't even have to campaign.
If your argument is that Obama was only showing respect for foreign customs what does it say about his failure to bow before the queen of England? Was he intentionally disrespecting her and the British people?
And while we're at it, how about Obama showing respect for our customs and traditions? Our Founding Fathers are probably turning over in their graves at the sight of an American president bowing before a monarch. Equality is a bedrock principle upon which they established republicanism (as it was for the French. Can you even imagine a French president bowing before a monarch?). It is enshrined in the Constitution such that American officials are precluded from accepting any mark of social ranking.
It appears, however, that Democrats have a proclivity toward royalty and social classes. How long did we have to hear about the Kennedy's as America's royalty?
* sigh * This is why I hate conservatives who do not even bother learning about other cultures and believe that the USA is some sort of world empire that snubs other cultures. NEWSFLASH! IT AIN'T THE 1800's ANYMORE IDIOTS!!!!!!
Cultural lesson number 1, Japanese customs, by a man who has gone to Japan many a time and has a Japanese wife:
BOWING IS FOR RESPECT!!! IT IS NOT SUBSERVIENCE! If he were to get on his knees and bow down to the ground with his hands out in front of him, THAT would be subservience! The way that he is bowing is the traditional and correct way to show respect to any member of the royal family.
Think of it this way, just to give your small world mindsets an exercise: when the Pres. visits or gets visited by Queen Elizabeth II of England, according to custom he asks how she is doing "ma'am" and if he can have the honor of shaking her hand. She then (usually) accepts, then he waits until she holds her hand out, like a gentleman. That is tradition. Same d*mn thing with the Japanese and bowing. Bowing is no freakin' big deal. Get over it.
The Japanese newspapers are laughing at Dumbo, and say he looks weak by bowing. He is becoming the laughing stock of the world. He is an incompetent loser. Three more years and he is gone...!
The Japanese newspapers are laughing at Dumbo, and say he looks weak by bowing. He is becoming the laughing stock of the world. He is an incompetent loser. Three more years and he is gone...!
"In Japan, people greet each other by bowing. A bow ranges from a small nod of the head to a long, 90 degree bend at the waist. If the greeting takes place on tatami floor, people get on their knees in order to bow.
When bowing to someone of higher social status, a deeper, longer bow indicates respect. Conversely, a small head nod is casual and informal. However, most Japanese do not expect foreigners to know proper bowing rules and so a nod of the head is usually sufficient.
It is also common to bow to express thanks, to apologize, to make a request or to ask someone a favor. Shaking hands is uncommon among the Japanese, but again, exceptions are made for foreigners."
His bow showed submission, and acknowledged a higher social status to the Japanese leader, or at least it will be percieved. Was he trying to appologize to the Japanese or make a request? Being that we are not a culture of bowing, then why does President Obama feel the need to do so with other world leaders? There is no expectation of our President to take a bow, just as we don't expect that the Japanese shake our hand.
All that said... if you are going to do it, at least understand the culture and the customary way of doing so. President Obama bowing to 90 degrees make him and our society look like idiots.
The sad part was, it was all an effort to kiss their a$$. Trying to win the world popularity contest makes President Obama look ignorant to other cultures. They don't respect the US or any other country for making a bow to their leader, they respect us for our actions as a Nation. Obama needs to learn this.
* sigh * This is why I hate conservatives who do not even bother learning about other cultures and believe that the USA is some sort of world empire that snubs other cultures. NEWSFLASH! IT AIN'T THE 1800's ANYMORE IDIOTS!!!!!!
Cultural lesson number 1, Japanese customs, by a man who has gone to Japan many a time and has a Japanese wife:
BOWING IS FOR RESPECT!!! IT IS NOT SUBSERVIENCE! If he were to get on his knees and bow down to the ground with his hands out in front of him, THAT would be subservience! The way that he is bowing is the traditional and correct way to show respect to any member of the royal family.
Think of it this way, just to give your small world mindsets an exercise: when the Pres. visits or gets visited by Queen Elizabeth II of England, according to custom he asks how she is doing "ma'am" and if he can have the honor of shaking her hand. She then (usually) accepts, then he waits until she holds her hand out, like a gentleman. That is tradition. Same d*mn thing with the Japanese and bowing. Bowing is no freakin' big deal. Get over it.
Did his wife ask for the "honor, ma'am" of touching Her Majesty's back? Queen Victoria is rolling in her grave.
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