From The LA Times:
How low will the new American president go for the world's royalty?
This photo will get Democrat President Obama a lot of approving nods in Japan this weekend, especially among the older generation of Japanese who still pay attention to the royal family living in its downtown castle. Very low bows like this are a sign of great respect and deference to a superior.
To some in the United States, however, an upright handshake might have looked better. RememberMichelle Obama casually patting Britain's Queen Elizabeth on the back during their Buckingham Palace visit? America's royalty tends to make movies and get bad reviews and lots of money as a sign of respect.
Is there no one left in the State Department who can give the Naked Emperor a clue? After bowing to the Saudi King, you think Obama would have learned that the President of The United State, leader of FREE men and women, does not bow to royalty from anywhere.
I think Obama and his administration must have thought the outrage of his bowing to the Saudi king had everything to do with the guy being Saudi and nothing to do with respecting his position as a leader of free people. Perhaps they will all learn after this, but don’t hold you breath.
By the way, Politico is reporting that Obama labeled himself as “America’s first Pacific president”. At this stage he might as well bill himself as anything he likes, because one thing is for sure he is pretty foreign when it comes to being an American.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: The La Times
Via: Politico
Posts
12 comments:
American Power tracked back with (the best video evah!), 'Bowing Before Monarchs and Tyrants: Obama 'Restores' America's World Standing With His Head Down - UPDATE: REAGAN DIDN'T BOW!!'.
Bowing is considered a sign of respect as well as salutation in both Japan and Korea. I'm just surprised Obama didn't get the emperor to bow to him!
"Bow Wow"! LOL .... Yes Clifton, he's a real chameleon. And he just makes me so sick.
I really think that Obama cant help himself. I wonder if he realizes that this diminishes him as leader of the free world.
Han no Kinyobe-san,
You should know that The Emperor's gesture (at least what you can see from the picture) was more than emough of an acknowledgement of Obama's obsequious groveling.
Truth be told, were I granted an audience with The Emperor, I would bow as low as Obama did. But I would do so out of respect to The Emperor and because I am not a head of state. The precedent of not bowing as low to The Emperor of Japan by a U.S. dignitary was arguably started by General MacArthur who, by all accounts, felt the monarchy important for the stability of past-war Japan. MacArthur "tolerated" Hirohito (while he had Japanese war criminals executed) but did not grovel before him. Strangely enough, Hirohito (天皇陛下)is said to have abandoned a lot of the royal trappings when he saw the destruction wrought during the last days of World War II. He addressed the people publicly and directly (on the radio) for the first time and, when MacArthur came to govern the reconstruction of Japan, Hirohito often made visits to MacArthur's HQ -- absolutely unheard of for a Japanese Emperor.
I am given to understand from previous Google excursions, that Bill Clinton was taken to task by the NYT for "almost bowing to Akihito.
Osumashi, that is priceless! I wouldn't be the least bit concerned that our current President showed respect for customs in other countries if he gave one damn about his own. Enough with the apology tours.
The funny thing is, I don't recall him bowing at all to Queen Elizabeth.
Obama: Chameleon in Chief... all things to all people and changes his identity more often than most people change their underwear.
He has no identity of his own and has to reflect back that of whomever he is addressing. Watch how he affects a southern accent in Alabama, a midwestern accent in Chicago... you get the picture.
Maybe had his mom and dad not abandoned him as a small child, he would have developed his own - good, bad, or otherwise but still his own.
Richard Nixon was born and raised in California and served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater during WWII.
He first ran for office in California and he spent much of his time in the White House dealing with two East Asian nations.
He was our first Pacific President.
Janelle, Obama will ingratiate himself to anyone if he thinks it will get him ahead but at the end of the day, it's all about him. When he's not busy making America look foolish, he's patting himself on the back.
Woof! Sarah Palin would have known what to do! She would have brought Levi Johnston along and kicked his ass all over the place in front of The Emperor! In all seriousness I am Albert the Avatar German Shepherd and I am the author of Albert Loves Sarah Palin, a pro Sarah Palin blog for the two million residents of virtual reality! After all, we don't want America going to the --- uh--- Demo-nazis!
Osumashi, I agree! Patting oneself on the back is a foolish gesture, but it only reflects on Obama.
Post a Comment