How low can you go.....
By xfahctor
@xfahctor (14118)
Lancaster, New Hampshire
November 14, 2009 10:00am CST
Ok,there is no denying this one.....it isn't like the bow to the Saudi king where one could, on a stretch, say, "well, maybe it wasn't a bow, maybe it was because the king was shorter"....this....was a bow.
How low will he go? Obama gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a wow bow
November 14, 2009
[i]"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 for a superior......"[/i]
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/11/obama-emperor-akihito-japan.html
6 people like this
11 responses
@JodiLynn (1417)
• United States
14 Nov 09
I work in at a Japanese/Korean owned & operated company, we bow to one another a lot in the course of our duties. I do bow lower to those I respect highly, as a simple sign of my respect, and I get it back as a result.
Bush bowed to the Pope and the Saudi king. Obama has done it now too, big deal, it's the equivalent of a handshake in many places.
2 people like this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
14 Nov 09
Bush and Obama are alike in my opinion, and both are not to be trusted with upholding the Constitution. Or representing to the world, American intersets.
2 people like this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
14 Nov 09
"I do bow lower to those I respect highly, as a simple sign of my respect"
your not the leader of a nation. And I didn't notice the emperor bowing to Obama in respect nor did I notice the Saudi king doing it to Obama in respect.
"Bush bowed to the Pope and the Saudi king"
No Bush didn't bow to the saudi king. He bent down so the Saudi king could place a medalion oround his neck....here's the video
http://imagesource.cnn.com/imagesource/player.swf?streamer=rtmp://isfms.cnn.com/vod&file=mp4:895/05281895&type=video&controlbar=none&autostart=true&width=480&height=324
As to the pope situation. I did see him lower his head to the pope.....which is arguably similar, and since the pope is technicly the head of state of a recognized nation, one could even say it was wrong....
But, I didn't write this thread about Bush.
2 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
15 Nov 09
[b]It is a marrow deep tradition in American culture that we never bow. Period. It is a blatant signal to the rest of the world that we're free because we chose to be. It's symbol of our freedom from "masters" of any stripe. Obama is not a real American, provable by many means. This bowing to everyone he deems "superior"--including bloodthirsty dictators!--says much about his beliefs about himself & this country.
Note that I didn't say "his country." His bows are just another snotty snub of our country & our values.
Maggiepie
"WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"[/b]
2 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
15 Nov 09
[b]Never bow to human leaders, I meant. We always bow to God (& okay, to audiences when they applaud), but not to leaders!!!
Maggiepie
"WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"[/b]
2 people like this
@MrNiceGuy (4141)
• United States
14 Nov 09
I don't like Obama at all, and I hate the medias liberal bias, but I honestly don't see anything wrong with this.
2 people like this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
15 Nov 09
Don't worry jud...I have a much deeper discussion for your section in mind actually, it's one I'm sure hasn't been covered here on mylot yet, it's new, it's fresh and original....."2012....do you believe this is going to be the end"?
What do ya think?
1 person likes this
[plugs own section]
put them in a different section xfahctor 
@kdhartford (1151)
• United States
14 Nov 09
So what! It is funny what lengths the media will go through in order to distract the U.S. population from all the bad things happening on Capital Hill. We taxpayers need to keep our eye on the ball instead of the sideshow going on in Asia. But since this discussion is about bowing...I think that no U.S. citizen should bow to anyone.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
14 Nov 09
The bad things happening on Capitol Hill are a result of the mind set that America needs to apologize for being a free country under the Constitution!
2 people like this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
14 Nov 09
And the bowing of our leader to one of another country is just another way to apologize. BOTH the President and Emperor should be on equal standing. And since the Emperor DID NOT bow....he is held to be superior. He is NOT nor should our leader let the world think so.
2 people like this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
14 Nov 09
When HE bows...we all bow in the eyes of the world. 
It has been accepted protocol that American presidents do NOT bow to royalty. It must be making Thomas Jefferson roll over in his grave. Along with all the patriots who have fought against imperialism.
What a crock of doo doo!
It has been accepted protocol that American presidents do NOT bow to royalty. It must be making Thomas Jefferson roll over in his grave. Along with all the patriots who have fought against imperialism.
What a crock of doo doo!2 people like this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
14 Nov 09
That wasn't a bow. The Japanese emperor is shorter. He was probably just complimenting the emperor's shoes. You right wing nutjobs are always trying to make things up.
Honestly though, it will be funny to hear Robert Gibbs making excuses for this one too.
1 person likes this
@piasabird (1737)
• United States
15 Nov 09
No doubt he's over there apologizing for something that America did in the past. You know we're such a horrid country. 
By the way, Obama's bow was NOT reciprocated by the Prime Minister, who bows to NO ONE!
By the way, Obama's bow was NOT reciprocated by the Prime Minister, who bows to NO ONE! 1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
15 Nov 09
xfahctor,
Frankly, I just do not see why the media would want to make mountains out of a mole hill.
In the first place, your President is just expressing his sincere respect and humility (which is quite absent from past leaders) by doing a proper customary bow and there is no sign of subservience as both royals were at respectable and cordial posture. Also as a guest, I think it is an admirable act on his part as a world leader and the President of the United States to establish mutual economic and trade relations for both countries.
I think we all need to remember the words of John F. Kennedy where he said: “So let us begin anew - remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof.”
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
15 Nov 09
Yeh, it's small stuff compaired to some of the issues we are dealing with here, but i usualy post some pretty relevent and long reaching issues. Just thought I'd indulge in a fluff topic for once.
BUT......a show of respect implies something mutual and reciprocated.....this was not the case here or with the saudi king...it was a display of subservience....did either the emperor or king bow back in a show of mutual respect? Do you ever expect they would?
Listen, I am all for the whole Idea of "when in Rome....etc etc"...but cripe.
2 people like this
@peter790702 (107)
• China
15 Nov 09
reciprocity and mutual benefit ,mutual final territorial integrity and sovereignty
