Salute to Emperor by Obama

a good gesture of respect never lowers the image of anybody, regardless of his position.

What a great response, repzkoopz! I agree with you 100%. I am not a big Obama fan but some of the Obama haters are so ugly in their attitudes that it's sickening. Don't want to be a part of that camp either.

Obama's gesture lowers the image of the President himself,not US.

"It seems Obama can't do anything right in the eyes of America." No American President ever could do anything right in the eyes of some. The only difference here is that everything's amplified with Obama in terms of media coverage. Most people pay far more attention to Obama, as he's probably the world's most popular figure in the past century -- and certainly the most popular since the information age. But, with that, it's one of those "the same things that make you laugh will make you cry" situations. Politicians like Obama depend on large media support and a large populous swell to push through initiative. So by that standard, the "support" is already set up to fail, as it's built upon a ratings system, basically. Americans view politicians like celebrities and their policies as celebrity causes. It's easy to get on board but even easier to jump off. This explains why they want to control the media. A story like Obama bowing, while not nearly significant enough to make a fuss over, can turn people against him if spun correctly. But tough luck. The government uses media in their favor at every opportunity they have, so everyone just has to bite the bullet on things like these and take them for what they are.

Obama is one of the most popular President Of the United States .As a first black American President he also created history. So his every step is focused by the news media. So far he is approaching in the right direction. But I don't support bowing down his head before Emperor Akihito. A democratic President should not bow down his head before a undemocratic Monarch.

It is not the matter of the Japanese. It concerned the Americans.

President Obama's gesture creates controversy in America. But I think Obama had no ill intention to lower the image of his country. He should be more cautious. Because he elected as US President against the tradition of the country.

That is just silly. It is a gesture of respect and it was quite proper. If you want to know anything about diplomatic protocol, you are more likely to get accurate answers from the U.S. State Department than from some big mouth on the radio.

I think Obama is the first American President who did this.

Thanks for the information about Senior Bush. Yes all should respect others culture.

Bush Senior bowed before the queen of England. As far as Obama goes, I think it shows he is worldly and knowledgeable and respectful of their culture. Of course people will spin it as an act of treason, which is really pathetic. If we were to visit Europe, their proper salute is to give a kiss on both cheeks. We would not understand that as we do handshakes, but it is a cultural thing. I made this argument in another thread, would eating with chopsticks at a Japanese restaurant make you any less American?