Obama's deep bow to Japanese Emperor

[CornDaddy]

At least the POS didn't wait until Dec 7th to go...

[dramatech01]

CornDaddy wrote:

<quoted text>
Bad sushi<G>???

Yeah, but really good comedy. Saturday Night Live lived off of it for an entire season.

[dramatech01]

CornDaddy wrote:

At least the POS didn't wait until Dec 7th to go...

By POS surely you're talking about dumbya?

[Just left of right]

dramatech01 wrote:

<quoted text>By POS surely you're talking about dumbya?

You can't possibly be serious!

[WildBurp]

I am so tired of the political correctness going on around here. Japan was a beaten country that we poured money into to bring it back from ruin. True they are our allies now but the thing to remember is that WE were the victors. I'm not saying their Emperor should be kissing our feet for the lift but, damn, we shouldn't act like we are kissing their arse neither.

Maybe we should practice isolationism again and see how the rest of the world truly screws up when we ain't there to save the day.

[Crackers]

NMresident wrote:

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Bush does that, remember the scene with one of the royalty of Saudi Arabia. Of course in that country it's normal for males to walk hand in hand.

Yeah, I remember Bush walking hand in hand with that Saudi King Abdullah. Made me think, damn, we got a sissy like this for President? I'd never seen two grown men walking along holding hands. Of course, the Bush family got their pockets lined pretty good over the years from the Saudis. In fact, I think the Bush family ties there prevented an early apprehension of Osama bin Ladin who is Saudi.

[Forrest]

He didn't bow to the Saudi King, I thought his Press Secretary said he tripped and it just looked like a bow. I'll bet he tripped again. Priceless.

[dramatech 01]

Just left of right wrote:

<quoted text>
You can't possibly be serious!

No, seriously when speaking of presidential POSs, dumbya is ta'turdiest.

[soft landing]

dramatech 01 wrote:

<quoted text>No, seriously when speaking of presidential POSs, dumbya is ta'turdiest.

Amen. How can he stand himself? He's oblivious to his part of the tragedy and destruction he created of our country.

[nmweatherman]

Hey...Hussein...the whole world is watching, numbnuts. This from the UK's Telegraph:

At over six feet tall, the US president was photographed bending to nearly a 90 degree angle when he greeted the relatively diminutive Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace on Saturday.

Critics claimed the sign of deference went against state department protocol, which decrees that presidents bow to no one.

At least one blogger went as far as to call the president’s actions “treasonous”.

Right-wing commentators unleashed similar criticism in April, when Mr Obama bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during the G20 summit.

The Washington Times called the alleged bow a "shocking display of fealty to a foreign potentate", which ran contrary to American tradition of not deferring to royalty.

"By bending over to show greater respect to Islam, the US president belittled the power and independence of the United States," the paper said in an editorial. "Such an act is a traditional obeisance befitting a king's subjects, not his peer."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/nor...

[NMresident]

Just left of right wrote:

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Clearly you have not read up on the customary greeting in this situation! His greeting was not appropriate according to the Japanese standards and was really embarrassing according to ours!

Please tell us what is appropriate according to Japanese standards. Having lived in Asia I know bowing is an expected greeting but my ears are always open to learn more. So please enlighten us.

[Just left of right]

NMresident wrote:

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Please tell us what is appropriate according to Japanese standards. Having lived in Asia I know bowing is an expected greeting but my ears are always open to learn more. So please enlighten us.

My understanding from reading about etiquette from various Japanese web-sites is that such a deep bow is used when greeting someone in a superior position and that, in Japanese cultural, the hand shaking was inappropriate. In all honesty, I really didn't have a problem with the way he greeted the Emperor. I do have a problem with that greeting when compared to greetings with other world leaders where I perceive him to be arrogant and condescending.

[CornDaddy]

dramatech01 wrote:

<quoted text>By POS surely you're talking about dumbya?

Both of them!

[CornDaddy]

Jez, hit the <enter> key too soon. Dubya did some stupid stuff but the Obama has already surpassed him. Obama tries to project being humble when he's really inept, not humble. The fool already has much of Europe viewing him as weak. Personally I'd say lame is more appropriate.

If bowing is such a custom, why is it he didn't get one in return, other than a cursory nod of the head - and the milk toast handshake?

[NMresident]

Just left of right wrote:

<quoted text>
My understanding from reading about etiquette from various Japanese web-sites is that such a deep bow is used when greeting someone in a superior position and that, in Japanese cultural, the hand shaking was inappropriate. In all honesty, I really didn't have a problem with the way he greeted the Emperor. I do have a problem with that greeting when compared to greetings with other world leaders where I perceive him to be arrogant and condescending.

You're right about the bow. When orientals meet they are expected to bow and the status of each person determines the extent of the bow. Some just give a head nod, some a slight bend at the waist along with the head nod, then the deep bow and finally, getting down of your hands and knees and bowing. Confusism is a big influence in China, Korea, and Japan; and pushes status, respect for elders and other aspects of daily life. The Koreans have four levels of speech depending upon whom they are speaking, starting with very polite, polite, informal polite and finally informal. The handshake has also become part of the custom. There are even particulars with the handshake that are important to know for anyone doing business in Asia. Thanks for your response, I was curious if I had missed something somewhere.

[davy]

so you can read japanese?

Just left of right wrote:

<quoted text>
My understanding from reading about etiquette from various Japanese web-sites is that such a deep bow is used when greeting someone in a superior position and that, in Japanese cultural, the hand shaking was inappropriate. In all honesty, I really didn't have a problem with the way he greeted the Emperor. I do have a problem with that greeting when compared to greetings with other world leaders where I perceive him to be arrogant and condescending.

[NMresident]

CornDaddy wrote:

If bowing is such a custom, why is it he didn't get one in return, other than a cursory nod of the head - and the milk toast handshake?

The nod of the head is considered a bow. I just posted an explanation about various bows. The status of each person is key. From an typical oriental viewpoint, foreigners are viewed as having no status. Obama took the role as the lower status person by his deep bow and the royal Japanese dude responded with a nod.

[skinwalker]

Why didn't the Japanese emperor bow in return when Soetorro bowed to him?....

[CornDaddy]

NMresident wrote:

<quoted text>
The nod of the head is considered a bow. I just posted an explanation about various bows. The status of each person is key. From an typical oriental viewpoint, foreigners are viewed as having no status. Obama took the role as the lower status person by his deep bow and the royal Japanese dude responded with a nod.

So The Obama was trying to assimilate himself into Japanese culture for the visit, and he felt that the JE was superior to himself, and the JE agreed, or so it would seem given the depth of his bow and what he got in return.

Obviously a major disconnect here. Should this be viewed as another screw-up by The Obama's advisers? Shouldn't they be viewed as equals given they are both world leaders?

[skinwalker]

The custom of bowing has strong meaning. When one bows lower than the other it is a sign of giving in to the superior not more respect or meeting an equal rank. He should read the book on how to make friends and influence people because he certainly isn’t doing it here or abroad. I am more insulted than embarrassed having him as president.....