Obama bows...AGAIN!

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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So any sniping, griping from Obama hates has to be taken with that spirit.
I'm certainly no Obama hater, but I think someone needs to figure out the protocol.

If everyone bows to the emperor, but the emperor bows to no one, that says the emperor is superior to everyone else. The US President shouldn't be subservient to anyone, so they need to sort out the proper etiquette.
 

SirJosephPorter

Time Out
Nov 7, 2008
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I just love when you get on your soap box then show yourself to be a hypocrit.

Quite so, EagleSmack. When you can’t refute anything I say, resort to obfuscation.
Wasn't that Gopher that brought up the golf impeachment? He's Obama's biggest fan!

Are you seriously saying that you don’t want Obama impeached for playing golf? Don’t make me laugh. Republican base wants Obama impeached, period, they don’t care for what reason.
 

SirJosephPorter

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I'm certainly no Obama hater, but I think someone needs to figure out the protocol.

If everyone bows to the emperor, but the emperor bows to no one, that says the emperor is superior to everyone else. The US President shouldn't be subservient to anyone, so they need to sort out the proper etiquette.

That is how monarchy works, TenPenny. I am sure everybody bows (or courtesies) to Queen Elizabeth. But does she bow to anybody? I seriously doubt it. That is the concept behind the monarchy, the monarch is supreme.

In these days of constitutional monarchy, the monarch doesn’t have any real power. But the trappings of power still remain.



In my opinion, it is simply rude to visit a country, visit a monarch and then not to bow to him/her.
 

gopher

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Jun 26, 2005
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I'm certainly no Obama hater, but I think someone needs to figure out the protocol.

If everyone bows to the emperor, but the emperor bows to no one, that says the emperor is superior to everyone else. The US President shouldn't be subservient to anyone, so they need to sort out the proper etiquette.


Emperor hirohito and nixon bow to each other:

 

gopher

Hall of Fame Member
Jun 26, 2005
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''In my opinion, it is simply rude to visit a country, visit a monarch and then not to bow to him/her. ''


Republican Eisenhower bows to De Gaulle:





Republicans love to criticize Obama but love to overlook their own conformity with international protocols.
 

FiveParadox

Governor General
Dec 20, 2005
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I am absolutely shocked that anyone could make an issue out of this.

His Excellency the Honourable Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, was actually at the Imperial Palace, the official residence of the Japanese head of State. It saddens me that conservatives think that the president should refuse to respect Japanese custom, when visiting Japan. It is customary to bow as a greeting in Japan, and this is particularly so with His Imperial Majesty Akihito, Emperor of Japan. It’s high time for the Republican Party of the United States to find a real issue to criticise the president for, instead of these faux-patriotic soundbites.
 

dumpthemonarchy

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Jan 18, 2005
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I don't like Bush's handholding with Saudi kings, because here is a leader who defines his rules of his kingdom and subjects as personal property.

And I don't like Obama's bow here. A small mutual bow like Nixon did was okay, but now Obama has done two bows. Why does he need to bow? I would not like it if Harper bowed to a foreign leader either. Western men do not do follow these Oriental customs.
 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
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Have the American people been standing out in the hot sun to long or what?
Obama is merely following tradition, and there is nothing wrong with this at
all. The problem is after Bush some Americans expect the President to wear
jack boots and carry a whip. Surely to God there is more pressing issues in
the world than to be bothered with this stuff. The most advanced country
in the world can't even grasp the concept of universal medicare so how can
the be expected to grasp the concept of manners and traditions older than
the Rose Bowl Game, give me a break
 

dumpthemonarchy

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Jan 18, 2005
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To follow another country's tradition when your own country has no understanding of it, and never does it, is awkward, even embarassing. To want to bow to men from Asia says things about you and your motivation that words cannot. Obama has some explaining to do here. This is no one- off any more. And I was really happy he won.

On the other hand, it could just say he has no principles and like any politician he will do anything to please people. But this always meant our people, not foreigners.

I recall hearing a Tory Canadian politician in Ottawa saying his govt will always follow "market principles". Hey that sort of talk gets him elected. But perhaps he, and other politicians might find other principles more conducive to getting elected. We're not a nation of ideologues. We like what works.
 

FiveParadox

Governor General
Dec 20, 2005
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To follow another country’s custom is simple courtesy and proper diplomatic protocol.

If the customary greeting in Japan includes a bow, then when greeting that nation’s head of State, it is entirely appropriate to follow those customs. It isn’t His Imperial Majesty’s fault that the Republican base is too insecure in their American citizenship that they need to condemn those damned confusing ‘Oriental customs’, nor is it the president’s fault. The fault here is solely and exclusively with the Republican Party and other deranged conservatives.

Bows are a Japanese custom. To overtly reject that custom would be an insult to The Emperor, and to the Japanese people.

For most [sane] people, insulting others is a no-no when it comes to diplomatic relations.
 

Goober

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Jan 23, 2009
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To follow another country’s custom is simple courtesy and proper diplomatic protocol.

If the customary greeting in Japan includes a bow, then when greeting that nation’s head of State, it is entirely appropriate to follow those customs. It isn’t His Imperial Majesty’s fault that the Republican base is too insecure in their American citizenship that they need to condemn those damned confusing ‘Oriental customs’, nor is it the president’s fault. The fault here is solely and exclusively with the Republican Party and other deranged conservatives.

Bows are a Japanese custom. To overtly reject that custom would be an insult to The Emperor, and to the Japanese people.

For most [sane] people, insulting others is a no-no when it comes to diplomatic relations.

Nixon did it - I mostly agree with 5P - and it is not all deranged cons - repubs - some still recall that they bow to no man- Good point but - diplomacy and courtesy fall into a different game now doesn't it.
 

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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Nixon did it - I mostly agree with 5P - and it is not all deranged cons - repubs - some still recall that they bow to no man- Good point but - diplomacy and courtesy fall into a different game now doesn't it.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama's deep bow to the Japanese emperor last week was a simple show of respect, the State Department said Tuesday in response to US critics who decried the move.
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"Protocol, in general, is about respecting the customs and traditions of a host country. The president was simply showing respect," the State Department said in a statement.

Images broadcast of Obama, visiting Tokyo last week at the start of his first presidential tour of Asia, bowing deeply as he shook hands with Emperor Akihito, raised ire among Obama's conservative US foes who accused him of kowtowing to the son of Japan's wartime Emperor Hirohito.

However, experts in Japanese etiquette have praised it as an appropriate show of respect.

The State Department pointed out that the White House works out such encounters in advance with the Office of the Chief of Protocol which gives advice on protocol matters for presidential travel abroad.
 

EagleSmack

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Feb 16, 2005
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I don't like Bush's handholding with Saudi kings, because here is a leader who defines his rules of his kingdom and subjects as personal property.

And I don't like Obama's bow here. A small mutual bow like Nixon did was okay, but now Obama has done two bows. Why does he need to bow? I would not like it if Harper bowed to a foreign leader either. Western men do not do follow these Oriental customs.

He does a heck of a lot more than two bows! Try counting them... We could make a contest here.
 

Avro

Time Out
Feb 12, 2007
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To follow another country's tradition when your own country has no understanding of it, and never does it, is awkward, even embarassing.

Why?

I've traveled quite a bit and have always tried to understand other peoples culture and respect it.

What's so evil about that?

When it comes to diplomacy I think it's even more important.

Do you suppose the Japanese are outraged that their leaders shake hands with ours?

I can tell you they aren't.

They may not like this though.....

YouTube - Bad Sushi
 

TenPenny

Hall of Fame Member
Jun 9, 2004
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That is how monarchy works, TenPenny. I am sure everybody bows (or courtesies) to Queen Elizabeth. But does she bow to anybody? I seriously doubt it. That is the concept behind the monarchy, the monarch is supreme.

So you're saying that the Queen of England, and the Emperor of Japan, are superior to the President of the US.

In other words, you agree with what those critical of Obama's bow are saying.

I guess you're a closet Republican / Obama Hater as well.
 
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