i really hesitated to start a thread about this, considering it much ado about nothing (albeit a fine example of the Obama's earnest desire to demonstrate how humble his america is). however, it looks like the japanese found it embarrassing, so perhaps the breach of protocol is thread worthy. [rquoter]On President Obama's Bow to the Japanese Emperor, An Academic Friend Writes That Both the Left and the Right Are Wrong November 15, 2009 2:53 PM An old friend -- an academic with expertise about the Japanese Empire, and in general a supporter of President Obama -- sends me the following note, relating to photographs of President Obama bowing to Emperor Akihito of Japan. "This picture shows two things," my friend writes. "1) The 'right' is wrong about Obama's bow. "2) The 'left' is wrong about Obama's bow. "His bow is neither (1) unprecedented nor (2) a sign of cultural understanding. "At their 1971 meeting in Alaska, the first visit of a Japanese Emperor to America, President Nixon bowed and referred to Emperor Hirohito and his wife repeatedly as 'Your Imperial Majesties.'" (See that picture HERE.) "Yet, (and?) Nixon gets the bow right. Slight arch from the waist hands at his side. "Obama's handshake/forward lurch was so jarring and inappropriate it recalls Bush's back-rub of Merkel. "Kyodo News is running his appropriate and reciprocated nod and shake with the Empress, certainly to show the president as dignified, and not in the form of a first year English teacher trying to impress with Karate Kid-level knowledge of Japanese customs. "The bow as he performed did not just display weakness in Red State terms, but evoked weakness in Japanese terms....The last thing the Japanese want or need is a weak looking American president and, again, in all ways, he unintentionally played that part. "BTW, Obama's bow at Suntory Hall was much better. Correct angle, slight bow. His hands were wrong but the physical tone was correct and appropriate. "But if Obama can get the dollar to stop bowing to the Yen I take it all back." -jpt[/rquoter]
you know it was much ado about nothing yet you still posted it because an opinion of an anonymous academic with expertise about the Japanese Empire?
Yep, the community organizer is quite an embarassment: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5U6fL7Y4BZA&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5U6fL7Y4BZA&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
what? so you think the opinion of 1 anonymous academic is really that important? do you even know who he is? what if there's another 1 anonymous academic who has a good opinion of Obama? will you post it?
A friend of mine is an anonymous academic with knowledge of this subject and he said that this thread requires pictures of Snoopy in his Red Baron costume.
To clarify: The bow was bad because he did it with poor form? The initial complaint was that our head of state should not be bowing to some other head of state. This guy is saying our head of state bowing to another head of state is fine, but Obama didn't bow well. Big deal.
Are you kidding? The thread started had to actually contemplate starting this thread. you damn right its a big deal
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To some it is. And I expect my president to know how to greet in any country. (he's got connections you know) Also, bowing communicates a lot more than just doing the physical act. (after the bow I wanted to play Bruce Lee and give a strong tap on the head of our President...that bow was just so totally wrong)
Republicans are so funny, like the article points out, he's either isn't strong enough or he's uncouth and doesn't know how to show respect. pretty stupid to be focusing on this stuff with all our problems but oh well
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