[espenijij]

Personally, I think it's assinine!
No, not the fact that Obama bowed to the emperor. The fact that people are bothering to make an issue of it. Obama tried to be sensitive to another culture's rituals. I give him kudos for that. G.W. tended to ignore other cultures, and look where that got him (and us!).

[goldeneggs]

Obama is the most powerful man in the world...shouldn't the emperor bow to him?

[mArVHDO6]

well, if you really want to get technical, being a president is being head of government (and also a head of state in fully presidentialist systems), but being an emperor or a king/queen is being a head of State, so it's actually ok that Obama bows lower to the emperor, as the emperor is a simble of the Japanese State and Obama is the head of the american government. He is, as well, head of state, but I don't think that having the rank of "president" is as symbolic as having the rank of "emperor".

anyway, I agree with what people have said that it's a bit over the top to make this an issue and that Obama was just trying to be polite...

[opergolon]

Obama is the most powerful man in the world...shouldn't the emperor bow to him?

Yes..yes..play your little games, children..
for none it matters..as soon, all nations shall all bow to the might of Squirrelly Over-lord,
as my fluffy minions devour your very SOULSSS!!

Hisssssss..Hissss!!


MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAMMUHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH AHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA(breath..*gasp* wheeze!) *ahem..* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHH AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAAH.....

damn..I should eat Chocolate bars more often..

[poRmawayncmop]

Kenzan prepares his army

[snunsebrugs]

If Obama wants to bow, let him! No point in being president if you can't get to make decisions every now and then.

[Breilopmil]

kenzan prepares his army

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[Kimeoffessyr]

lol.. those SC squirrels are nutty! Heres a NC squirrel:

[zlopikanikanz]

The war's already started. At least here in Texas ... Texas squirrel hunters

[MaickiP]

not squirrel related but you gotta give this copper points for cool in this situation http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8366386.stm

had a cat do this to me, not funny (well at least if its you the furball is using as a climbing frame )

[DoctoNilsonDen]

The war's already started. At least here in Texas ... Texas squirrel hunters

And here's my friends, do we finally have it...

..the secret ingredient in Texas BBQ.

[antonyandruleit]

Here
and
Here
Here are some select comments made on several sites:

[All comments translated from Japanese]

• “What a bow!”
• “Such a deep bow from Obama, what a fine guy.”
• “I’m surprised he bowed. He’s really trying hard to meet the Japanese way!”
• “President Obama is a top-class person, isn’t he? Amazing!”
• “The Emperor is giving a nice smile!”
• “Is the Japanese Emperor really that special?”
• “The Emperor or the Pope, the President or the Prime Minister, whoever is greater is not something that I think can be decided objectively.”
• “I laughed because it was a much better bow than I had imagined.”
• “Obama’s huge!”
• “Obama has more of a true Japanese heart than most Japanese do.”

Good show Mr. President. Good first impression with the Emperor is something not many can do.
I still have to remember Bush Sr. having trouble with the Japanese food that didn't agree with him......

[Nesskissabe]

Interesting

"It should be praised and never deserve criticism. In Japan, bowing never means the person underestimates himself."

thanks for sharing this

[Sydneyfonzi]

Interesting

"It should be praised and never deserve criticism. In Japan, bowing never means the person underestimates himself."

thanks for sharing this

IMHO, it was appropriate as I am very sure it was meant to be a sign of respect, not of being subservient. This is after all the Emperor of Japan not the Prime Minister so the greeting should be more 'Japanese-like' and not of a political or a diplomatic standard.

Kudos to Obama because I am very sure that this act was pre-meditated and debated within the White House but he agreed to go with it to give the utmost respect to a culture. Just goes to show that he is very confident of himself and what he represents as the leader of the US and does not mind the thinking of the naysayers with superiority complexes because you don't have to feel and look superior to be superior. This is how i feel. I think the problem is that most American view REI as bowing from American, European & religious origins. But Bowing is not REI. President Obama did Rei. In my opinion, quite impressive...to participate in an action your supporters or critics don't fully understand.

Of course my understanding of Bowing from American & Religious origins/purpose is different than the origins/purpose of Nihon no REI...is my understanding & opinion. I know it took a lot of asking and reading for me to somewhat understand Rei.

[deackatera]

just watched the actual footage of him bowing and not the picture... it's perfectly fine, I don't know what all the fuss is about. It was very polite, nice deep bow and a quick comeback, with lots of respect and etiquette. Good job, Obama!

[Petrushkaukrop]

"When in Rome..."

Why do people have to analyze it any more? he was being respectful to a person IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY! Just like I would expect guests in my house to be respectful. And yes, kudos to him for doing it despite knowing (or not knowing) what people might think or say about it.

[MexicoCity]

I don't think anybody in American government really knows much about Japanese culture, nor probably cares. You see who Obama appointed as the Ambassador to Japan? Even the Japanese were questioning it because the man had no relations really or understanding of Japan. Plus a bunch of really good experts were passed over in favor of him. Obama defended the lawyer (now the ambassador) that contributed to his campaign with a statement (one of several I'm sure) saying from what I recall, ''He's worked a lot with the internet''. The guy probably has no idea how Japanese people most often access the internet outside of work. (Hint: cell phones)

Kudos to Obama though. He tried his best. Think people over here thought it a bit weird but didnt think badly of it. This is also a place that has Obama fever as well. They have English books teaching people to speak English from Obamas speaches And I still hear my students saying ''Yes, we can'' at times.

[rXpX]

i cant see anything wrong in how he did it.... often i shake hands and bow at the same time...

and saying he bowed to low is complete BS.. IMO if u are a gaijin in Japan u should always try to bow lower than the person you are bowing to...

Not too mention as has already been proven, the bashing is all from westerners who (not for certain) most likely have NO understanding of it. (media etc. trying to fill a page)

Saying he was "grovelling" is all the evidence i need to say they obviously had NO understanding and its hardly like a bow will suddenly destroy all military force america posseses and put the emporer above america as they seem to make out it will, lol. but maybe thats not such a bad thing considering the emperor has no power, world neutrality for a change, lol.

[Phywhewashect]

I think that even though his bow wasn't correct, its the thought that matters. The fact that the leader of one of the most powerful countries in the world was willing to bow down to another leader is enough for me. Obama is just humble. Mabye a little too humble...

[muytreda]

I first heard of the incident while eating lunch with my father, who had heard about it on a radio show on the way to the restaurant. I said, "bowing in Japan is like a handshake over here, so it's not like we're regressing to pre-Revolution style humbling yourself before nobility stuff. It's not a big deal."

Then I saw the video and thought, "damn, that was a little much. Doesn't he have high paid people to brief him about proper etiquette?" When it comes to international relations they have whole departments who do things like make sure that flags and symbols are equally represented, none is higher than any other, people are standing where they need to be and all that. It seemed like somebody dropped the ball in something so simple as, "just bend at the waist, don't stick your chin out, keep your eyes on the man and don't go down so far it looks like you're about to tie his shoes for him..."

It made me uncomfortable to see the leader of my nation bowing in such a way. I should think it would make anybody uncomfortable, but what do I know?