[aspinswramymn]

I cannot believe that the President of the United States and the Commander-in-Chief finds it appropriate to bow to the Emperor of Japan - LET ALONE TO ANYONE FROM ANY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD!!!!

That man makes me puke and I can't change the channel fast enough every time he does his daily tv appearance.

I'm sorry folks but = he may be your POTUS but he sure as hell isn't mine!:

[BgpOoGI2]

Meh, its a form of respect or deference. I dont have a problem with it if the POTUS is visiting a foreign nation, especially since its no different than a simple handshake. It did look a little ridiculous that he bowed so low.

[spacecrafty]

I am no fan of Obama - at all - but why is showing a foreign leader a sign of respect while in that leader's nation and as per that leader's cultural perspective inappropriate? If the Emperor of Japan comes to the US and offers to shake Obama's hand, should the Japanese get their panties in a bunch? Or should they think, "good on the Emperor for showing the Americans how wordly he is by knowing and properly using their greeting ritual?"

Of the many, MANY reasons to not care for Obama, this is among the lamest.

[BuyCheapest]

Meh, its a form of respect or deference. I dont have a problem with it if the POTUS is visiting a foreign nation, especially since its no different than a simple handshake. It did look a little ridiculous that he bowed so low. I am no fan of Obama - at all - but why is showing a foreign leader a sign of respect while in that leader's nation and as per that leader's cultural perspective inappropriate? If the Emperor of Japan comes to the US and offers to shake Obama's hand, should the Japanese get their panties in a bunch? Or should they think, "good on the Emperor for showing the Americans how wordly he is by knowing and properly using their greeting ritual?" Sure, and we should also start initiating the dipping of the US Ensign to foreign navies.

...and whenever our Airforce meets up with foreign air forces, you should lower your landing gear and jettison all stores.

Notice that Akihito is not bowing. Heads of State greet each other with a handshake. Small perfunctory bows, initiated by the Japanese, would be acceptable.

Unless Obama was inspecting his shoes for a shine, this was WAY out of line.

[elektikakass]

You don't understand Japanese culture. The Emporer of Japan is considered a diety, a living god. As such, he never makes physical contact with anyone, ever. Nor does he return a bow.

As others have said, I am no supporter of Obama. But he was in their country, following their country's traditions and protocols. Just as though we'd expect them to do with us. And we do dip the Ensign, dip for dip, with other navies. We just don't do it first. I find it amazing that we should consider ourselves so high and mighty that we believe we're above being courteous to foriegn dignitaries in their own country. The quickest way to make enemies of friends is to be disrespectful to them on their own turf.

Get over yourselves.

[onlineslotetes]

Sure, and we should also start initiating the dipping of the US Ensign to foreign navies.

...and whenever our Airforce meets up with foreign air forces, you should lower your landing gear and jettison all stores.

Notice that Akihito is not bowing. Heads of State greet each other with a handshake. Small perfunctory bows, initiated by the Japanese, would be acceptable.

Unless Obama was inspecting his shoes for a shine, this was WAY out of line.

That was my point. Which is also why I pointed out that he totally screwed that up. Of course at least he was able to pull off a proper salute to the fallen soldiers coming off the plane from Afghanistan. Something that the Army Officer next to him couldnt do.

BTW, I dont get your reference with the Air Force gesture.

[Corporal White]

Sure, and we should also start initiating the dipping of the US Ensign to foreign navies.

...and whenever our Airforce meets up with foreign air forces, you should lower your landing gear and jettison all stores.

Notice that Akihito is not bowing. Heads of State greet each other with a handshake. Small perfunctory bows, initiated by the Japanese, would be acceptable.

Unless Obama was inspecting his shoes for a shine, this was WAY out of line.

I agree that he looked like an idiot. But some conservatives are making themselves look like just as big idiots by blowing this way out of proportion. It's no small wonder that the Republican party is self-destructing.

[KuevDulin]

I cannot believe that the President of the United States and the Commander-in-Chief finds it appropriate to bow to the Emperor of Japan - LET ALONE TO ANYONE FROM ANY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD!!!!

That man makes me puke and I can't change the channel fast enough every time he does his daily tv appearance.

I'm sorry folks but = he may be your POTUS but he sure as hell isn't mine!:

Perhaps he saw one too many AFN commercials with the whole "You're an ambassador when serving overseas" routine?



Eh - who cares anymore. Ever since Clinton and Dubya made us the laughing stock of the world, I take these kinda things with a grain of salt. Besides Misawa was my best assignment as an NCO, ever, so call my view on this somewhat slanted (pun not intended).

[Lidawka]

BTW, I dont get your reference with the Air Force gesture. I was being a smartass there.

[Jellowstrom]

If he bowed deeply from the waist he was wrong (protocol wise). As stated above, he should have simply performed a head bow and called it a day. As for conservatives and liberals over or under reacting, that is a matter of opinion. I personally don't think it is news but there is a lot of things reported that I don't think is news. Perhaps we could start a thread on that topic.

[KasaBalak]

Based on the photograph in this article http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...anese-emperor/ I'd have to agree that he definitely went overboard in his perception of what should have been his correct protocol. As he was also shaking hands, he's quite confusing in his mannerisms. A handshake and simple head nod should have been more than sufficient.

This shows his and his staff's lack of protocol knowledge. Someone from the State Department should have briefed him that he's not supposed to show that much deferrence to another head of state. He was simply excessive in what he did, and I must agree that it makes him look subservient.

[Lgcjqxlw]

What I find interesting is....he knows to bow to two different world leaders "out of respect" but did not know to place his hand over his heart during the playing of the national anthem or to salute troops as he enters/exits presidental transport.

[arriftell]

Based on the photograph in this article http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...anese-emperor/ I'd have to agree that he definitely went overboard in his perception of what should have been his correct protocol. As he was also shaking hands, he's quite confusing in his mannerisms. A handshake and simple head nod should have been more than sufficient.

This shows his and his staff's lack of protocol knowledge. Someone from the State Department should have briefed him that he's not supposed to show that much deferrence to another head of state. He was simply excessive in what he did, and I must agree that it makes him look subservient.

Then we agree on something.

...and I was out of line. My apologies on questioning your patriotism.

[rusculture]

Based on the photograph in this article http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...anese-emperor/ I'd have to agree that he definitely went overboard in his perception of what should have been his correct protocol. As he was also shaking hands, he's quite confusing in his mannerisms. A handshake and simple head nod should have been more than sufficient.

This shows his and his staff's lack of protocol knowledge. Someone from the State Department should have briefed him that he's not supposed to show that much deferrence to another head of state. He was simply excessive in what he did, and I must agree that it makes him look subservient.

Yeah...wow, hadn't seen that photo. Was he inspecting the Emperor's shoes, or in need of a chiropractor, or proferring his scalp for inspection to show that Head & Shoulders really works, or what?

[Jellowstrom]

I think that this whole thing may be getting a little blown out of proportion. Although he did look like an idiot, at least he showed some respect while visiting with a foreign head of state. I'm not his biggest fan by far but I am sure that if he would have walked in and gave the emporer a high-five, everyone complaining about this would be doing the same about that. Some are just never happy and will find any reason to nit-pick at him. It was the same with President Bush. Besides, he's still young and in the beginning of his term. Just wait, there will be better reasons to complain. I'm sure of it.

[meencegic]

Meh, its a form of respect or deference. I dont have a problem with it if the POTUS is visiting a foreign nation, especially since its no different than a simple handshake. It did look a little ridiculous that he bowed so low.

The Saudi thing was a protocol guy who needed to get fired. Sure, Obama fucked up, but someone failed him to boot. This, on the other hand, is an example of the reactionary right laughably grasping at straws. I would even go so far as to say that I suspect Obama may have done this to bait the crazies out of the woodwork to marginalize themselves. Everyone knows that bowing is what you do in Japan.

[Elaltergephah]

The Saudi thing was a protocol guy who needed to get fired. Sure, Obama fucked up, but someone failed him to boot. This, on the other hand, is an example of the reactionary right laughably grasping at straws. I would even go so far as to say that I suspect Obama may have done this to bait the crazies out of the woodwork to marginalize themselves. Everyone knows that bowing is what you do in Japan.

Well, I will agree that the anti-Obama camp is and will continue to blow this up but you can't simply dismiss it as that. The President did after all perform the bow deeply from the waist and shake hands. This is a protocol blunder. Not his first, not even his second and certainly not his last such blunder. I don't think it portrays anything other than that, a blunder. Conversely it can't be dismissed because others over react to it. I have been to Japan many times, and bowing like that is simply not done by westerners. It is not expected and I would imagine the Emperor was a bit embarrassed by it as well.

[eduptultyt]

“The gesture is of course quite wrong: Such a salute has always required the wearing of a uniform,” author and historian John Lukacs wrote in The New York Times in 2003 “But there is more to this than a decline in military manners,” he added. “There is something puerile in the Reagan (and now Bush) salute. It is the joyful gesture of someone who likes playing soldier. It also represents an exaggeration of the president’s military role.”

What a fucking moron this guy Lukacs is………….” represents an exaggeration of the president’s military role.” Can you say ‘DOESN’T HAVE A FUCKING CLUE?”
BTW: I agree, Obama has been doing fine with his saluting. I don’t care if he has never served a day in the military. The fact is (like it or not) the country elected him as Commander-in-Chief and therefore he can salute anyone he chooses anytime he chooses. As a matter of fact I don't give a shit if the tradition just started as recently as Reagan, it is the right thing to do.

[Lafclaria]

The Saudi thing was a protocol guy who needed to get fired. Sure, Obama fucked up, but someone failed him to boot. This, on the other hand, is an example of the reactionary right laughably grasping at straws. I would even go so far as to say that I suspect Obama may have done this to bait the crazies out of the woodwork to marginalize themselves. Everyone knows that bowing is what you do in Japan.

Except for what he did was not a bow. It was some theatrical bow plus handshake hybrid.

Like I said, I dont think it was disrespectful, but I know for a fact that if this was Bush, Sigecaps and others would have been the first people to jump into it. Obama is way too full of himself to do this on purpose, especially since the pitcure taken was hardly flattering.

In the end, I dont care because I expected as much. For all the crap that Palin got for what TINA FEY said in a skit about seeing Russia from her house, Obama (a much more traveled politician) has yet to get anything right on protocol. The Saudi bow, this, and the whole handshake thing in Russia. Yes his people failed him in each instance, but part of his platform was that he was a man of the world. Whatever, in all likelihood he is gone in 2012 because he has looked anything but presidential so far and his approval ratings are starting to look like Bush post 2004.

[PPActionnGuys]

Conversely it can't be dismissed because others over react to it.

The mere existence of this thread is itself an overreaction.