Obama Bows to in Japan to Emperor, Empress

Run time: 00:19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLBIMqHUm2A   Posted on YouTube: November 15, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: November 16, 2009 By DU Member: bluevoter4life Views on DU: 2707

 
I am proud to call him my president. Finally refreshing to see a president RESPECT other cultures and their customs. Way to go Mr. President.

a non-story just like the last one - and like the last one. Too many channels makes Americans a very dull people.

G HW Bush blows chunks in the Japanese Prime Ministers lap when was there and GW Smirky Bush runs around holding hands with the King of Saudi Arabia.

As much as I'd like to defend Obama here, I gotta say that he should really stop bowing to foreign leaders.

Especially in Asia, if you are in equal positions, in this case a head of state to another head of state, you simply DO NOT BOW.

Yes, bowing is an etiquette. But it's only to be practiced if you are subservient in diplomatic circumstances.
You will not see Chinese premier or Korean president bowing to the Japanese emperor because if they did, they would end up in a national sh##storm. (in fact the current Korean president did something remotely resembling a simple bow and he got in a lot of trouble.)

In Asian politics, bowing does not mean respect, it means subservience. Obama should really get a better diplomatic adviser.

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Gomen nasai, chigaimasu. Sorry but you are Dead wrong.

That the emperor is NOT the head of state. It is merely a figurehead position like the Queen of England. The prime minister is the official head of state. Obama is a guest in THEIR country and as such, it is highly respectful for him to bow to his hosts as a gratitude for their hospitality and invitation.

The last two goons named george absolutely embarassed us. It is incredibly wonderful for me to see a world leader show respect to other world leaders/hosts. As a result of this president acting "presidential", we gain respect, and the georges had none.

There is a very thick book about it. It's also known as R.E.S.P.E.C.T

It equates to that old saying: "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."

:P

ignorant about a subject, but it's not okay to make shit up to cover your ignorance. There are different kinds of bows in Japan (and other Asian cultures), and they range from the informal to the very formal. To further your education, you may want to start with the most simplistic reference that I could find:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowing

If anything, President Obama may have bowed just a little too deeply, but the Japanese loved it. Try and find another avocation, as all of the Obama-bashing positions at DU are filled right now...;-)

to Obama? Mutual respect is a good thing.

granted obama bowed too low, according to proper etiquette but... he isn't Japanese and not as up to speed as the Japanese emperor.

Bowing is definitely a sign of respect in Japan, and was done for me (and returned) always.

This is really a nonissue, imho at worst, and I am sure most Japanese people probably appreciated it.

:hi:

he didn't go there and leave world wide video of him not being able to get out of the room. They make way too big a deal out of this bull.

a pic of Bush kissing and holding hands with the Saudi prince?

I always thought those were real

they held hands and DUMBYA led the sheik up the path.

so tight he is flinching. The prince is sending Dubya a message, like do as I say or....squeeze squeeze.

for fuck's sake.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnOnDatqENo

His son "massaged" the German chancellor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnOnDatqENo

Dick Cheney wore a parka, ski-hat and snow boots to the Auschwitz memorial (guess the clown suit was at the cleaners):



And yet, somehow, people are worried about Obama's bowing style?

:puke:

He's like "what the fuck's your deal, dude?"

:puke:

In Japan, you bow. If you don't like it, don't travel there.

But since there is just so much buzz here about it, ummmm , I'm no expect on Japan or its culture but aren't you supposed to bow as low as you can and do it frequently at greetings like this? Did he not bow deeply enough? Or is this the usual Fux noise fart gas trapped in a balloon and as usual DU is treating the balloon as a nitrous hit like we do with Palin?

Even though I do not have any Bias towards certain east Asian countries, I do consider the Japanese to be the most refined of the lot.(i agree that its relative and someone else might have different views:) ) Anyone who knows Japanese history and culture would consider Oabama's response very fitting. Humility is considered a very high quality over there, especially when the one showing respect is of high station himself. Furthermore, age and experience have their own weight in the east.


The teabaggers and the Faux can protest as much as they like, but they will surely be regarded as Eta by the Japanese people.