Bowing to Tradition?

Some conservative commentators seized on President Barack Obama's deep bow to Japan's Emperor Akihito over the weekend, accusing the U.S. commander in chief of groveling before a foreign leader. (Nov. 17)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• obama bow
• bowing
• tradition

[keytoothed]

First of all, anyone Westerner who's taken Japanese martial arts knows he bowed like a goofy dumbass. But, it's not his culture, his sincerity was there, so it more than makes up for it. Inclining your body is a sign of respect, period, and it's mutual. If Americans can't understand this, than they really are Imperialist barbarians. Is Obama supposed to keep his shoes on if he goes to the president's residence? Grow up, America.

[YoureAnUglyFaggot]

Fucking hell. He was just bowing. If anyone finds it offensive then that person is an idiot.

I agree that he did do it wrong, because in Japan if you bow too low it mean that you are expressing apology, or supremity to the other person, maybe.

Most foreigners get it wrong anyway.

[rememberthediamonds]

@keytoothed This time I typed in keytoothed and idiot, get your screen shot and i LOVE how you can't lie this time. If there is a god, he's on MY SIDE FUCKER. Take those videos down that are lying about me, a mother of two, twice your age, you fucking hacked my accounts and you have NPD. Take them down, or we will see you in court STOP HARASSING ME ASSHOLE.

[Armyscout1979]

If only we could get Barack to pay the same respect to the US flag.

[FrancescaGianna]

You're not the brightest tool in the shed are you,

[AgentOrange04]

so whats your point? are you saying that obama an excuse to disgrace the United States just the same? or are you justifying bush's actions based on obama's? either way your statement makes no sense

[hananokuni2580]

@Squirelbutt : Japanese usually never expect Westerners to even try to bow Japanese-style - let alone know the subtleties behind it. So, even if Obama was just being courteous, H.I.M. probably thought of it as overtly facetious.

Handshakes are more typical of a Westerner. Thus, Japanese usually shake hands with them instead of bowing.

[Squirelbutt]

i guess retardedness is a disease you get in the whitehouse. Under Obama continued more wars and more crisis.

[Squirelbutt]

Well supposidely obama is our supreme leader and shouldnt be subservent to any other country. Hell even cheney only just did a head nod but it was recipacated in acknowledgement.

[Adamalgorithm]

NO is it the great Bush that is the pride of America- he started illegal wars and ruined the economy and social fabric of the society. Bush is our pride, no question about it.

[Adamalgorithm]

we had a mentally retarded president like Bush disgracing the US worldwide with wars ,economic crisis etc, now Obama is disgracing the US by showing common courtesy to an old Japanese man! Have the ppl in Fox gone nuts?

[gcrusader92]

Sheesh its just another form of sayin "hi"