From the LA Times (even they seem to get this one):
Politics and commentary, coast to coast, from the Los Angeles Times
How low will he go? Obama gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a wow bow
November 14, 2009 | 3:38 am
How low will the new American president go for the world's royalty?
This photo will get Democrat President Obama a lot of approving nods in Japan this weekend, especially among the older generation of Japanese who still pay attention to the royal family living in its downtown castle. Very low bows like this are a sign of great respect and deference for a superior.
To some in the United States, however, an upright handshake might have looked better. Remember Michelle Obama casually patting Britain's Queen Elizabeth on the back during their Buckingham Palace visit? America's royalty tends to make movies and get bad reviews and lots of money as a sign of respect.
Obama could receive some frowns back home as he did for his not-quite-this-low-or-maybe-about-the-same-bow to the Saudi king not so long ago.
I also like Reliapundit's reaction to this story:
FOR BOWING DOWN TO ANOTHER FOREIGN KING, OBAMA HAS ONCE AGAIN PROVEN HE IS UNFIT FOR OFFICE AND NEEDS TO BE EFFIN IMPEACHED
IT NOT JUST THIS BOW OR THE BOW TO KING ABDULLAH.
IT'S THE FACT THAT OBAMA IS ALWAYS GOING OUT OF HIS WAY TO GIVE AID AND SUCCOR TO OUR FOES:
LIKE BY GIVING KSM A TRIAL IN NYC - IN WHICH AL QAEDA CAN GLEAN ALL SORTS OF INTEL'...
A TRIAL WHICH WILL MAKE OR INTEL' AGENTS AND TROOPS SHUDDER AT THE MERE POSSIBILITY OF EVER CAPTURING AN ENEMY COMBATANT (BECAUSE IT TUNES THE BATTLEFIELD INTO A "CSI CRIME SCENE" AND MEANS THE "ARRESTING SOLDIER" KNOWS THAT DURING A TRIAL HIS NAME WILL BE MADE KNOWN TO THE ENEMY IN A YEAR OR 2 OR 3 OR 4).
MEANWHILE, OBAMA IS BLOCKING A CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO HASAN.
OBAMA IS PROTECTING THE ENEMY.
OBAMA SHOULD BE IMPEACHED, CONVICTED AND REMOVED FROM OFFICE.
EMPHASIS ON REMOVED FROM OFFICE.
ASAP.
16 comments:
In the world of protocol, I believe that the Emperor of Japan is the highest ranking person on Earth. Emperors outrank kings and Japan is the only the country left with an emperor.
I don't really have a problem with Obama bowing to the Japanese Emperor, it's just following protocol and showing respect. However I DO have a problem with him bowing to the Saudi king. I guess that's just my Islamophobic hypocrisy shining through. So be it.
In other news today, specifically European nationalist news, the BNP has voted overwhelmingly to admit non-white members. Also the BNP has teamed up with other parties from France, Hungary, Belgium, Italy and Sweden to form a pan-European party of the far right.
I have the HIGHEST POSSIBLE problem with all this shit.
This is a revolutionary nation where any man's son (or daughter) can be the equal in stature, riches, knowledge, and attainment in ANY WAY of any man's son, to paraphrase Francis Trollope's horror.
We recognize as superior NO HUMAN to any SLOB here
Obama's failure, REPEATED failure to understand in this way characterizes his nature, learning and desires as FUNDAMENTALLY different from that of the founders.
ONE OF US IS NOW UNAMERICAN.
................................
When the BNP leadership is ready to come here and kiss my lesbian rabbi's ass and apologize for the past, I MIGHT give them the benefit of the doubt after all those alive today are dead and a new generation has demonstrated across time and space they can be trusted.
Jeppo said: I don't really have a problem with Obama bowing to the Japanese Emperor
I say: Of course, you don't. You're British. You believe in Royalty, or at least tolerate it.
We don't believe in Royalty. We believe the concept of Royalty is for sheep.
@Epa,
I'm sure the BNP leadership will get right on that, so you might want to have your lesbian rabbi shave her ass in anticipation of some good old-fashioned anal smooching.
@Pasto,
I'm Canadian, not British. And unlike the uncouth Yankee rabble, I'm not about to chuck 1200 years of royal history down the toilet just so I can bow to some loser president. This video will definitely appeal to you.
No bowing to presidents, either.
NO BOWING TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING in the context of national leaders meetings. A firm handshake and an inclination of the head is plenty between the heads of sovereign states, thank you very much.
Respect for others, not submission to them.
That's the way of free people.
Now, if in Japan one substitutes a bow for a handshake and you are not representing your country, by all means do as the culture does.
It is a slap in the American peoples' faces for our executive to prostrate himself so. And it appears that is exactly why he is doing it.
Jeppo,
You said: I'm Canadian, not British. And unlike the uncouth Yankee rabble, I'm not about to chuck 1200 years of royal history down the toilet just so I can bow to some loser president.
I say: When is the last time you saw an American bowing to their President?
Anonymous,
I like your comment. No bowing to any human being. That's not only the American way, it's also the Judeo-Christian way.
That Europe has tolerated bowing to Popes and Royalty for all these centuries does not speak well of Europeans, to be frank.
If they'd actually crack their Bibles they'd understand. Don't listen to Priests. They are not your arbiters of the Word of God. Read the friggin' Bible.
Even if you don't believe it, give it some credit as a source of your culture. Read it, and understand. No bowing to human beings, whether they be Priests, Royalty, Jihadis or anyone. No bowing.
Anonymous said: Now, if in Japan one substitutes a bow for a handshake and you are not representing your country, by all means do as the culture does.
I say: And they do, and that's ok. If Obama had done like Japanese do and given a little nod of a bow, that would be fine. He friggin' went Muslim on the Emperor. That is disgusting.
Like you said, Anonymous: It is a slap in the American peoples' faces for our executive to prostrate himself so. And it appears that is exactly why he is doing it.
Jeppo,
Sorry about that. I forgot you were Canadian.
But, Canadian or not, you are a British "subject", right?
;-)
Oops.
Apparently, you guys in Canada went "uncouth" on that one in 1947:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_subject
Just what was it you had been subject to anyway?
;-)
And, just to add an extra childish element to this whole conversation (as if I hadn't gone far enough already):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbyZjU5gHVQ
Pastorius said: When is the last time you saw an American bowing to their president?
Well, the entire press corps genuflect to him on a daily basis! Does that count?
But seriously, an American president is treated much more regally than any other head of government outside the Third World, what with "Hail To The Chief" and 21 gun salutes and so forth. We treat our Prime Ministers the way all politicians deserve to be treated: With complete and utter contempt at all times.
The monarchy is our connection with our traditions and our roots, an (almost) unbroken line dating back to the Saxon kings who first united England 1200 years ago. That's the way I see it anyway, and I'm not even of British origin.
Y'know if the BNP ever come to power, the Sex Pistols are going to look pretty prophetic:
God save the Queen!
The Fascist regime!
LOL
You said: We treat our Prime Ministers the way all politicians deserve to be treated: With complete and utter contempt at all times.
I say: Yes, you do. I love the British Parliamentary debates. I've never seen the Canadian ones. But, I agree with you on this. When the Prime Minister is called to speak to the Parliament, it is brutal.
I saw the photo here of our president bowing to a foreigner, and I couldn't at first believe I was seeing a real photo. When I read the copy, I was nearly sick. Our president is a cartoon, a pastiche of a man, a caricature of a man. He's a buffoon and a fool playing at being a man.
After the wave of sickness passed, I realised that we are not European fools playing at suavity at out-door cafes, nodding to the famous who don't know us or see us, smirking at things we don't understand the gravity of, assuming we must be chic because we simper, smirk, and sneer: I realised we are a Cherokee Nation.
Some would have it that Indians were exterminated by White men stealing the land from natives. No, Indians gave a good fight, and they became us as we became them, the nature of the Cherokee blending into us as we into them till all are American. Even as we fought Indians and they fought settlers, there was a bond between fighting men, and we are all now one, American, and no one can take the Cherokee out of our nation. That's our strength, the Indian and the settler combined in one who make our nation great.
When we come again to understand our blended Indian/settler soul, then our nation will rise from this grovel.
This is just stupid. The sitting American President should NEVER bow to any foreign royal family member. Ally or otherwise.
The amount of time I've spent in Japan since 1990 prob totals 2-3 years.
There are PULLLENTY of ways to demonstrate respect in bowing without dong what Obama did. Note the angle of the emperor, AND the empress.
Bowing is just the way we shake hands, and the timing and amount is so auto it's almost involuntary. Obama's obsequious and frankly disgusting behavior rather than a demonstration of respect, is in fact embarrassing to both Amercans AND the Japanese ..he is finally TRANSPARENT.
UGH.
Next he'll have Holder bow to KSM, or Alwadi.
Another day, another 5 Howard Beale moments
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