The bow redux

AF6872

15-Year Member
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Mar 4, 2007
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Please tell me my old eyes are decieving me. I did not just recently see the POTUS bow to the Emperor of Japan? Two for Two. Putin can't wait to see what his will be. Then on to Kowtow in China before Mao's tomb?:rant2:
 
AF6872:
Do you mean to say that you think seeing the person that represents the US groveling before every foreign leader he meets is demeaning and degrading.

For those who will say he's following their customs well surprise it isn't an American custom.
 
AND? :confused:

If I went to Germany, I'd offer a firm handshake.
If I went to the Middle East, I would hold the other person's hand.
If I went to Japan, I would give a polite bow.

My MSS instructor (Japanese exchange officer) would bow because the Japanese military does not salute in doors. That didn't mean he was groveling to the students. He was giving the equivalent of a return salute.
 
AND? :confused:

If I went to Germany, I'd offer a firm handshake.
If I went to the Middle East, I would hold the other person's hand.
If I went to Japan, I would give a polite bow.

My MSS instructor (Japanese exchange officer) would bow because the Japanese military does not salute in doors. That didn't mean he was groveling to the students. He was giving the equivalent of a return salute.
You become President and you too would be criticized for a low bow. The lower and longer the bow represents subordinate social status.
If I went to the Middle East, I would hold the other person's hand.
Years (and years) ago I witnessed two Iranian male military exchange students straddling a stool together, quizzed an lab instructor on what was up... he said it's customary and not frowned upon since they have their marriages arranged for them, sooo.... I doubt if I would hold another Muslims hand anytime soon.
 
As a former advidsor for JUSMAG we were all conditioned for differences. Males holding hands on the street was one of the first, males not holding hands with women was the second. We were "in country" and it was a different culture. We adapted and respected the values of the country we were assigned to. In Thailand I would give a respectful "wai" to a senior Thai in any civilian situation and salute him if he was in uniform. In Japan I would politely bow while greeting a senior person and again salute if he was in uniform. I remember in NKP when I came back from out in the boonies there were some Thai Officers leaving after inspecting the site as I was walking into the compound. As they were walking out I steped to the side of the path and saluted. They burst out laughing. They had never been saluted by an American. They were Thai Majors and Colonels and had never recieved the respect due them. We may be cultural morons but the POTUS does not bow or kowtow to any foreign leader.
 
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As a former advidsor for JUSMAG we were all conditioned for differences. Males holding hands on the street was one of the first, males not holding hands with women was the second. We were "in country" and it was a different culture. We adapted and respected the values of the country we were assigned to. In Thailand I would give a respectful "wai" to a senior Thai in any civilian situation and salute him if he was in uniform. In Japan I would politely bow while greeting a senior person and again salute if he was in uniform. I remember in NKP when I came back from out in the boonies there were some Thai Officers leaving after inspecting the site as I was walking into the compound. As they were walking out I steped to the side of the path and saluted. They burst out laughing. They had never been saluted by an American. They were Thai Majors and Colonels and had never recieved the respect due them. We may be cultural morons but the POTUS does not bow or kowtow to any foreign leader.
Until now....
 
I think He’s apologizing for our attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; after all He has apologized to every other world leader as a result of America’s arrogance. :rolleyes:

Viper56
 
As a former advidsor for JUSMAG we were all conditioned for differences. Males holding hands on the street was one of the first, males not holding hands with women was the second. We were "in country" and it was a different culture. We adapted and respected the values of the country we were assigned to. In Thailand I would give a respectful "wai" to a senior Thai in any civilian situation and salute him if he was in uniform. In Japan I would politely bow while greeting a senior person and again salute if he was in uniform. I remember in NKP when I came back from out in the boonies there were some Thai Officers leaving after inspecting the site as I was walking into the compound. As they were walking out I steped to the side of the path and saluted. They burst out laughing. They had never been saluted by an American. They were Thai Majors and Colonels and had never recieved the respect due them. We may be cultural morons but the POTUS does not bow or kowtow to any foreign leader.

Great post. And here's a link to the photo of President Nixon in 1971 in Alaska bowing to the Emperor of Japan, Hirohito http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=5c8f4325f5d81345&q=hirohito%20source:life&prev=/images?q=hirohito+source:life&ndsp=12&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:eek:fficial&sa=N&start=12&um=1 ... note each leader is bowing to each other at a 45 degree angle which is considered proper protocol.

Maybe President Obama didn't practice his bow and got the angle incorrect, he looks very awkward in the photos ... I bet he has a few other things on his mind these days.:smile:
 
Great post. And here's a link to the photo of President Nixon in 1971 in Alaska bowing to the Emperor of Japan, Hirohito http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=5c8f4325f5d81345&q=hirohito%20source:life&prev=/images?q=hirohito+source:life&ndsp=12&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:eek:fficial&sa=N&start=12&um=1 ... note each leader is bowing to each other at a 45 degree angle which is considered proper protocol.

Maybe President Obama didn't practice his bow and got the angle incorrect, he looks very awkward in the photos ... I bet he has a few other things on his mind these days.:smile:

Nixon is at a 45 degree angle in that picture??? lol :yllol:
Looks more like an 85 degree angle and he's not lower than the other leader, it's more off a head nod.

Yup, Obama has a lot of things on his mind lately like: what a waste of time it was to leave the Country for the 8th time on an apology tour while his AG is supposedly making illegal discussions and policy for him all the while the Country is mired down in a ridiculous Health Care debate, that most Americans don't want, they want jobs!

Here is Obama at 8 degrees:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/comments_blog/2009/11/obama-bows-to-japan-emperor-akihito.html
 
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Nixon is at a 45 degree angle in that picture??? lol :yllol:
Looks more like an 85 degree angle and he's not lower than the other leader, it's more off a head nod.

Yup, Obama has a lot of things on his mind lately like: what a waste of time it was to leave the Country for the 8th time on an apology tour while his AG is supposedly making illegal discussions and policy for him all the while the Country is mired down in a ridiculous Health Care debate, that most Americans don't want, they want jobs!

Here is Obama at 8 degrees:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/comments_blog/2009/11/obama-bows-to-japan-emperor-akihito.html


My kid's doing angles in Geometry right now ... I'll email the photos to her teacher and see if she'll make the kids figure out the angles as an assignment ... the parents' around here would honestly LOVE that! Thanks!!
 
Nixon is at a 45 degree angle in that picture??? lol :yllol:
Looks more like an 85 degree angle and he's not lower than the other leader, it's more off a head nod.

Yup, Obama has a lot of things on his mind lately like: what a waste of time it was to leave the Country for the 8th time on an apology tour while his AG is supposedly making illegal discussions and policy for him all the while the Country is mired down in a ridiculous Health Care debate, that most Americans don't want, they want jobs!

Here is Obama at 8 degrees:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/comments_blog/2009/11/obama-bows-to-japan-emperor-akihito.html

I hear Obama's got a lot of brush to clear over the holidays ....
 
caroline this flew right over my head would you care to explain please:confused::confused::confused:

It was a (somewhat rude) reference to the amount of time GWB spent clearing brush instead of travelling to visit other heads of state. And I didn't realize you were so short. :biggrin:
 
It was a (somewhat rude) reference to the amount of time GWB spent clearing brush instead of traveling to visit other heads of state. And I didn't realize you were so short. :biggrin:

I think President Bush was taking care of problems in the US where obama jets to ___________ fill in the blank, ignoring domestic problems hoping they will just go away.

I'm not that short, I was setting down:rolleyes:
 
I think President Bush was taking care of problems in the US where obama jets to ___________ fill in the blank, ignoring domestic problems hoping they will just go away.

I'm not that short, I was setting down:rolleyes:

uh huh.:thumb:

I think our foreign affairs warrant some travel ... I do wish he'd make it to Iraq and Afghanistan before he comes back to the US .... it would be nice for him to be in either country visiting the soldiers over Thanksgiving, the most American of holidays.
 
caroline:

For Thanksgiving I think obama will be in Turkey. (bad awful I just couldn't resist):yllol:
 
caroline:

For Thanksgiving I think obama will be in Turkey. (bad awful I just couldn't resist):yllol:


"bad awful" just doesn't cover it .... if I were the swearing type :eek: I'd now call you my favorite term of affection ... the initials are J.A. and it means a donkey.:biggrin:
 
It was a (somewhat rude) reference to the amount of time GWB spent clearing brush instead of travelling to visit other heads of state. And I didn't realize you were so short. :biggrin:

I saw that one a mile away after reading 3 of your posts :wink: but, Barry's travels mirror much like his past Senate record...vote's of "Present" and only in the office a quarter of the time :yllol: Between the MV vacation, shopping with Michelle in NYC and Paris and then the apology tour...he's been in the office what, two months outta ten? And look at the great work he's done with crystal clear open door policy lol

Don't forget, he's got that much deserved Nobel Peace Price being handed out to him next month...what are the odds that he won't stop in Oslo for the Algore profit center summit while he's a country away?
 
This bow-wow-wow thing is the least of His worries. Chairman Obama has had nearly 3 months to make a decision on a strategy for victory in Afghanistan, but has to balance between what's good for America vs satisfying his hard-left base. Then again, when you're uncomfortable with the term "victory", should we be surprised?
 
uh huh.:thumb:

.... it would be nice for him to be in either country visiting the soldiers over Thanksgiving, the most American of holidays.


did he visit any Troops while in Japan? (I seem to remember while in Germany he didn't have time to visit troops).

Soldiers are US Army... (one of my pet peeves) Troops = all U.S. Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Sailors and Coasties
 
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