The Point: Obama's Bow Enrages Critics -- Sphere News, Opinion and Analysis »
Posted By TimALoftis 3 weeks, 1 day ago in Political OpinionPresident Barack Obama's deep bow to Japan's emperor this weekend symbolized a culture clash -- East versus West and Right versus Left.
Conservatives were incensed by the way the president greeted Emperor Akihito in Tokyo on Saturday. Unlike in April, when the White House insisted Obama's bow to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia wasn't a bow at all, a senior administration official told Politico the president was just observing protocol.
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deathrayComment removed: Spam
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deathray3 weeks ago
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let's try that again:
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nixon bows to hirohito, 1971:
"At their 1971 meeting in Alaska, the first visit of a Japanese Emperor to America, President Nixon bowed and referred to Emperor Hirohito and his wife repeatedly as 'Your Imperial Majesties.'... Nixon gets the bow right. Slight arch from the waist hands at his side."
http://mediamatters.org/research/200911160014 -
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deathray3 weeks ago
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from the same blog entry:
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A September 2, 1959 Associated Press photo shows President Dwight Eisenhower bowing his head while meeting French President Charles De Gaulle. The caption of the photograph read: "President Dwight Eisenhower bows as he acknowledges speech of greeting by French President Charles De Gaulle on his arrival at Le Bourget near Paris on Sept. 2, 1959. Between the two chief executives is Ludovic Chancel, French Chief of Protocol."
the picture is there.
the pictures are not photoshopped.
it's amazing. president obama understands protocol as well as eisenhower and nixon.
good for him.
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Dionys3 weeks ago
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The Japanese Bow to one-another to honor the other person. Japanese Buddhists bow to one-another to honor the Buddha Nature inside everyone.
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NOT bowing to the Emperor would be EXTREMELY insulting to the Japanese and in an area where we need all the friends we can get, the US cannot afford to do so.
It is not in any way a bow of submission. Just as bowing to a Buddha statue/representation is not a bow of submission, but again a recognition of 'self' in 'other.'-
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jakesguile3 weeks ago
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Yeah but you see..to recognize that would require for the cons to admit that there are other cultures deserving of respect.... And that there actually is a 'self' in 'other.' That just seems like too huge a philosophical leap for them. I don't see it happening. If it isn't all about them, then it doesn't work... and even though 'self' in 'other' has to do with a 'self' it has too much to do with an 'other' for their tastes
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Dionys3 weeks ago
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No. It wouldn't be an issue if people like you didn't seek to attack Obama on everything simply because he's black. Or try to twist things out of context.. again.. simply because he's black. In fact, as proven by the actions of past WHITE presidents, none of these things would be an issue for people like you.. except for the fact that he's black.
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