Unfortunately it is.
Here is the reasoning:
When you bow to someone that low you show you are inferior to them. That is the perceived notion that goes on here. Even if the Saudi King or the Japanese person had bowed back, the fact that he bowed low shows to them that their leaders are superior to ours.
"mock outrage"? lol
apologist count +1
Really? Is this really something to get upset about? Republicans do more damage to their own cause than any Democrat ever could. /facepalm
Well they might feel that their country is the best but who cares? This outrage over Obama bowing too low is much ado about nothing, there's no downside to it. If you think there is then you are incredibly ignorant. Frankly though I think you are hysterical I don't believe you are that ignorant. Maybe I'm giving you too much credit, I would hope that's not the case.Bowing to see eye to eye is acceptable. I have stated that. It is a sign of respect.
Bowing much lower (sadly in both cases) is seen as a sign of being inferior. Why? The King and Emperor do NOT bow below anyone. They are perceived as being the highest ranked people in their countries and as thus will not bow that low. They most likely feel their country is the best in the world and thus would not insult their country (any homer should).
From the video of the Saudi King I saw, the King did not bow anywhere near as low as Obama. With the Japanese Emperor it may be harder to tell as he is short but in the picture he made a friendly gesture bow, but did not bow anywhere near the same as Obama.
They bow, whereas we salute in this country moreso. Same principle almost. The subordinate starts a salute, a superior starts and finishes the salute then the subordinate finishes his salute. A little different then the Eastern ways but the way it is done never changes.
Assuming it is mock outrage rather than real outrage is probably better. If you're actually outraged by this, then you might be taking this a bit too far.
No. It's entirely appropriate to call out the leader of our country for conveying that a different leader is "superior".
Well they might feel that their country is the best but who cares? This outrage over Obama bowing too low is much ado about nothing, there's no downside to it. If you think there is then you are incredibly ignorant. Frankly though I think you are hysterical I don't believe you are that ignorant. Maybe I'm giving you too much credit, I would hope that's not the case.
Honestly? No, because it's all bullshit. We've had two centuries of shallow people creating elaborate rules of "etiquette" to dictate all sorts of superficial behaviors, posturing and preening and puffery ... none of which are material to anything of importance. What Obama did was a simple courtesy, showing respect for someone by mimicking a local custom. At its roots, regardless of what the Emily Posts of the world may preach, it is only a token gesture of no actual significance beyond a little goodwill.it doesn't seem question-worthy to you at all that Obama would decide to change 200+ years of state department policy?
I must say I never thought this thread would become so interesting. It must be a slow day out there.
I think Obama needs better advisors on how to react with respect to his country. There is not a downside as far as the relations go of course but people that reside in this country will take offense at what is perceived as showing an inferior mentality. Thats what the complaints are about. I just hope he gets better advisors from here on out.
Honestly? No, because it's all bullshit. We've had two centuries of shallow people creating elaborate rules of "etiquette" to dictate all sorts of superficial behaviors, posturing and preening and puffery ... none of which are material to anything of importance. What Obama did was a simple courtesy, showing respect for someone by mimicking a local custom. At its roots, regardless of what the Emily Posts of the world may preach, it is only a token gesture of no actual significance beyond a little goodwill.
I can guarantee you that Japanese leaders are savvy enough to understand the difference between the polite gesture and the very real power behind the person making it. That a few simple-minded peasants in Japan -- and the U.S. -- might imagine more is their problem.
Perhaps his advisers realize that its more important to not offend the host when visiting another country than it is to not offend a couple of crazies back home?
This is the /thread post. In the end, only nutters would give a shit about this non-issue. We have some very real fucking problems like 10+& unemployment, wars dragging on, and so forth that really deserve detailed attention, and that perhaps very valid arguments about Obama's work on them can be made, but this is 110% concentrated pointless bullshit.
Cad's not very good with English. I appreciate you translating for me. You are exactly right. I was mocking his buffoonery, not weighing in on what Obama did.No it isn't, he's calling you stupid not attempting to excuse Obama's behavior. The definition of 'apologist' is 'someone who argues in the defense or justification of something'. Nowhere in his post did he defend or justify Obama's behavior, he just said you were insane and dishonest.
You would think for a guy who spent as much time arguing about definitions as you do, that you would be better at looking them up.
Yep, even those who we claim as friends and allies.Yeah, I guess we've been "offending" everyone for previous 8 years then...
lol, only an apologist would make an argument like that and assume that anyone thinks this is more important that obowma F'ing up employment, the war, and other things. This issue is just one more example of his incompetence and the incompetence of those he's surrounded himself with.
Who cares what the Wingnuts think, they are going to criticize him for every little thing he does..like in this thread and forum.
how low will he go
Clinton almost bowed and the NYT gave him a tongue lashing. What exactly does this full out bow along with the bow to the king tell us about Obowma? IMO, it shows he is weak and wants the US to outwardly appear weak/meek. Exactly the wrong message IMO.
Apologist unite?
The Ancient Greeks use to do it all the time...oh wait
Yeah, I guess we've been "offending" everyone for 200+ years then...
I would not assume only wingnuts are offended by this. They just happen to be the ones that will point it out and make it a huge story in the news for a few days. /snip
lol respecting the host country's culture is a bad thing? We shake hands here, I'm sure you'd be foaming mad if a visiting head of state refused to shake Bush's hand because he viewed it as somehow unequal to his stature.