November 14, 2009

Obama is bowing again.

This time to the Japanese emperor.



Power Line says:
Obama's breach of protocol is of a piece with the substance of his foreign policy.
Breach of protocol? Obama is establishing the protocol here. It is what he intentionally does, I would think. But it is fair to tie the gesture to Obama's general message:
He means to teach Americans to bow before monarchs. He embodies the ideological multiculturalism that sets the United States on the same plane as other regimes based on tribal privilege and royal bloodlines. He gives expressive form to the idea that the United States now willingly prostrates itself before the rest of the world. He declares that the United States is a country like any other, only worse, because we have so much for which to apologize.
That's rather exaggerated. To bow is not to prostrate yourself. Prostration looks like this:



The image of prostration is a religious one — and it is closely, though not entirely, associated with Islam. Did Power Line intend that association?

Bowing is a more modest gesture of greeting and respect, more like the American handshake. If a foreign emissary shakes hands in our country, I don't see the problem with our President bowing in a country where bowing is conventional. The question is whether he bows to a potentate who does not bow to him. Emperor Akihito did not bow to Obama, did he? And Obama did that extra-low bow, not that Japanese businessman thing or... oh, hell, what do I know of the details of Japanese bowing?! Here, it's a little complicated, but you'll be able to figure out exactly what sort of bow Obama did and what, perhaps, he ought to be doing....

209 comments:

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NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...

Bow down before the one you serve.

You're going to get what you deserve.

vbspurs said...

Penny, you're right! Somehow the photo didn't make it.

Here is King Albert's reverence before the Pope

It actually was a hot topic in a Le Monde and other newspapers' editorials (we call them leaders) last month.

The dichotomy in opinion is striking. Already people in Europe are praising him for his deference, but when King Albert did it (horrors, because of RELIGIOUS reasons), it was "Is he too submissive?".

Cheers,
Victoria

Largo said...

Paul said: "You are anti-American to your core. Anyone can see it.

Not me, at this point. Take it easy with the universals.

traditionalguy said...

JAL@ 7:19pm...Obama doesn't have a lick of sense then because he has been searching for his Kenyan heritage thru his father and the ancestors of his father since it was stolen from him. Read his books before you assert that Obama doesn't have a lick of sense. He also told the Japanese that his outlook has always been towards the Indian Ocean and eastward to Indonesia and the Pacific rim countries, meaning he feels that he has that cultural heritage born into him unlike Connecticut Yankees named Bush. Maybe Obama feels that DNA heritage and an instant knowing of another culture as he claims, just like I can feel when I am visiting in Scotland. Where are your ancestors from, and have you ever visited there?

Mian said...

I see this thread is dying out. However, I can't resist:

Obama is bowing to the inevitable conclusion that soon it'll be time for him to bow out. (given that he's become such a master of the bow!)

Sayonara, O-Bama-San

Anonymous said...

According to the film clip linked the bow in japan is an apology and subtly attuned to the severity of the offense. So what is Barry so deeply sorry about?

Unknown said...

I love that, Palladian, LOL!

bankruptcy records said...

I think this is pathetic. China is going to own us like a bunch of collection agencies before this whole thing is through. What kind of message do you think this sent to the Asian world? They know what this means, and when it comes to negotiating, they'll treat us with far less respect now! As a Tucson CPA who understands a little about accounting, this country needs to start taking some financial responsibility, and stop 'cow-towing' to these people. It's a disgrace!

bankruptcy records said...

I hate seeing this. China will eventually go after us like a bunch of collection agencies. As an Arizona CPA I think that our country needs to begin applying more financial discipline and stop 'cow-towing' to these people. We'll all end up in court filing our bankruptcy records if we don't knock it off. And do you think that the people in Asia are going to respect us in negotiations when they see this kind of submissive behavior or our part?

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