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11-19-2009, 11:57 AM
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The US needs the strategic advantage. Cheers - Oz 
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11-19-2009, 03:35 PM
Some have also questioned whether the Emperor returned the bow. Traditionally, he does not bow except possibly to other heads of state. If he didn't (its not real clear in some clips) I think the Emperor was caught off guard. I doubt it was something he was expecting from Obama. But I would have expected him to bow as well, though not as deeply, being the dignitary giving audience to our representative.
In any case, I am glad that my President followed established decorum in the country he visited. My lesser educated countrymen need to get a grip on reality and learn the difference between a show of respect and submission. Obama didn't kneel to anyone. If he had, then I would have some serious doubts about his leadership. My only question is why his staff didn't teach him to do a more proper bow. I supposed the handshake while bowing was an attempt at compromise, but it should have followed later. I also wonder if this sets a precedence for him bowing to Queen Elizabeth the next time he visits. At least he isn't expected to curtsey to royalty the way I was taught ..... damned hard on aging knees.  Only an open mind and open heart can be filled with life. ********************* Find your voice; silence will not protect you.
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11-19-2009, 04:39 PM
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I was speaking with a friend from Australia a few days ago and the first thing she said to me on the phone was " So Obama huh? what the hell is wrong with you guys in the US, was it a slow news day or something?" This has been a reoccurring theme with all my internation friends over the past few days. 
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11-20-2009, 01:29 AM
tbh theres nothing wrong with it just america hadnt found any desaster story that week so they decided to shout at obama for no reason, uhhhg i dont realy like the americain media =[
風、水、火、土
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11-20-2009, 04:10 AM
Unfortunately, this is news. I heard time and time again when GWB was president that a president's actions reflected the United States as a whole. Japan has been pretty good about the affair though, the Japanese press have not shown photos of Obama's bow because they don't wish to embarrass him.
Even ordinary business people take classes in protocol before visiting Japan so they don't end doing what Obama did. I have no idea what he was thinking, and all I can guess is that he wasn't thinking at all. Obama's bow was like that given by a 1st year salaryman to the president of his company, humble nearly to the point of groveling. As far as I'm concerned, the US president shouldn't bow to anybody. If you look for it, you can find old film of the Berlin Olympic Games held in the 1930's. Then, as now, each country's athletes walk in formation around the track, following the flags of their respective countries. Hitler was the "Fuhrer" of Germany at the time, and stood on a podium to watch the spectacle. At the Berlin games, each time a nation's flag came before Hitler's podium, it was lowered to a 45 degree angle, and Hitler saluted it. But of all the flags that passed Hitler's podium that day, only one was not lowered, and that was the American flag. To this day, the American flag is not lowered for any event, save national tragedy or emergency. It is not lowered out of respect to any foreign leader, in any land, under any circumstance. The president is the embodiment of America, and should hold himself to the same standards which the flag represents.
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11-20-2009, 04:44 AM
Having watched the NHK news regarding this incident, the overall conclusion was "Why are Americans even upset about this?"
Thankfully the Japanese can read the intention behind the gesture and not focus on the angle of the bow. Odd that some Americans are not so savvy or forgiving.
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That's what I said!
