Barrack Obama: Much Ado About A Bow
By Leo
@d_e_v81 (360)
Singapore
November 22, 2009 2:54am CST
My respect for the new American President, Barrack Obama, just keeps increasing. Lately, he was photographed bowing to the Japanese emperor. This caused a violent reaction among those who say that a US president should not bow to anyone, it is a sign of weakness. What rubbish! The man apparently has more respect for other people's culture then many American's with this view that US president should not bow to anyone. Im sure he left a lasting impression on Japan.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@crimsonladybug (3112)
• United States
22 Nov 09
I had not heard anything about this. I cannot believe that he received such.... wait, yes I can. I would really like to be shocked and appalled that Americans could be so crass and insensitive to not understand that in that culture, bowing is a display of respect and the deeper the bow the deeper the respect. I would like to be shocked but unfortunately, I am not. I am proud and grateful for the things that being an American allows me - freedom of speech, press, religion, most specifically - but sometimes I become very frustrated with the stigma that comes with being an "ugly American." It is reactions like this one we have given to our own President, our leader, our face to the world, for merely showing respect to a foreign dignitary in a manner suitable to his culture rather than our own, that has earned us the label ugly Americans.
@d_e_v81 (360)
• Singapore
22 Nov 09
Hi crimsonladybug!
I actuallly reread my post after reading your reply to see if I had offended anyone. I dont mean to label Americans as ugly or otherwise. I was just taken aback at some of the criticisms I have read about his bow. What should be considered something that Americans can be proud of actually received negative feedback and the need for Obama's representative to clarify was really, I dunno, preposterous! My bro-in-law is American and he agrees with me. I gess I was naive in being shocked to see that when the rest of the world seems to adore him, he is getting flak from his own people.
@crimsonladybug (3112)
• United States
23 Nov 09
Please don't misunderstand. You didn't offend me. The people you were writing about did. You didn't imply "ugly Americans." I said it. Outright. I think being an intelligent, informed citizen of the U.S. gives a person an inside view at what makes other countries scoff at us. It's not anything to do with individual people but more with an attitude that is put out in the public eye. Situations like this one that you've brought to light paint us in a very negative light. The thing about people (Americans, anyway, I don't know if this happens as much in other cultures) is that we are far quicker to complain than to compliment. So when something like this comes up, the negative reactions are far louder in the public forum than the positive "Attaboy!" reactions. And because of that, the population that is reacting is judged on the negatives.
@d_e_v81 (360)
• Singapore
24 Nov 09
Glad to know! I guess complaining is a part of every culture. Not just Americans. Even in Singapore recently, a guy comlained about how his ferrari got towed due to the flooding incident when there have been worse floods with people being killed around the world. I guess we could learn how to show a little appreciation for others. Thanks for your comment! :)
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
22 Nov 09
I have read some of the comments about his bowing too and wondered what the big deal was. I took it that he was showing respect as well and that he was not putting himself above anyone else. I look at it as a friendly gesture and I was really surprised at how many have really attacked him for this.
