sixpacktr Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I know, he lost his 100 yen piece and was looking for that, right?? Quote
Moksha Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I bet it wasn't his back. He was probably looking for Fox Media. Quote
john doe Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 He knows exactly where Fox is. They're the ones who were assigned the vests with bullseyes on them in the briefing room..... Quote
bytor2112 Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 The Japanese guy is smiling because Obama is bending over in pain and yelling...UNCLE!!! Quote
Jenamarie Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 Ahh, the ol' Japanese buzzer-in-the-hand trick. Quote
talisyn Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 President Obama is showing where he got a bruise when he bumped his head on a ceiling fan Quote
boyando Posted November 15, 2009 Posted November 15, 2009 · Hidden Hidden I think he was looking at his own reflection in his shoes, and thinking................man, I'm a hansom man.
boyando Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I think he is looking at his reflection, in his own shoes, and thinking..................man, what a good looking man. No wonder I'm President. Quote
Dravin Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 (edited) I think he was looking at his own reflection in his shoes, and thinking................man, I'm a hansom man. This calls for a study!Ladies, provide your rating of the top three most attractive presidents.On a more serious note, who is it he's bowing to? The depth of the bow in Japanese culture represents the amount of respect, or some would say subservience, being shown, but either way you cut it Obama must think the guy worthy of a healthy dose of it. So sixpacktr, who is he? Edited November 15, 2009 by Dravin Quote
john doe Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 He's the Emperor of Japan, I believe. Quote
Dravin Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 He's the Emperor of Japan, I believe. That would explain it. Quote
sixpacktr Posted November 15, 2009 Author Report Posted November 15, 2009 Well, Dravin, he is the Emperor of Japan. Having lived in Japan for 6.5 years, let's just say I know a grovelling, sniveling bow when I see it. This is such a bow. Believe me, the Emperor did not expect that type of bow from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. And the Emperor, like the Queen of England, is a figurehead, no more. Has no say in anything. IF Obama had given him a small bow (which I would have done, having been immersed in the culture for over 30 years as I have) while shaking his hand I'd have no problem with that. I'd do that, because it is part of who I am now. But RARELY do Japanese bow with their eyes cast down, almost never that I can remember. Always the eyes are upon the one you are bowing to. This man has no clue what it means to be an American. He wasn't raised here, he sought out those that hated America when he was older. This is an embarassment. Period. What next? Visit the President of China and turn him around so that he can kiss his behind? Maybe that one would be more appropriate, given that they hold so much of our debt... Quote
Elphaba Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 This is the video of the incident, and the bow doesn't look nearly as bad as the split-second still picture makes it look. However, it appears Obama kept bowing, giving off the sort of "dumb foreignor" appearance of someone who isn't sure when to stop. I get why he bowed to the Empress, but after that, enough already!YouTube - Obama bows to Japanese EmperorElphaba Quote
Dravin Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 However, it appears Obama kept bowing, giving off the sort of "dumb foreignor" appearance of someone who isn't sure when to stop. ElphabaI wonder if his protocol people dropped the ball and didn't let him know or if he had a brain fart and forgot what his protocol people told him. I know if I had protocol people and they told me bow and count to X that I my counting of X would probably be very unstopwatchlike in nature. Quote
Mahone Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 Believe me, the Emperor did not expect that type of bow from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. And the Emperor, like the Queen of England, is a figurehead, no more. Has no say in anything. IF Obama had given him a small bow (which I would have done, having been immersed in the culture for over 30 years as I have) while shaking his hand I'd have no problem with that. I'd do that, because it is part of who I am now. But RARELY do Japanese bow with their eyes cast down, almost never that I can remember. Always the eyes are upon the one you are bowing to.I've read your post several times but I'm still not sure what the issue is. He attempted to respect Japanese customs. Maybe he screwed it up a bit, but it would have been a lot worse if he'd done nothing, knowing it was custom to bow.It seems Obama is a fairly tall person, especially in comparison to the emperor. I'm used to being taller than most people myself, and it seems silly but I know how awkward it can be to get things like this right the first time with such a height difference. Quote
Just_A_Guy Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I'm resisting the urge to take a cheap shot about a lack of tele-prompters in Japan . . . I have failed. Quote
Just_A_Guy Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 In all seriousness - I think the later "bows" may just be body language in an animated discussion. The bow to the Emperor was a bit much, but I thought the one to the Empress was pretty classy. Quote
BenRaines Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 Anyone looked up the protocol for a US President meeting a leader of another country? Emperor of Japan is not the elected leader just as Queen of England is not an elected leader, born in to it. Let me see what I can find regarding protocol. Ben Raines Quote
Elphaba Posted November 16, 2009 Report Posted November 16, 2009 I found this article that says the bow is not unprecedented, but is too low.On President Obama's Bow to the Japanese Emperor, An Academic Friend Writes That Both the Left and the Right Are Wrong - Political PunchThis picture shows two things," my friend writes."1) The 'right' is wrong about Obama's bow."2) The 'left' is wrong about Obama's bow."His bow is neither (1) unprecedented nor (2) a sign of cultural understanding. "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.'"(See that picture HERE.) "Yet, (and?) Nixon gets the bow right. Slight arch from the waist hands at his side. "Obama's handshake/forward lurch was so jarring and inappropriate it recalls Bush's back-rub of Merkel. "Kyodo News is running his appropriate and reciprocated nod and shake with the Empress, certainly to show the president as dignified, and not in the form of a first year English teacher trying to impress with Karate Kid-level knowledge of Japanese customs. "The bow as he performed did not just display weakness in Red State terms, but evoked weakness in Japanese terms....The last thing the Japanese want or need is a weak looking American president and, again, in all ways, he unintentionally played that part."BTW, Obama's bow at Suntory Hall was much better. Correct angle, slight bow. His hands were wrong but the physical tone was correct and appropriate. Should I re-post my picture of Bush holding hands with the Saudi king? Elphaba Quote
Moksha Posted November 16, 2009 Posted November 16, 2009 · Hidden Hidden However, it appears Obama kept bowing, giving off the sort of "dumb foreignor"... The Emperor plus Mrs. Emperor like dumb foreigners(What were they thinking???!!!!) Glenn Beck would only bow for his proctologist!!!
Just_A_Guy Posted November 16, 2009 Report Posted November 16, 2009 I'll see your hand-holding and raise you another . Quote
Elphaba Posted November 16, 2009 Report Posted November 16, 2009 I'll see your hand-holding and raise you another . Pffftttt...Elph Quote
talisyn Posted November 16, 2009 Report Posted November 16, 2009 Well, I always believed when it comes to courtesy one can never be too polite. And Americans are not suppose to get bows right. I would be more worried for a president who's done so much bowing he/she knows to the millimeter proper form Quote
Dravin Posted November 16, 2009 Report Posted November 16, 2009 Well, I always believed when it comes to courtesy one can never be too polite. With talk like that people might start thinking you are Canadian. [seinfeld]Not that there's anything wrong with that.[/seinfeld] Quote
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