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How low will he go? Obama gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a wow bow
Los Angeles Times ^ | Novembe 14, 2009 | Andrew Malcolm

Posted on 11/14/2009 5:08:16 AM PST by libstripper

How low will the new American president go for the world's royalty?

This photo will get Democrat President Obama a lot of approving nods in Japan this weekend, especially among the older generation of Japanese who still pay attention to the royal family living in its downtown castle. Very low bows like this are a sign of great respect and deference for a superior.

To some in the United States, however, an upright handshake might have looked better. Remember Michelle Obama casually patting Britain's Queen Elizabeth on the back during their Buckingham Palace visit? America's royalty tends to make movies and get bad reviews and lots of money as a sign of respect.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: akihito; bhoasia; bhovisit; bow; caption; japan; obama; obamabow; obowa
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To: libstripper
I am no expert on Japanese traditions (but I have read all of Clavell's novels ;-) but normally a bow does not include a handshake. In modern times, at most, its a nod of the head when shaking hands ...
Anyone?
41 posted on 11/14/2009 5:31:01 AM PST by Tunehead54 (Nothing funny here ;-)
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To: WaterBoard

“It look lak you needs a shine, suh!”


42 posted on 11/14/2009 5:31:57 AM PST by headsonpikes (Genocide is the highest sacrament of socialism - "Who-whom?")
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To: libstripper

Should we really expect anything else from this guy? Really?

Sickening...


43 posted on 11/14/2009 5:32:19 AM PST by GOPRaleigh (It's gonna be a loooonnnggg 4 years...)
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To: libstripper
Peruvian President Alan Garcia (L) shakes hands with Japanese Emperor Akihito
44 posted on 11/14/2009 5:32:31 AM PST by NotSoModerate
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To: NotSoModerate

The greetings in post 23 & 13 show what happens when we sent a callow, Chicago boy commie to do a man’s job.

CommieBoy bowed in the manner of a servant.

No American President, before now has ever bowed to anyone. No American bows, period - we are sovereign citizens.

Obama is more and more clearly not American.

His repeated refusal to salute the American flag is further proof that a Muslim Manchurian candidate now fouls the White House.


45 posted on 11/14/2009 5:32:36 AM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is essential to examine principles,)
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To: WaterBoard

‘zackly. Bow or shake hands. Not both.


46 posted on 11/14/2009 5:33:12 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Anitius Severinus Boethius

Having lived in Japan for 5 years, I am quite familiar with what is acceptable and what is not.
This was subservience.


47 posted on 11/14/2009 5:33:29 AM PST by ImaGraftedBranch (...By reading this, you've collapsed my wave function. Thanks.)
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To: P-Marlowe
We have no King but Christ!

Bump!

48 posted on 11/14/2009 5:33:44 AM PST by ecomcon
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To: NotSoModerate

49 posted on 11/14/2009 5:34:08 AM PST by jimbo123
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To: OldSmaj

http://bible.cc/psalms/109-8.htm

“Pray for Obama...see Psalms 109:8.”


50 posted on 11/14/2009 5:34:45 AM PST by SF_Redux
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To: libstripper

Note to Obama: we won.


51 posted on 11/14/2009 5:35:25 AM PST by Grut
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To: Grut

maybe he wanted to check 0 for head lice


52 posted on 11/14/2009 5:37:26 AM PST by SF_Redux
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To: GladesGuru
No American President, before now has ever bowed to anyone.

From the time of George Washington, American presidents have only bowed to Christ.

Obama would never bow to Christ. It would violate his Muslim tradition.

53 posted on 11/14/2009 5:38:05 AM PST by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: Anitius Severinus Boethius
It is a very big diplomatic problem.

As evident by the expression on the older gentleman's face. The Japanese are too polite to laugh at him, to his face anyway.

54 posted on 11/14/2009 5:39:03 AM PST by WesternPacific (Tired of the Fools)
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To: rawhide
To me it is showing a sign of honor and respect

If that's a sign of honor and respect that would mean every single leader that Akihito has ever shook hands with showed him disrespect, since Obama seems to be the only leader of a country that has ever bowed like this.

Are we really to believe that this is the first time a leader of a nation showed Akihito respect? Or is this the first time a leader of a nation has showed subservience to Akihito?

55 posted on 11/14/2009 5:42:12 AM PST by NotSoModerate
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To: WaterBoard

That’s my understanding as well 15 degrees, no more. Japanese do not bow like that. Obama bows like a muslim to Royalty. Does any of his handlers have a clue?


56 posted on 11/14/2009 5:42:52 AM PST by Hoosier-Daddy ("It does no good to be a super power if you have to worry what the neighbors think." BuffaloJack)
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To: rawhide

In Japan the bow is a sign of respect. Take away the handshake and what he is doing is showing his inferiority to a superior. The picture shows Emperor Akihito giving a slight bow (maybe 10 degrees?) while trying to maintaining eye contact. That is the proper way for equals to greet each other.
When I was stationed in Japan long ago I had a high status position and much of our time was spent on “People to People” projects. I became used to the greetings. When meeting the local prefect governor, mayor, chief of police and superintendent of schools we would exchange greetings in the manner of the Emperor. We were equals. Other, lower status people would greet me with more pronounced bows. The lower status the deeper the bow.
President 0bama’s groveling greeting was nearly the bow of a peasant to a lord. The next step down would for him to be on his knees with his face on the floor.


57 posted on 11/14/2009 5:43:32 AM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: rawhide

Obama is a head of state, i.e., President of the United States. He is an equal of the Emperor of Japan, not a subject. The Emperor did not bow in submission to Obama. This is a major diplomatic gaffe and reflects poorly on this country. It has nothing to do with honor and respect.


58 posted on 11/14/2009 5:45:59 AM PST by kabar
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To: OldSmaj
President Barack Obama may be working hard over in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, November 13, 2009 -- but back home, Obama and Psalm 109:8 are making Google's hot trends list for a whole different, unknown and odd reason.

http://tinyurl.com/yhpqv26

59 posted on 11/14/2009 5:46:11 AM PST by SF_Redux
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To: Grut
Note to Obama: we won

True, but he wishes we hadn't. Remember how he said he didn't want a victory in Afganistan with a formal surrender ceremony, like the one aboard USS Missouri where "Hirohito" came and surrendered. Oh, but the way, Illegal Alien, Hirohito did not attend the Missouri surrender ceremony; he sent a group of subordinates.

60 posted on 11/14/2009 5:46:12 AM PST by libstripper
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