Keep thinking Our Man should offer his two pence on the Obama bow, but it's getting a little old now, and Japan Probe and the LA Times have done the business on it. How times have changed since MacArthur's day, huh readers?
Have to say, Our Man kind of agrees. But, he was only trying to be polite, instead of a baffoon like the previous guy. Perhaps a curtsey would've been better?
I'm so tired of the "Americans don't bow to royalty" nonsense. Obama's bow wasn't in submission; it was his choice as an act of courtesy. The only point worth debating is the slight awkwardness between the bow and handshake, but if you've seen the video, it wasn't all that bad. He just looked genuinely excited to be there.
Hmm, no he didn't. I wonder if he suffers from the same problem that many people have: when confronted with a culture other than their own, they take the overachiever route, particularly when a language barrier exists. With the Queen, a common language exists, so maybe he felt more comfortable and less on the spot.
Or maybe he is waiting for her to apologize for our Revolutionary War?
Americans don't bow to royalty? What about US Nobel price winners bowing to the Swedish king?
It's just about basic politeness. You're expected to to wear a suit and shake hands, you wear a suit and shake hands. You're expected to bow, you bow. If you go to some culture where you greet others by tweaking their noses you pack plenty of hand wipes, tissues and cotton.
ps. Apparently he did bow to queen Victoria. Protocol dictated a small bow with the head, and that wasn't very visible in media. ds.
6 comments:
Obama embarrassed his nation by bowing to royalty. Very Un-American indeed.
Have to say, Our Man kind of agrees. But, he was only trying to be polite, instead of a baffoon like the previous guy. Perhaps a curtsey would've been better?
I'm so tired of the "Americans don't bow to royalty" nonsense. Obama's bow wasn't in submission; it was his choice as an act of courtesy. The only point worth debating is the slight awkwardness between the bow and handshake, but if you've seen the video, it wasn't all that bad. He just looked genuinely excited to be there.
Did he bow to the Queen?
Hmm, no he didn't. I wonder if he suffers from the same problem that many people have: when confronted with a culture other than their own, they take the overachiever route, particularly when a language barrier exists. With the Queen, a common language exists, so maybe he felt more comfortable and less on the spot.
Or maybe he is waiting for her to apologize for our Revolutionary War?
Americans don't bow to royalty? What about US Nobel price winners bowing to the Swedish king?
It's just about basic politeness. You're expected to to wear a suit and shake hands, you wear a suit and shake hands. You're expected to bow, you bow. If you go to some culture where you greet others by tweaking their noses you pack plenty of hand wipes, tissues and cotton.
ps. Apparently he did bow to queen Victoria. Protocol dictated a small bow with the head, and that wasn't very visible in media. ds.
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