Letters and Comments

Obama's Bow to the Japanese Emperor Showed Respect

By U.S. News Staff

November 16, 2009 RSS Feed Print
  • Comment (6)

I hate the fact that all these politicians think that the U.S. is so high and mighty that its leader can't show respect to another leader! Those are the politicians who should be canned.

Josh Stuart of VA in response to Doug Heye:
Obama, the Emperor, and Bowing to Silliness

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the best weightloss of 2:29PM March 25, 2010

I think not.

You know why the Japanese have this big cultural thing about bowing? It's because when a samurai bowed, with their hands flat against their sides, they couldn't draw their sword and kill the other samurai who was also bowing the same way. That's also why they bow simultaneously. It has nothing to do with the Western tradition of bowing, which was done in front of a superior.

In other words, it's the same background behind shaking hands or tipping one's hat. You know, with the right hand? The weapon hand?

Another thing about Japanese culture is that one who's willing to humble himself in front of an equal (or even someone who's lower in rank) shows that they are worthy of great respect, as they are so confident in their position and strength that they are willing to publicly lower themselves before another. I suspect the real reason Akihito's response was so muted (he did bow, but it was very small and was probably reflexive) is because he wasn't expecting a Western leader to do that, not that he was upset or embarrassed or whatever else people are saying.

The handshake probably wasn't necessary to do at the same time as the bow. What Obama should have done was shake hands, then bow, since Akihito already had his hand extended. So it was a little awkward. But he did not demean himself in front of a foreign leader, he did not embarrass the United States, and he probably helped to improve our foreign relations some small amount. You see, even if he made a mistake, he was still willing to go to the effort of trying, and that, unlike what most Americans think, speaks volumes to people of other countries.

Jaime of OK 12:07AM November 17, 2009

Sorry boys! I do not know what block you grew up on, but where I come from a bow to anyone makes you the weaker individual. Only deities should be bowed to. Not to mention the Japanese emperors have long been regarded as gods by their society. Regardless of culture, Obama is the President of the United States in order to hold the respect of the other countries he should be the equal of every major world leader not their servant. We live in a cruel world and our enemies must respect us.

jlee of GA 9:31PM November 16, 2009

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