Quote from Yenoh

@topic: ...And? O_O. Who cares.

I guess you don't.

I'm not making a big fuss at the fact he did it. I want to know what other people think, considering what I've been hearing is that it's "shocking." Reactions that seems absurd, and these include people I know that I didn't expect to act like way. I also thought of it as a respectful gestures, not handing America's ass on a platter. It's interesting to hear about how some Japanese thought it was disrespectful, though. I didn't know that. Like some have mentioned, I guess one can't please everybody.

Just for the record, I picked that link for the sole purpose of showing the photo, as it was the first one to show up when I searched. Even I didn't read it.

+1 internets for Obama!

[img]http://i.imgur.com/B400485.jpg[/img]

NO! America BOWS to no one!! how dare he!! he obviously wants america to be weak! Its so obvious that he isn't doing it out of respect arghhh!!!

sarcasm

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4207527145_31aa2e1471_m.jpg[/img]

Quote from Azari02

NO! America BOWS to no one!! how dare he!! he obviously wants america to be weak! Its so obvious that he isn't doing it out of respect arghhh!!!

sarcasm

Thank god you added sarcasm there. I could tell that if you didn't, you'd be getting hate replies left right and center XD

As for the topic question, yeah I don't really care much about that. He really is getting grilled for every action he takes though.

Well I don't think the people making all the fuss are totally nuts...Japanese bowing etiquette is pretty complex. I think Obama overdid it a little since a 30-45 degree bow would have been just fine, imo. Anything more than that is seen as kind of submissive sometimes. It doesn't help that Obama is so tall that a deep bow looks kind of awkward XD...Also, you aren't supposed to shake hands while bowing...but I don't think any of that matters since Japanese people are probably used to these kinds of mess ups from foreigners and they looove Obama.

Does that mean Americans now have to buy Japanese cars? 🤣

If the sea were made of Whiskey and I was a duck
I'd swim to the bottom and never come up

Quote from bedob

Does that mean Americans now have to buy Japanese cars? 🤣

HOW DO I DRIVE THIS THING!?
IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE AUTOMATED
GEARS!

Quote from akari_mizunashi

You either bow or shake hands, right? You don't do both like that.

Depends where you are.

Far-off places with sweet sounding names.

Quote from Mamsmilk

Quote from bedob

Does that mean Americans now have to buy Japanese cars? 🤣

HOW DO I DRIVE THIS THING!?
IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE AUTOMATED
GEARS!

That's not much of a worry...fitting into the Japanese cars is a far greater problem...

Quote from Mamsmilk

HOW DO I DRIVE THIS THING!?
IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE AUTOMATED
GEARS!

So true.

Quote from Sagaris

Quote from Mamsmilk

Quote from bedob

Does that mean Americans now have to buy Japanese cars? 🤣

HOW DO I DRIVE THIS THING!?
IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE AUTOMATED
GEARS!

That's not much of a worry...fitting into the Japanese cars is a far greater problem...

"These seats are so small! Do I have to WALK to McDonalds from now on?!"

Far-off places with sweet sounding names.

seriously this is nothing speacial to be honest.

But you know what i think? I think obama is a president who has recieved alot of critisim and has expectation beyond a normal president, one slip up and he will be judged with no mercy, this only shows how much weight and effort he seeks to try and improve japans relations. bowing before the emperor only shows that he has no bad blood with them. Its only a tactical gesture to improve relations, remember actions can speak louder than words...

[img]http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k528/fr33noob/on3winged9.jpg[/img]
I believe in letting people do as they wish, as do I myself. Sometimes, of course, what I wish to do is kill them and they do not wish to die. This gives life interest.
[img]http://www.nodiatis.com/pub/26.jpg[/img]

Obama bowing is no big deal, yet still a BIG deal.

Yes, yes you are all right; the fact that be bowed doesn't mean that he's being submissive.
But he isn't some random dude and no he isn't some 'important' dude either. He is a FCKN president.

I don't mind that he bowed and by next week I wont even remember that he did (especialy since he's not my president lol) but I personally think that he shouldn't have done that.

Etiquette and appearance get more important the higher your status is. I'm no expert on presidents at all but I dare say he should try to appear strong & powerfull at all times.

True, obama's got that whole 'change' thing going on, and maybe this is just another example of that 'open-minded ness' that people expect from him, more than from other presidents (I dare say yet again).

Events like this just ask for abuse and (as why this topic was formed) MISINTERPRETATION.
You know why he did it? Good! Now guess how many are still at the wrong end of the stick >_>

Meh 🤢 I feel like I just failed at explaining my point but fail ftw!

Quote from Zacharias

Obama bowing is no big deal, yet still a BIG deal.

Yes, yes you are all right; the fact that be bowed doesn't mean that he's being submissive.
But he isn't some random dude and no he isn't some 'important' dude either. He is a FCKN president.

I don't mind that he bowed and by next week I wont even remember that he did (especialy since he's not my president lol) but I personally think that he shouldn't have done that.

Etiquette and appearance get more important the higher your status is. I'm no expert on presidents at all but I dare say he should try to appear strong & powerfull at all times.

True, obama's got that whole 'change' thing going on, and maybe this is just another example of that 'open-minded ness' that people expect from him, more than from other presidents (I dare say yet again).

Events like this just ask for abuse and (as why this topic was formed) MISINTERPRETATION.
You know why he did it? Good! Now guess how many are still at the wrong end of the stick >_>

Meh 🤢 I feel like I just failed at explaining my point but fail ftw!

Surely you guys heard what

[ """Pamela Eyring, the president of The Protocol School of Washington, said that while there's no "hard-and-fast" rule, a bow is not appropriate when national leaders meet.

"They're peers. ... Unfortunately, it isn't correct for a chief of state to bow to another chief of state," she told FoxNews.com. "It's not appropriate. He should not be bowing to other chiefs of state.""""](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/16/obama-draws-bow-japanese-emperor/?test=faces)

She said it was improper for one country's leader to bow to another when both have the same status. It's like if you have a twin, why would you bow to him? You're twins, exactly the same. Same here, assuming both party leaders have the same status, a handshake will suffice. Bowing is an indication of respect showing to a superior power. Why else would you bow?

Gay book discussion thread

Quote from you_no_see_me_

this is not about cannibalism...please get back on topic

Quote from Toto

I think it is exactly the topic. I see nothing wrong.

I don't get what the big deal is. Japan value their elders and Obama just tried to respect their culture. I wouldn't get all offended if Gordon brown or whoever ends up Prime Minister bowed his head to Japan's emperor. Besides I consider royalty to be above elected officials, granted I'm biased because I'm British but still this has been blown way out of proportition as per usual by the media. Talk about making mountains out of molehills. One day they'll realise there are actual real problems in this world.

The pen is mightier than the sword...and considerably easier to write with.

It's actually respectful to do that. Just because Americans don't bow, they freak out. I mean, I would bow too.

Lalala~