Comments on: Top comments about Obama bowing before the Emperor

By: Blue Shoe

Blue Shoe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:24:14 +0000

I don’t happen to think it was a big deal and I think people are making too much of it. That said, I understand what they’re saying. You don’t bow that low unless you’re acknowledging someone’s superiority. It has nothing to do with America being better than anyone else – I wouldn’t expect any head of state to show that kind of “deference” to another.

And yeah, the Sarah Palin option just serves to highlight a political bias. =P

By: hl

hl — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:57:56 +0000

The one aspect I am curious about is that he was probably briefed on what to do by his own people, so maybe they had their reasons?

By: Geckomayhem

Geckomayhem — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:41:22 +0000

At first it seems a little strange that he bowed so deeply, but showing extra respect like that is only a good thing. Other foreigners could learn a thing or two if such a powerful world leader is willing to show humility in such a way.

I can only applaud Obama for having the decency to show such reverence for Japan’s emperor. And if any Americans are embarrassed that he bowed so deeply, then they could definitely do with a lesson in manners. Grandma, get the wooden spoon!

By: Brent

Brent — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:33:35 +0000

Thank you fg. I can’t believe this isn’t blatantly obvious.

By: lmshea

lmshea — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:28:17 +0000

This is just the way the guy is. He has to have and do a lot of Chicagoland political butt kissing, so he is quite used to bending over for his masters.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:05:10 +0000

lol – well, I’ve heard it said that buying a coffee in Starbucks is like paying for sex – you know you’ll get it but it’s gonna be rough.

By: k

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:00:23 +0000

President Obama greets Emperor Akihito, when praised for his honorific bow the President replied, “Actually I just threw out my back, from carrying the United States on my Shoulders.”

By: Dr.Yu

Dr.Yu — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:28:50 +0000

Obama is not bowing to Akihito, he is just asking to the emperor to check if there is a gum in his head.
Obama: Yo bro, do you see a gum in my head?

By: blue

blue — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:24:42 +0000

Haha, I second that.
I think it would be very funny if Obama had a small secret Japanese shrine in White House.

If he had put his hands together in front of him, which some Westerners might do when they bow to Japanese and that is a cultural misunderstanding, no American would have reacted like that.
What Obama did was also a little cultural misunderstanding
though I do dig the shoe shine comment too, hehe.

By: Blacknimbus

Blacknimbus — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:04:06 +0000

The President of the United States is polite, but does not bow this way to foreign royalty. He’s not a tourist.

And what’s with the Sarah Palin option? I don’t see how she figures into this question at all. It is a nice window into Japan Probe’s inability to consider diplomatic protocol seriously.

By: Togu

Togu — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:01:47 +0000

McDonalds and Starbucks outside of America is very delicous. Thought the same thing would be in America but I was VERY wrong.

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:44:58 +0000

Xavier wins… that was the only comment that was funny.

By: fg

fg — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:27:19 +0000

I don’t think he looked like a bumbling foreigner to most Japanese. He looked like a polite and generous person paying respect to an elderly person that invited him to have lunch.

By: Ret

Ret — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:20:20 +0000

I’m all for respecting other culture’s customs. The problem is that he screwed up the custom. A visiting head of state should not be bowing that deeply, especially not when also shaking hands. Matching the Emperor’s very shallow bow with the hand shake would have been appropriate. If you watch the video, what he did with the Empress was appropriate and what he should have done with the Emperor as well. Whoever was giving Obama cultural lessons screwed up big time. If they had no one giving him cultural lessons then that was the screw up. It’s not a big deal, but it was a mistake. It makes him look overly deferential to many Americans and makes him look like a bumbling foreigner in Japanese eyes.

By: minato

minato — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:59:37 +0000

Surprisingly, the United States was childish and nonsensical country.
the United States’s mentally unbalanced.
maybe for the long recession.

Mr.Obama is so polite.
he gave japanese people a good impression.
thankyou

By: David

David — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:19:04 +0000

It’s not a big deal, but he shouldn’t have done it.

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:16:16 +0000

Yay! My native country shows how isolated it is once again. Note to fellow Americans: the rest of the world may have McDonalds and Starbucks, but it is NOT like America. Go figure!

Recalling my world history and cultures education, I can see why these ridiculous opinions fill the void where real information should be. It’s still not an excuse for ignorance.

By: James

James — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:01:09 +0000

Maybe Her Use Of Caps Was Meant To Place Emphasis On Certain Words.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:45:08 +0000

I can’t believe some of the comments on the LA Times site. You would think people would be a little more understanding of the customs of different cultures. King, Queen or President, everyone could do with learning a little humility. Bowing to express acknowledgement of another culture’s customs certainly doesn’t make anyone any less of a person – or President – and it most certainly doesn’t bring ‘disgrace to America.’ Ridiculous xenophobia.

By: Durf

Durf — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:42:02 +0000

Plain Jane wins, even though her Shift Key Tried to scuttle Her entry.

By: Adamu

Adamu — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:30:38 +0000

Can there be anything less important? Visitors to Japan screw up the bow thing all the time. Imagine the pressure when meeting a descendant of the sun goddess.