What’s going to be real interesting is what the media is going to do with this picture. They threw out the video of Obama thanking himself on St. Patrick’s day because of a teleprompter malfunction but the goods are out on Obama on the world stage with this picture. I think that most Americans that voted for Obama are just going to blow this one off. As of the time of this writing, I didn’t find anything on Huffington Post about this other than the controversy over Michelle O touching the Queen. Maybe the press was right that Obama is a cool kat in DC that just happens to be the President of the United States. In fact, Obama might just rival Clinton. He comes into work when he wants to. His dress code for the Oval Office may not be too accepted in the business world. But who cares…he’s the first black President of the United States, right.
So Obama shows up at the G20 and is going to take charge because, “I’m the President of the United States” and what does he do? He bows to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud. Thank you, Mr. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES for throwing the perception of power and individuality that we have away. In America there is no association or meaning behind bowing. However, bowing before a king is perceived differently in the middle east. Did Obama not think that a government
that does not respect the rights of women as we do in America would think that a bow before a king is perfunctory? Did Obama not think that a government that does not respect free speech or freedom of religion would think that a bow before a king only showed friendship and solidarity? Did Obama not think that a government that supports the abuse of women would see the bow as a castigation of misogyny. (Consider the Facebook Story) Nope. In that culture bowing means you are lowing yourself because you recognize their higher rank and that you are submissive to them. Michelle Malkin makes a great point about the democrats who castigated President Bush for holding hands with the King. Holding hands shows relationship and a sense of equality. Bowing only shows submission because Kings never bow.
America does not bow to anyone. Yes, we will bow to those cultures in which both parties understand that we are showing mutual respect. I do not say, “America does not bow to anyone” in a haughty way. The foundation of the American experiement is that all people and genders are equal and should have the opportunity to excel through personal modivation. In fact, this is what makes America great and this is why we stand alone in our power. We believe that if you give people responsibility, freedom to choose their life, and room to breathe they can make their world and the world around them better. America bows down to no one because greatness only comes when men and women are lifted up.
UPDATE: White House: Bow? What bow?
UPDATE: Video: CNN mildly scolds Obama for bow, media for ignoring it
UPDATE: Obama’s 100 Days in Review
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I believe we fought a war to remove ourselves from tyranny that demanded such displays of servitude. You are the president of United States of America you bow to NO man! Your the president damnit! Now act like it!
Slaves bow in submission. Free men stand as equals.
A people rally.
there’s a difference between submission, servitude – and diplomacy. which is what i suspect was going on here. i’m sure there are pages and pages of protocol on this sort of thing, and i’m sure he’s been briefed on all of it. being president isn’t about asserting your power and lording it over others, either. just because we’re perhaps the most powerful nation on earth doesn’t excuse us from observing the respectful customs of other nations – even if some would argue it’s a nation not worthy or our respect. that’s how politics, diplomacy and protocol works.
he may look kind of ridiculous – as did george w when he was holding hands with the king – but i think how he looks when meeting heads of state is really the least of our concerns right now.
I think your right about respecting other heads of state and we should always respect people that we may disagree with…especially when we are dependent on oil. However, we may not think much about bowing to a king because Americans don’t associate anything with it. However, when no one else is bowing and there is no precedent in that culture for the one who is not bowing is showing respect to the one bowing then this is what causes me to be concerned. Protocol in greeting heads of state is determined by how the one we are meeting interprets and perceives it and not how we interpret and perceive it.
The king won’t think we are his slaves but I do think that there is an issue of how his world will perceive our that bow. This is the very reason why the first congress decided to name our head of state…President and not King. We fought for this very reason.