Sorry Rlent, I would agree with your post but in the diplomatic world, bowing to a Japanese official of equal stature is done either to apologize or indicating servitude.
What's your source ?
Please, please tell me that it's not the author of the LA Time piece ..... or something else from the right-wing blogosphere ....
I mean, you aware that the guy that wrote the LA Times piece was .....
Laura Bush's former press secretary ... right ?
The agenda should have been evident from the portrayal in the "article" of the personalities mentioned in various lights and the inclusion of a comparision video from .....
the UConn College Republicans (heheheh ...... you couldn't make this crap up ..... suckered again)
From the Protocol School of Washington DC:
"Japan: The Japanese greet with a bow and light handshake. Always return a bow with a bow. A light bow and nod of the head with eyes cast down is acceptable from Westerners. Western educated Japanese people often shake hands and make eye contact."
The correct diplomatic greeting would be to shake hands and nothing else.
Quite true - but I never said that it was correct diplomatic etiquette - I just elucidated the reasons why someone - perhaps one who had a simplistic and shallow knowledge, and was not fully informed of all the nuances of the custom - might attempt such a gesture.
You assume that the guy is not a clod and actually knows what he is doing. While he certainly should given his present occupation, I make no such assumption.
There's little doubt in my mind that it was done to show genuine, sincere respect .... of course, I'm quite sure to some, that it was completely nefarious and no doubt portends that Obama will be soon announcing our new status
as a prefecture ..... right after the announcement of our inclusion
in the caliphate ......
In the culture, the superiors do not bow to inferior people,
Yeah - so what's your point ? I mean, we're not talking about an employee and a corporate manager here ..... they are equals - both heads of state.
it is not an open greeting
What is an
"open greeting" ?
but a complex greeting base on station in life, your job and even gender. Equals will bow outside of the diplomatic world, it is a very shallow bow.
Yeah, yeah, yeah ..... it is very complex, owing to the complexities of their cultural traditions .... but of course you assume that Obama has full knowledge of the practice and customs, and their nuances.
In fact, if the whole thing had been done properly, someone would have set it up and choreographed it, with all the correct pomp and circumstance .....
Like I said previously, the gesture was made, I think, to show respect ...... although based on the fact I pointed out at the beginning of my original post it certainly could be said that we have plenty to apologize for .......
The degree of bowing also matters, Obama there is a "I am so sorry for what I did" bow, a seriously deep and horrific bow.
Horrific ? ..... pulease ...... gimme a break .....
Perhaps you would have preferred that he
vomit on the Emperor instead, as did one of his predecessors ?
Now that was indeed horrific .......
In the end, this is really much ado about nothing ..... it's a diplomatic gaffe, probably done with good intentions ..... no harm, no foul.
Now, if one wanted to talk about something that was really significant, or that really mattered, the fact that the guy can't seem to make a decision about Afghanistan would be a matter of some import worth discussing .....
