Obama goes to Japan. Obama greets Emperor Akihito. Obama bows and shakes his hand. America flips a shiz.
In the words of a conservative blogger:
"Obama's breach of protocol is of a piece with the substance of his foreign policy. He means to teach Americans to bow before monarchs and tyrants. He embodies the ideological multiculturalism that sets the United States on the same plane as other regimes based on tribal privilege and royal bloodlines. He gives expressive form to the idea that the United States now willingly prostrates itself before the rest of the world. He declares that the United States is a country like any other, only worse, because we have so much for which to apologize." - Donald Douglass
Yes, a two second bow and handshake totally undermined the United State's illustrious stature in the world. Now everyone's just going to think that they can nuke us, cause we're weak and our president "prostrated" himself in front of another leader.
Nice job. Way to make America NOT look egotistical and butthurt.
I'm sorry, but I hardly think that the United States is in such a lofty position that they can just disregard the etiquettes of other cultures. Anyone with a basic understanding of Asian culture knows that proper greetings are highly valued. It shows that Obama's mommy taught him well.
How earning the respect of said powerful ally is bad for the United States, I do not know.
Respect, people. Power plays can only get you so far in life.
wow.
ReplyDeletethat's all i can say, and i agree with you, janice!