the bow....

[Lady's Human]

It's the breach of 200+ years of diplomatic protocol.

Pres. Clinton caught hell for it when he did the same.

US Presidents have never bowed to anyone, along the same lines as the US Flag never being displayed lower than another flag.

The really irritating part is the amateurism displayed by the current administration when dealing with foreign leaders, from the bowing to giving the Queen of England a set of DVDs as a gift, the first lady putting her arm around Queen Elizabeth, bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia, etc.. Were this an isolated incident, it would probably be overlooked, but it is far from a one time event.

[sasvermont]

I see no problem with the bow. Times change. Much ado about nothing.

[Lady's Human]

To quote a Japanese poster from another forum, the only people the bow plays well with in Japan are the ultra-right nationalists in that country.

You know, the same people who gave us a little spot of trouble about 65 years ago?

[aTailOf2Kitties]

I take the "when in Rome...." approach. If you are in another country you should abide by their social protocol when it comes to dignified greeting. I wouldn't see it as a sign of weakness, but rather one of willingness to cooperate.

Now if it happened here I could see it as being a big deal, but jeez....

and for the record, I didn't vote for Obama either but I think all of this whiny nit-picking over every little thing he does "wrong" is just childish. Granted it's happened to some extent with every president we've had recently.

[Karen]

Methinks whoever is in charge of protocol ought to be fired, as someone at the White House should know enough history and protocol to advise against these things. He was schooled enough to say "Hello" correctly in the local dialect for Shanghai, shouldn't whosever job that was also have advised him correctly on protocol for bowing or not bowing?

[happylabs]

I'm so short I don't have to bow to anybody.

[RICHARD]

I'm so short I don't have to bow to anybody.

I'm so tall, I have "Look Down" on people.

[Alysser]

I'm so short I don't have to bow to anybody.

LOL can I join that club?

In all seriousness, I completely agree with Tailof2kitties on this one. Brillant way of putting it.

[Lady's Human]

Having witnessed the occasional ludicrous extremes to which diplomatic protocol officers go to ensure no faux pas, yeah, whoever it is should be fired.....should have been fired after the DVD set.

My mistake, the DVD set was to the PM, not the Queen. The gift from the PM to the POTUS? A Pen holder made from the oak timber of HMS Gannett a Royal Navy vessel whose last missions were anti-slaving patrols off Africa. The gift to the Queen was an Ipod with stock footage from her 2007 visit to the US. How special.

[RICHARD]

The gift from the PM to the POTUS? A Pen holder made from the oak timber of HMS Gannett a Royal Navy vessel whose last missions were anti-slaving patrols off Africa. The gift to the Queen was an Ipod with stock footage from her 2007 visit to the US. How special.

I think the Monty Python boxed set for the Queen would have been more appropriate.


"Hey! I have to get a present for XXXXXXX! Michelle, tell the driver to pull over at the next CVS he sees!"

Remember when George Bush couldn't leave the stage, and some of the all time boners he pulled?

Those were minor league compared to BO's 'change'. Oh, he's a real maverick/trendsetter all right.

If we were slighted or been part of some kind of social eff up at an event
we'd be ticked or stunned.

Give him a break, He's not socially sophisticated like some of us.

Ipod?

-------------

http://rense.com/general76/hdat.htm

Oh, we had a time when GWB was in office! I guess the becoming the POTUS makes you kinda dumb?

[Pinot's Mom]

I know customarily the President does not show any type of submissive pose in other countries - HOWEVER - we are not in the same position we used to be. We need to be a little more conciliatory in order to reestablish some sort of diplomatic and respectful relationship that has been absolutely destroyed. We must give respect to regain respect. I don't think a bow will hurt anyone's pride when in a country where it's customary.

IMHO

[Catherinedana]

I think the Monty Python boxed set for the Queen would have been more appropriate.

The rest of this thread PALES in comparison to this remark. I squawked out loud in delight while sitting at my desk!! Richard, I think I love you!

Cathy

[lizbud]

I take the "when in Rome...." approach. If you are in another country you should abide by their social protocol when it comes to dignified greeting. I wouldn't see it as a sign of weakness, but rather one of willingness to cooperate.

Now if it happened here I could see it as being a big deal, but jeez....

and for the record, I didn't vote for Obama either but I think all of this whiny nit-picking over every little thing he does "wrong" is just childish. Granted it's happened to some extent with every president we've had recently.

I agree with you. Besides, it's no worse that Bush & An Arabian King
holding hands while on a walk together. (It's customary in that culture.)

[Grace]

I agree with you. Besides, it's no worse that Bush & An Arabian King
holding hands while on a walk together. (It's customary in that culture.)

Holding hands - that's not all they did . . . . .

[aTailOf2Kitties]

haha nice photochop^^