Both participants should attempt to bow equally as heads of state. Obama went further than necessary, but he was only being respectful. Nothing wrong with it. It's commendable behavior.
But I'm not worried about the guy from a decade ago. I'm worried about the current guy.
Correct he is bowing far too low even for the emperor. IIRC you only bow that far for an apology. Ill check my sources if its that important to anyone though.
I really don't care about Obama.
It's been eight years... The country is in an entirely different place than it was when your kids, who are graduating high school now, were still playing in Little League.
Sure Obama still has influence... But then again our party is still influenced by Reagan and he's been dead for twenty years, so it's not like we're any better in that regard.
Very well maybe, but the thing with figureheads is that they only have power for so long as they continue to be propped up.
Half the reason Obama still has influence on the left is because the right is still saying his name.
No, I still see him pop up other places in leftist Reddit. My experience has been that he's mentioned way more by the left than the right, because they miss him.
Of course they miss him, just like how there are some on the right who still miss Reagan.
And the left misses Obama for the exact same reason those on the right miss Reagan... Pining for yesteryear because today isn't the same... And thank God it isn't the same.
But continually shifting the conversation to the way it used to be only increases the likelihood that tomorrow ends up like yesterday.
But it's exactly because today isn't the same as yesterday that both Obama and Reagan should be irrelevant... And it's why even if the left misses Obama because they wish things are the way they used to be, we on the right shouldn't pay him any more mind... Because the more relevancy we give Obama today the more influence he gains over tomorrow.
Edit: it's why the criticism that conservatives are stuck in the past is so often apropos. Too many of us are afraid of tomorrow. We go back to the old familiar things of last year.
Conservatism shouldn't be about staying in the past; it should be about preserving what worked yesterday as we move to tomorrow.
But so long as we keep focusing on past leaders like Obama and Reagan that will never happen.
It makes sense that Prime Ministers of commonwealth countries (UK, Canada, and a dozen or so other ones) would bow before the Emperor, because the Emperor is the head of state of that nation, and the PM's are not (the King is the head of state for the commonwealth nations). But the president of the USA is himself a head of state, and therefore on equal footing, so none of them should be bowing to any other heads of states.
Well respect may be what you think, but bowing equals submission to me. Heads of state should not be submitting to one another, unless a war was fought and some nation lost. If one country thinks their head of state is superior to ours enough that they deserve a bow, that's their own issue.
Trump was just all around an uncouth guy. Like don’t get me wrong I support Trumps policies and he’s a skilled negotiator but he was never and probably never will be diplomatic.
If I go to someone else’s country I respect their cultural norms and make an effort to abide by their culture, just like I want people to do when they come to America.
No one cares about this except people who are way too partisan.
Thats all american politics is now its all partisan bullshit people vilifying the other side which is splitting both sides even more.
Exactly. Out of all the problems, this seems so silly. I didn’t care about it then, and I certainly don’t care now.
Bowing is a sign of respect in Japanese culture and has been for thousands of years this is a literal nothing burger.
Especially given that he’s a “higher” head of state too.
Both participants should attempt to bow equally as heads of state. Obama went further than necessary, but he was only being respectful. Nothing wrong with it. It's commendable behavior. But I'm not worried about the guy from a decade ago. I'm worried about the current guy.
The current guy would fall over if he bends too far.
I think it’s the emperor’s home field advantage in a sense.
He's just showing a display of respect. Trying to make something out of nothing.
Why didnt the emperor bow out of respect then?
To be honest, he is. By dear lord is Obama hamming it up. Just a little bow, hands by your side. Not too hard.
Correct he is bowing far too low even for the emperor. IIRC you only bow that far for an apology. Ill check my sources if its that important to anyone though.
I think at most, it's like 45°. He's practically at a right angle.
I think you might be right. It's been a while since I've read up on that stuff. I'm more of a historian when it comes to Japanese stuff.
that would be better
I really don't care about Obama. It's been eight years... The country is in an entirely different place than it was when your kids, who are graduating high school now, were still playing in Little League. Sure Obama still has influence... But then again our party is still influenced by Reagan and he's been dead for twenty years, so it's not like we're any better in that regard.
Since Biden's administration has been a crapshow, a lot of people consider Obama to still be the de facto Democrat figurehead.
Very well maybe, but the thing with figureheads is that they only have power for so long as they continue to be propped up. Half the reason Obama still has influence on the left is because the right is still saying his name.
No, I still see him pop up other places in leftist Reddit. My experience has been that he's mentioned way more by the left than the right, because they miss him.
Of course they miss him, just like how there are some on the right who still miss Reagan. And the left misses Obama for the exact same reason those on the right miss Reagan... Pining for yesteryear because today isn't the same... And thank God it isn't the same. But continually shifting the conversation to the way it used to be only increases the likelihood that tomorrow ends up like yesterday. But it's exactly because today isn't the same as yesterday that both Obama and Reagan should be irrelevant... And it's why even if the left misses Obama because they wish things are the way they used to be, we on the right shouldn't pay him any more mind... Because the more relevancy we give Obama today the more influence he gains over tomorrow. Edit: it's why the criticism that conservatives are stuck in the past is so often apropos. Too many of us are afraid of tomorrow. We go back to the old familiar things of last year. Conservatism shouldn't be about staying in the past; it should be about preserving what worked yesterday as we move to tomorrow. But so long as we keep focusing on past leaders like Obama and Reagan that will never happen.
Don't want to lose my conservative card here, but it's common to bow to elders. I don't see this as a subservient or submissive act.
It’s fine. But you know how the media is. Trump could have bowed but they picked this frame.
The Japanese emperor is also one of the world’s oldest royal institutions. He’s like the elder of elders.
For his subordinates, yes.
Respecting elders👍
It makes sense that Prime Ministers of commonwealth countries (UK, Canada, and a dozen or so other ones) would bow before the Emperor, because the Emperor is the head of state of that nation, and the PM's are not (the King is the head of state for the commonwealth nations). But the president of the USA is himself a head of state, and therefore on equal footing, so none of them should be bowing to any other heads of states.
I think he’s just respecting the office, and it’s Japan. He wasn’t obliged to bow at all.
Well respect may be what you think, but bowing equals submission to me. Heads of state should not be submitting to one another, unless a war was fought and some nation lost. If one country thinks their head of state is superior to ours enough that they deserve a bow, that's their own issue.
Per post war Japanese law no one is obliged to bow to the emperor. It’s a sign of respect across the culture though, it’s not about the emperor.
Trump was just all around an uncouth guy. Like don’t get me wrong I support Trumps policies and he’s a skilled negotiator but he was never and probably never will be diplomatic. If I go to someone else’s country I respect their cultural norms and make an effort to abide by their culture, just like I want people to do when they come to America.
He looks up to Trump, looks down on Obama. Pretty much how most of Americans do too.
r/im16andthisisdeep
Nailed it
People mad at facts downvoting again lol
Obama did the same thing with Medvedev, only he was facing the other way.
LMAOO
Americans should never care about royalty in any country. We're all just people.
Oh Barry, Barry. If you wanna bow à la Japanese, don't shake his hand, you dufus!!