I’m slightly miffed very irritated at this news article, “Outrage in Washington over Obama’s Japan bow” that I’ve just read. I first heard the news in the morning while watching CNA, and it got me pretty agitated as I listened to the newscasters speaking.
In case you didn’t click the link, what’s happened basically is that people back in Washington are incensed over Obama’s bow to Japan’s emperor while on his Japan trip in Asia. And they’re saying that Obama has disgraced his country because of his waist deep bow, and that he should have “stood tall while representing America overseas”, and I’m like, what the hell? What kind of rubbish is that? The critics saying that are just being really ridiculous.
I live in a multi-racial country. We tolerate and respect each other’s race, religion and language. We don’t go like, “Oh, we’re the racial majority here, you have to listen to us and follow our ways and only our ways and to hell with yours.” We make compromises; the easiest example being that when we are ordering catering for events, we make sure that the food is halal, so our other Muslim friends can join us in our meal. Or we provide alternative meals and things like that. We respect each other’s customs.
Which brings us to Obama bowing to the Japan emperor. It was a sign of respect. It doesn’t show America as a “weak and overly-deferential” country. It shows a man representing his country who understands and respects the culture in the place he is visiting. I mean, seriously! In Japan, you bow to show your respect. You’re meeting the Emperor of Japan! He’s representing Japan and Obama’s representing America!
It’s a meeting of two people representing their countries. Are you seriously going to just stand there all stiff upper back with your pride and say, “Oh, this shows we’re not weak because we don’t bow and we’re not overly-deferential”? What the hell? I just don’t get it.
If you go to a foreign country you follow their customs and respect their ways. It’s as simple as that. And Obama was polite, respectful, and diplomatic. And that’s that.
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