Why is he bowing to a mayor?
- Thread starter TheLonelySquire
- Start date
I'm sorry...are we Japan?
I'm sorry...are we Japan?
I'm not in Japan, either. I bow, head down slightly, body bent slightly, pretty much as a reflex. I bow like this to friends, teachers, peers, strangers who assist me, anyone I feel respect for...
. Damn tradition. Some of us just bow to show respect, full stop.
Why are you subservient to all these people?!?!?!?!?When in Japan...
I'm sorry...are we Japan?
I'm not in Japan, either. I bow, head down slightly, body bent slightly, pretty much as a reflex. I bow like this to friends, teachers, peers, strangers who assist me, anyone I feel respect for...
I'm sorry...are we Japan?
Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
NO!
TheLonelySquire
Vice Admiral
We are the Change we've been waiting for!
TheLonelySquire
Vice Admiral
Not by the leader of the free world. I'll give you that much, Squigster!
TheLonelySquire
Vice Admiral
He certainly is an actor. That much is certain.
Why are you subservient to all these people?!?!?!?!?
I'm not in Japan, either. I bow, head down slightly, body bent slightly, pretty much as a reflex. I bow like this to friends, teachers, peers, strangers who assist me, anyone I feel respect for...
. Okay, look at it this way: The "odd" thing is, an interaction that begins or ends with me bowing is one that usually leaves the other party kindly disposed to me, and often to what I've said/done during that interaction. They don't feel threatened by me, and thus take notice of what I say more readily. Treat others with respect, non-threatening, no silly "I'm better than you" posturing and they don't get on the defensive. They like you. And when they like you, your influence is greater.
There can be great strength and advantage in it.
If you show people you're not interested in "getting one over on them" or fighting them for dominance, they relax, and a mutually productive and beneficial relationship results.
The USA is not the world. The President of the USA is the leader of the USA. THAT IS ALL. Or do you claim his dominance over the rest of us?
Holy shit, did we just surrender to Tampa? Goddamn Buccaneers.
What I love is that you and the idiots on that website are posting this and gloating while at the same time being blissfully ignorant of that fact that this entirely undercuts your argument that Obama occasionally bowing to foreign dignitaries is meant to be a sign of US subservience to foreign powers and not just his own form of personal greeting.
Unless you're stupid enough to believe he's implying that the United States is subservient to the will of the mayor of one of its own cities, in which case there's not much I can do about you harboring that kind of delusion.
I'm gloating? Where? I just asked people's opinions as to why he does this all the time. That's all. I've yet to hear what I consider to be a satisfactory answer, but I'm in no way gloating.
Right, it's just an innocent question from the guy with this avatar...
... and this profile picture...
... who cited this website and its enlightened commenters for the story...
http://www.redstate.com/streiff/2010/01/31/more-groveling-by-obama/
... and who has used the previous two bowing incidents as examples of how Obama has shown our subservience to Japan and Saudi Arabia, because clearly those two countries have conquered us in the intervening time.
I forgot that this is TrekBBS, where everyone is equally to blame for political discussions not being taken seriously and where a poster's past history and behavior means absolutely nothing when you're considering the motivation behind their question.
I already explained why he does it. It's clearly just some kind of personal greeting and sign of respect to him. It's clearly not meant to show subservience because I know even you don't think Obama feels the United States is subservient to Tampa Bay.
It's a ridiculous issue and you know it, and I think it's just fucking grand that we have the usual biannual bitchfest about how we shouldn't have political topics in Miscellaneous once again because petty fucking bullshit like this is the kind of political issues you want to discuss.
Quiet. He's on a roll.When in Japan...
I'm sorry...are we Japan?
Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
NO!
No. Not by Americans. We're not living in ye olde Colonial times where we remove our tricorn whilst we bow or curtsy.
TheLonelySquire
Vice Admiral
Sorry Kestra, I was just about to. I'm sorry you feel that because I have a strong opinion that I'm not interested in hearing yours, even if it differs. I genuinely am. That doesn't mean I will or won't change mine and it doesn't make my asking the question any less valid.
I don't think the Prez should be bowing in a subservient manner to any other politician on the planet. He already shook hands as a means of saying hello. That's pretty apparent. There was no need to bow.
I do appreciate your civility though. It's more than some others here have shown.
So, when an actor in the theatre takes their bow at the end of a performance, are they being subservient to the audience?
It's called showing respect. World leaders aren't allowed to show respect to each other? What, they're supposed to spit-shine his shoes and he's supposed to let them kiss his rings?
TheLonelySquire
Vice Admiral
Holy shit, did we just surrender to Tampa? Goddamn Buccaneers.
What I love is that you and the idiots on that website are posting this and gloating while at the same time being blissfully ignorant of that fact that this entirely undercuts your argument that Obama occasionally bowing to foreign dignitaries is meant to be a sign of US subservience to foreign powers and not just his own form of personal greeting.
Unless you're stupid enough to believe he's implying that the United States is subservient to the will of the mayor of one of its own cities, in which case there's not much I can do about you harboring that kind of delusion.
I'm gloating? Where? I just asked people's opinions as to why he does this all the time. That's all. I've yet to hear what I consider to be a satisfactory answer, but I'm in no way gloating.
Right, it's just an innocent question from the guy with this avatar...
... and this profile picture...
... who cited this website and its enlightened commenters for the story...
http://www.redstate.com/streiff/2010/01/31/more-groveling-by-obama/
... and who has used the previous two bowing incidents as examples of how Obama has shown our subservience to Japan and Saudi Arabia, because clearly those two countries have conquered us in the intervening time.
I forgot that this is TrekBBS, where everyone is equally to blame for political discussions not being taken seriously and where a poster's past history and behavior means absolutely nothing when you're considering the motivation behind their question.
I already explained why he does it. It's clearly just some kind of personal greeting and sign of respect to him. It's clearly not meant to show subservience because I know even you don't think Obama feels the United States is subservient to Tampa Bay.
It's a ridiculous issue and you know it, and I think it's just fucking grand that we have the usual biannual bitchfest about how we shouldn't have political topics in Miscellaneous once again because petty fucking bullshit like this is the kind of political issues you want to discuss.
I did not bait anyone. I did not use biting commentary. In fact, I just had a nice exchange with Kestra. What's the problem? You don't like someone questioning the actions of the President? Whether I believe Obama to be something different than you or anyone else here does is immaterial. I just was asking for opinions as to why he is bowing to the mayor of Tampa Bay. It IS a pretty miscellaneous topic that fits tight in to a miscellaneous forum.
Please stop hiding behind the facade of civility. The only difference between the way I talk to you and how you talk to me and others is that I'm at least honest and straightforward about how I feel and where I stand. I think I read somewhere that honesty is an important part of civility.
I am very lost in the purpose of this thread. Is Squiggy going to moon us again? Please let me know so that I can shield my children and cats from such a sight.
Squiggy's ass, like the ninja, strikes from the shadows without warning.
