Why is he bowing to a mayor?
- Thread starter TheLonelySquire
- Start date
Ok, what do YOU think it means, then? You started the thread, so you must think something of it one way or the other, no? If you thought it meant nothing, you wouldn't have started the thread, so give us your opinion...
Then you really ought to see an optometrist. It's clear to anyone with one good eye that he's bowing from the waist and lowering his head. That's been a universal gesture of submission in all cultures throughout history. Symbols can be powerful things. That the president of the United States should make such a gesture to ANY human being on the planet is a disgrace to the office and to the country.
So office of the US president = Supreme ruler of the world?
I thought "rule by the people" was an American ideal. I thought your leaders were no different from the populace as a whole.
Yes, symbols are indeed powerful things. The US president greeting others in a manner suggesting, essentially "I am one of the people. I greet you in a respectful manner", earns him many points in my book. The symbolic gesture of respect, rather than arrogant superiority, will earn him many friends. If other people wish to show equal respect, they will surely bow back. When Obama bows, I see a democratic leader reminding the world he is democratically elected.
The US president shouldn't bow to anyone? who made him Pharaoh?
Which is he? Your democratic, from-the-people-for-the-people ruler or your elite supreme commander who is worthier than all others? It looks to me like he's trying to evoke a sense of the former, which America seems to have lost in favour of the latter.
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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.
It's a single moment in time. He could have been shaking hands and something fell on the floor, for all we know. Also, bowing isn't considered a sign of submission in all cultures. It's a sign of respect in mine. We bow not only to elders, but also our equals, often in greeting.
There's no need to be snarky simply because you disagree with my viewpoint.
Interestingly, while President, Jefferson abandoned handshaking as undignified and only bowed to people he met.
And he's arrogant too...right?
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.
What is unsatisfactory about the answer that it's a greeting and sign of respect?
TheLonelySquire
Vice Admiral
Because, in my opinion, the Prez should not be bowing to anyone who holds political office. Bowing is traditionally done by the subservient party.
The only person I could see the Prez either bowing to or kneeling in front of would be the Pope. Assuming that it's in his heart to do so. And if Obama were a conservative I'd be saying the exact same thing.
Well, that's just...plain wrong. You're full of wrongness. Wrongness = fail.
FAIL!
THAT'S A GODDAMN FAIL!
What about a male US President who kisses other Heads of State? How about a male US President who holds hands with a Head of State?
Hold Hands
Emphasis mine. And that's simply not true in many cultures. It's not really even done in American culture, is it? No one bows traditionally in American culture.
Since you have already formed an opinion that he should not be bowing to anyone who holds political office, you are not going to find a satisfactory answer here. I'm not saying that simply because I disagree with you, it's a simple fact. It feels like you started this thread on a faulty (or false?) premise. That's disappointing and disrespectful to those of us who have taken your question seriously and in good faith.
No. Bowing is traditionally not done.
