Originally posted by Kryties

Originally posted by HotSauce
No American President should bow to anyone. EVER!

Originally posted by Carseller4
The President of the United States of America should bow to no one.

THIS is why the rest of the world detests Americans. You wanted a reason - LOOK.

The "We bow to nobody cause we are all so damned important and full of ourselves that we shouldn't have to respect other countries THEY SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY RESPECT US" line of thought. Guess what Americans - it's that thought process that keeps the rest of the world rolling it's eyes at you.

This is, by no means, directed at ALL Americans, just the ones who think that Obama shouldn't bow to anyone cause America is the Greatest, The Best, The Bully.....oh....wait.....

This is why Americans are losing grip on our Country. You have no pride in your Country.

Now before you go and dredge up all the wrongs you think America should be held accountable for on a national and global scale, you remember a few things:

First: America has had dark times that we are not proud of, but so has EVERY other Nation in the world past or present. If you are so pessimistic as to look only at the dark times our Country has experienced, rather than all the GOOD things we have done as a Country, then shame on you. Because you are leaving out so many great, respectable contributions our Country has given to it's Nation and the rest of the world.

Second: You trample on the memory of great thinkers, scientists, AND SOLDIERS, who have contributed greatly to our Country and the world in knowledge, compassion, and protection of peoples weaker than we.

Third: One only has to think of our hero soldiers when reading your filthy disgraceful posts, who have fought and died in wars to protect your freedom to have that arrogant and pessimistic attitude.

I respect your RIGHT to have your opinion, but do NOT respect the actual opinion at all.

Originally posted by treemanx

This is why Americans are losing grip on our Country. You have no pride in your Country.

Ummmm....

I am Australian (as is clearly written - albeit upsidedown - under my avatar), so this assertion that I "have no pride in my country" is completely wrong and way off the mark. I am looking at this topic from a third-person perspective and giving my opinion based upon how US - THE REST OF THE WORLD - see you Americans.

Oh and the "stop having a go at us because we have suffered too" argument doesn't cut it with me - ALL countries have had their suffering in one way or another - but America stands alone with the loudest voice saying "Look at what we did, we are so damned important" and therein lies the difference.

Originally posted by Kryties
Go learn your history mate, not just what you read on the signboard at the local supermarket.

Over here we say their face winds up on a milk carton, but who's counting.

You ausies are awesome. We apprieciate your support.

Don't worry bout this guy, you can read about him on one side or another.

Originally posted by Kryties

Originally posted by treemanx

This is why Americans are losing grip on our Country. You have no pride in your Country.

Ummmm....

I am Australian (as is clearly written - albeit upsidedown - under my avatar), so this assertion that I "have no pride in my country" is completely wrong and way off the mark. I am looking at this topic from a third-person perspective and giving my opinion based upon how US - THE REST OF THE WORLD - see you Americans.

Oh and the "stop having a go at us because we have suffered too" argument doesn't cut it with me - ALL countries have had their suffering in one way or another - but America stands alone with the loudest voice saying "Look at what we did, we are so damned important" and therein lies the difference.

Right. I just noticed that you arent an American, your one of those Aussies. Sounds to me like you think your more important than anything we're discussing here.

Oh, and if you were intelligent enough to ACTUALLY READ my post, and understand it, I wasnt saying "stop having a go at us because we have suffered too". Not even a little. I said LOOK AT THE GOOD CONTRIBUTIONS the US has made to the world, rather than the not so good. Oh thats right, we cant all be as perfect as "you Aussies" right?

Go wash up and hit the sack kiddo, the adults are trying to have a discussion here.

Originally posted by Hal9000

You ausies are awesome. We apprieciate your support.

We offer our support and friendship to anyone who asks, that's what us Aussies are about - we literally do look after our neighbours

[edit on 15/11/2009 by Kryties]

Originally posted by treemanx

Right. I just noticed that you arent an American, your one of those Aussies. Sounds to me like you think your more important than anything we're discussing here.

Wrong. My intention here is to provide a third-person view on the situation, one that you seem not to be getting.

Oh, and if you were intelligent enough to ACTUALLY READ my post, and understand it, I wasnt saying "stop having a go at us because we have suffered too". Not even a little. I said LOOK AT THE GOOD CONTRIBUTIONS the US has made to the world, rather than the not so good. Oh thats right, we cant all be as perfect as "you Aussies" right?

Go wash up and hit the sack kiddo, the adults are trying to have a discussion here.

That's it? Your whole post just attacks my intelligence then asserts that I am a child? I will not even bother to respond to this disrespectful diatribe except to say ATTACK THE POST - NOT THE POSTER.

But thanks for giving us all an insight into your level of maturity.

[edit on 15/11/2009 by Kryties]

I'm getting confused here.
Are we talking about Obama's bow or how great America is? I'm having a hard time seeing the correlation...

Originally posted by xEphon
I'm getting confused here.
Are we talking about Obama's bow or how great America is? I'm having a hard time seeing the correlation...

They appear to go hand in hand. If you read the whole thread you would see where the conversation diverted then assimilated with the original topic.

[edit on 15/11/2009 by Kryties]

Originally posted by 317258186
I'm sorry, as a person very familiar with asian and Japanese formalities, this is a total faux pas. Bows like what Obama has done is done not to show respect, (unlike most of you who think you know the culture), but a sign of acknowledgment of a superior. It's is both inappropriate and embarrassing.

Not to mention his actions overseas represent not only himself, but the US. I don't think I'd bow to anyone.

It's not a a bow of respect, a shallow bow would have been suffice for that, even a handshake considering Obama is a foreigner outside of the culture. Any bows in such a culture that place extreme importance in the minutest of gestures has great significance, and again, those of you who posted here thinking he is just showing due respect as a "non-hillbilly" prez is just ignorant. He has exhibited again an over-eagerness and naivete to make nice.

I am an asian American and I am freaking upset and embarrassed, Obama's bow don't represent me or any self-respecting free Americans.

What a tool.

How familiar are you?

I'm an American, but lived in Japan for 12 years. I'd expect Obama to bow to a drug store pharmacist if I thought he was doing it right!

The deeper and longer the bow, the more sign of respect is as basic as I can put it.

The emperor is NOT a government official. He is merely a symbol that the United States has LET to stay alive after Japans defeat in WWII.

As a matter of FACT, the United States Army WROTE the Japanese Constitution and ALLOWED the EMPEROR'S place to REMAIN AS A SYMBOLIC GESTURE. They could have totally disallowed the Emperor to remain as a symbol of the state!

It is FACT, that when Obama meets the Emperor of Japan, that he is meeting a MAN and not the Japanese Government, but a symbol of such with certain duties. Read the Japanese constitution.

The United States of America OVERTOOK and DEFEATED the JAPANESE GOVERNMENT in WWII.

We could have MADE IT A STATE if we wanted to.

Consider that, and then think about what that bow really means.

this is really superficial. It doesnt say or mean anything. So what Obama bows to people... he is also supposedly going to force vaccinations (when he wont take one). Really, does this matter?

Originally posted by Kryties

Originally posted by xEphon
I'm getting confused here.
Are we talking about Obama's bow or how great America is? I'm having a hard time seeing the correlation...

The appear to go hand in hand. If you read the whole thread you would see where the conversation diverted then assimilated with the original topic.

Yeah, I see that ... how unfortunate. So much for humility. Apparently, to some on here, America has no room for that in all of it's greatness. Heck, Akihito is lucky Obama didn't dethrone him on the spot and declare Japan a US territory.

[edit on 15-11-2009 by xEphon]

Do other world leaders bow to the various royal families ? Lets see if Vladimir Putin bows on his next state visit to a country lucky enough to have a royal family .