News Obama almost touched his feet when greeting an Emperor

[waht]

Well not quite, but close:

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1316/aleqm5jcf1ulg0igrzjjfoq.jpg

It's just a sign of respect. Why do so many people overreact?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091116/pl_afp/japanusdiplomacyasiaobama

 

[mgb_phys]

It's just a sign of respect. Why do so many people overreact?

I thought the proper political response for a US president meeting the leader of Japan was to throw up?

 

[Sorry!]

Lol I wonder why most of the world doesn't really care for America at all.

 

[mgb_phys]

A congressional committee has ruled - No tongues

 

[BobG]

Clinton receiving a greeting from Queen Sofia of Spain.

http://www.life.com/image/1591428

 

[mgb_phys]

Clinton receiving a greeting from Queen Sofia of Spain.

The advantage of a monarchy - you only need to go down on one knee when meeting the head of state!

 

[Math Is Hard]

Gee, I think Obama is just showing good manners. I like that in a president.

I'm embarrassed to say this, but OMG, the emperor and empress are so cute! Kawaii! They look like porcelain dolls. :shy:

 

[mgb_phys]

I'm embarrassed to say this, but OMG, the emperor and empress are so cute! Kawaii! They look like porcelain dolls. :shy:

That's Japanese miniaturization - it's just like cars, German leaders are very well engineered but all weigh a minimum of two tons, British leaders seem fashionable at the time but are underpowered and leak oil.

 

[waht]

The advantage of a monarchy - you only need to go down on one knee when meeting the head of state!

hehe, you got to be kidding.

 

[Math Is Hard]

That's Japanese miniaturization - it's just like cars, German leaders are very well engineered but all weigh a minimum of two tons, British leaders seem fashionable at the time but are underpowered and leak oil.

 

[Moonbear]

He really does need better advisors when it comes to protocols for greeting leaders of other countries. It's Japanese culture he is screwing up. How far you bow depends on your position. Two presidents would both only bow a little because they are equals. Bowing that low indicates the person he is bowing to is a superior to him.

Of course, when he's so tall and the Japanese Emperor is so tiny, perhaps it was just to make eye contact.

In the grand scheme of things, at least he tried to respect their culture and greet the Emperor with a bow. Though, why is he traveling to other countries while being left so clueless about the finer points of etiquette when you know these sorts of protocols ARE a big deal to a lot of people? Who on his staff is supposed to be updating him during the flight and is doing a lousy job of it?

 

[Evo]

Obama does over do the bowing, given his position. Although so have past presidents, as was dicussed in another thread. I think nit picking over a president bowing has to rank abosolute lowest in prioritites of what to judge a president on. Better to err on the side of being acceptable than be considered insulting.

 

[Sorry!]

I highly doubt that the Emperor thought anything other than wow this guy is just trying to show respect to our culture. I think the Americans that are complaining think WAY too highly of American culture. Like sure it's important to be patriotic and love your nation but they just take it way too far...

None of the Americans I've seen complain about this are complaining because he bowed 'too low' they are complaining because he bowed period. They themselves would not have bowed at all if they met the Japanese emperor.
Why?
Ego.

 

[Blenton]

It's a sign of weakness! Attack american now!

(lol caps lock auto turns into lowercase.. ruins the dramatization)

 

[mheslep]

Lol I wonder why most of the world doesn't really care for America at all.

Aside from you Sorry, where does one go to poll 'the world' on caring for America?

 

[Sorry!]

Aside from you Sorry, where does one go to poll 'the world' on caring for America?

Well it figures an American would say something to me about that. Go figure.

It's the worlds worst kept secret, quite a bit of the world don't like America(mostly so in developed nations). Obama has definitely given America a huge boost though that's for sure.
Yet these Americans are going against him; even when what he did in Japan helped American-Japanese relations. This is where my comment fits in. Very nice.

EDIT: From 2002-2007 the world image of America declined quite a bit. Most countries had 50/50 favorable-unfavorable outcome towards America. Countries that liked America most were mostly from Africa. (Ivory coast was #1 88% favorable... Compared to America itself with only 80% favorable.) View of Americans themselves has declined as well but not as much as the view of the country as a whole. In fact most countriese hold a 'slightly favorable' position on Americans.

So when American worldview is declining it's fair IMO for me to state that I think that the behaviour and views of Americans is one of the reasons for this.

 

[Al68]

Lol I wonder why most of the world doesn't really care for America at all.

Jealousy, mostly. :!)

 

[Sorry!]

How very smug of you.

I've editted my post. As well your comment directed to me was quite smug to begin with so don't expect me to be pleasant.

The top countries that like American democracy are all African developing nations with the exception of Israel. The top countries that dislike American democracy are from all over the world. South America to Europe to Asia.

The same trend is pretty much true of the American way of doing business.

This of course is probably attributable to countries preferring their own way of doing things and the developing nations wanting to model their own ways of doing these things over the superpower of the world but that doesn't mean peoples views are any different.

Something else I noticed about the poll results is that most countries had more 'very unfavorable' view of America than a 'very favorable' view.

Interesting:
Average opinion of USA in 2000 in Canada, Britain, Japan, and Indonesia. (I've averaged these numbers out myself by searching for the different poll years. I picked these countries because in my opinion they had quite a 'favorable' view of America historically. They are infact in 2000 among the top countries holding a favorable view of America):
76.5% favorable views.

Same statistic but for 2007:
49% favorable views (And this is only because Japan still had 61% favorable view. Later in 2008 this drops to 51%)

Same statistic but for 2009:
64.75% favorable views (Japan is now at 60% favorable view.)

A vote of very favorable or slightly favorable is considered a 'favorable view' although most only considered their view 'slightly favorable'.

We can clearly see that since Obama has taken his position at the Head of America that the views have jumped up impressively...

If I knew somewhere to host these reports or where they are on the web I would post a link to them but alas no idea so take my word for it :).
As well this is getting quite off topic so I'd rather not post anything else about this lol.

 

[mgb_phys]

The top countries that like American democracy

That's a little loaded, democracies in Europe may or may not like America's foreign policy - not it's electoral system. i don't think many Scandinavians are saying they approve of the policy to Iraq but not of the electoral college.

Developed countries might just be holding America to a slightly higher standard than their African counterparts. Their opinion may also change more since they are exposed to more upto date and more comprehensive news sources, for most people in Africa having a black president is still 'news'.

 

[Sorry!]

That's a little loaded, democracies in Europe may or may not like America's foreign policy - not it's electoral system. i don't think many Scandinavians are saying they approve of the policy to Iraq but not of the electoral college.

Developed countries might just be holding America to a slightly higher standard than their African counterparts. Their opinion may also change more since they are exposed to more upto date and more comprehensive news sources, for most people in Africa having a black president is still 'news'.

NOTE: Those were different poll results I was giving them in one post. One was public world view of America, another was public world view of Americans, another was public world view of American democracy and the other was public worldview of American way of business.

Those numbers were from 2007; before Obama was president. As well it was a 47 country survey. It was of how they viewed America as a whole country.
if I asked you the same question:

Answer very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, very unfavorable.
How do you view Iran:

You would give your personal answer... So would people from all over the globe and then BAM we have the same results only about Iran. In fact this was already done. It seems most of the world HATE Iran.

The other question was specifically of American democracy I don't see how it's loaded... There was an option of not voting at all... I'll look at these results comparable to past years.(As well you might want to read the average results I compiled... I don't see why these countries would suddenly vote they see USA unfavorably because the suddenly hold America to a higher standard. This is a relatively short period of time, 6 years for the numbers to bottom out...)

 

[mgb_phys]

So the figures were high in 2000 before the great adventure in the sand, dropped toward the end of the Bush administration and went up after Obama was elected.

If you ask people what they think of 'American democracy' that's either a loaded questions, or people ignore the democracy part and say what they think about the aspects of America in the news.

 

[Sorry!]

So the figures were high in 2000 before the great adventure in the sand, dropped toward the end of the Bush administration and went up after Obama was elected.

If you ask people what they think of 'American democracy' that's either a loaded questions, or people ignore the democracy part and say what they think about the aspects of America in the news.

Well it didn't just suddenly 'drop' it was a steady decline. I just picked that year (2007) because it was the year the numbers got lowest for most countries (excluding Japan) and all the countries I was using to average had been polled in that year.

Yeah so for mostly half of my life people have steadily been disliking America. Hence my comment earlier.

As well we learn about the electoral college here (in Canada) and I've talked to people from other countries whom say they learn about it too in school. So I don't see why it's more likely that people will answer that they don't like American democracy because they really don't like such and such about America... Like I said the world view of America has dropped significantly but the view of Americans as people haven't. How can your theory account for this?

 

[mgb_phys]

Sorry not sure what we are arguing about here ;-)

By phrasing the question what do you think about American "Democracy" they are loading the question - eg saying "what do you think of America - please note America is a democracy and therefore good".
People that notice this will generally react against it. If they asked this following the Bush-Gore election the most common response in Europe would have been laughter.

If you ask this question to people who aren't political scientists they aren't going to answer - American democracy is good except the two party system and the lack of a single transferable vote, and the problem of states with a bi-cameral electoral college etc. They are really answering the question 'what do you think of what America is doing with respect to stuff that was in the news today"

The stats don't really surprise me, the standing of America (in other developed countries) went up after 9/11 and then gradually downward through Iraq/Abu Gria/Guantanamo etc, and then went back up with Obama.

 

[Sorry!]

By phrasing the question what do you think about American "Democracy" they are loading the question - eg saying "what do you think of America.

I'm just bored and tired

However I see what you're saying now I just don't agree with it. The poll had already asked the question of whether or not they saw America in as favorable vs. unfavorable. As well the poll shows that the view of America as a country dropped significantly while other values remained the same (including view of American democracy). So even while America was being negatively received by the world their views of Americans and democracy and way of business didn't change that much.

 

[Al68]

As well the poll shows that the view of America as a country dropped significantly while other values remained the same (including view of American democracy). So even while America was being negatively received by the world their views of Americans and democracy and way of business didn't change that much.

It's not often you hear a Canadian use the phrase "America as a country".

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

I heard on the radio that the Japanese press decided not to print the photo of Obama bowing because they felt it would have been disrespectful to show him kowtowing (figuratively) to the emperor which he was not supposed to do.

 

[Pattonias]

Most of our Presidents try to show the respect that is expected in other cultures when they travel. Usually, the guys who critique the President would complain regardless of what he did. I think most people appreciate the intent of our President when he makes these gestures.

I think it speaks very highly of the American culture that the arguably most powerful man in the world is not above bowing to other leaders. We don't live under the rule of an all powerful king or dictator. We live under the leadership of a elected public servant. He and others have wielded the power of one of the worlds most powerful countries with a respectful air of humility.

 

[BobG]

I don't think the bow is a major factor in world relations.

Not knowing the customs of the countries you're visiting does give the impression the person is out of place in his role and protrays a lack of professionalism. That's something that could be said about the last 3 Presidents, including Clinton, Bush, and Obama (Clinton initially botched the little things about being President, such as knowing how the Commander in Chief of the US's military handles salutes, etc). Reagan might have fallen asleep at inoppurtune times, but at least he seemed to follow the proper protocol for national leaders.

Maybe it's just the increased media exposure, but it does portray an image of clumsiness and awkwardness for the US in the world.

 

[Gokul43201]

NOTE: Those were different poll results I was giving them in one post.

Please note that these "poll results" count for diddly squat until you can cite them properly. If you can not cite references for your data, you have the choice of either asking to have your previous posts (presenting polling numbers) deleted, or risking an infraction for willfully violating the forum guidelines which require citation for such factual assertions.

See rules here: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=113181

 

[mheslep]

I've editted my post. ...

And I deleted mine, I was overly tired.

 

[mgb_phys]

Clinton initially botched the little things about being President, such as knowing how the Commander in Chief of the US's military handles salutes, etc

Is this a deliberate democrat policy of not caring 'about such things or is it simply that all their staff went to liberal arts colleges?

Reagan ..he seemed to follow the proper protocol for national leaders.

That's the advantage of having a professional actor in the role, they rehearse, learn their lines and get it on the first take.

fallen asleep at inoppurtune times,

True, what you need is a actor/politician that is better engineered, more robust, more SUV like and which "absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead".
Can't think of any obvious candidates.

Maybe it's just the increased media exposure, but it does portray an image of clumsiness and awkwardness for the US in the world.

Could work with the right president.
Aw shucks - we aren't a ruthless killing machine an industrial military complex we just got a little confused about which country we were invading. I can see Afghanistan from my house, y'all

 

[Pattonias]

Maybe we could build the perfect-President Robot or PPR. The PPR could travel around the world meeting everyones expectation all the time. His/hers/its speeches could be long lists of the current issues. He/she/it could perform foreign rights and customs flawlessly, even better than the locals. He/she/it wouldn't sleep, or take vacations at Camp David. He/she/it would not say anything that anyone else could find offensive. At that point the entire world would love America (USA). All peoples would envy our PPR.

I think we should consider these human leaders a temporary problem.

 

[arildno]

Obama should have patted His Imperial Midget on his head, rather than performed this act of obeisance towards him..

That would at least have opened up for some interesting diplomatic aftermath..

 

[BobG]

True, what you need is a actor/politician that is better engineered, more robust, more SUV like and which "absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead".
Can't think of any obvious candidates.

Mean Joe Greene would be the obvious choice. Politicial donations from Coca-Cola would make him a cinch to win.

(Remember, you have to be born in the U.S.A. to be President - as if anyone could possibly forget that detail with the BS over Obama's birth certificate and McCain being born on a military installation in Panama.)

 

[mheslep]

Maybe he was reaching down to slip another http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/04/01/2009-04-01_president_obama_gives_queen_ipod_loaded_-1.html" into the Emp's pocket.

 

[mgb_phys]

Maybe we could build the perfect-President Robot or PPR. :

Positives:
Can walk unaided, climb stairs and recognise it's environment - which puts it ahead of many incumbents of the white house.
Only costs $1m, and can be rented for only $150K/year if you don't think you will win a second term.

It would need a few upgrades:
At only 130cm tall it would need to be stretched if the 'taller candidate always wins' rule is true.
To appeal to middle America it will need to be fitted with a V8 hemi
To appeal to soccer moms it will need more cupholders
Is it available in other body color options?

And to satisfy the constitution it will have to be built in one of Honda's plants in America - this time please remember to keep the original receipt.

 

[BobG]

Maybe we could build the perfect-President Robot or PPR. The PPR could travel around the world meeting everyones expectation all the time. His/hers/its speeches could be long lists of the current issues. He/she/it could perform foreign rights and customs flawlessly, even better than the locals. He/she/it wouldn't sleep, or take vacations at Camp David. He/she/it would not say anything that anyone else could find offensive. At that point the entire world would love America (USA). All peoples would envy our PPR.

I think we should consider these human leaders a temporary problem.

I once read a short story where a holographic representation of the Presidential candidate was used during the campaign because of security concerns (this was shortly after two different women attempted to assassinate Gerry Ford). To keep anyone from finding out about the illusion, the real candidate was kept in seclusion on a desert island. By time he won the election, he had decided he liked living on the island more than he liked the idea of being President and refused to serve. A committee ran the Presidency, using the holographic representation of the President to keep the public fooled.

By time re-election time rolled around, the holographic President had a reputation for being cold and removed from the public, since the holographic President obviously couldn't shake hands with anyone, kiss any babies, or meet personally with any other world leaders. To win re-election, the committee had to find someone human to substitute for the holographic President for the duration of the campaign - hopefully someone who wouldn't mind going back into retirement as soon as the campaign was over since the committee would have to eliminate the human if he tried to interfere with actually running the Presidency.

I can't remember how they found someone that looked like the holograph and how they convinced him to serve during the campaign and then immediately disappear, but it didn't work out very well. The human suddenly developed a desire to actually be the President and the rest of the story was a shoot-em-up between the substitute President (that many thought was actually the President) and the committee actually running the Presidency.