From this angle, you can clearly see Falafel the Hutt extend his paw for Dr. Utopia to pucker up, bow low, and kiss it. "Oh, Mr. President, you flatter me. I have not had a suitor this eager and amorous for many desert moons. I feel like Princess Jasmine being wooed by Aladdin in that marvelous cartoon!". In fact, our current president was so eager to prostrate himself that he pushed aside other fawning admirers of Falafel, as he just couldn't control his urge to KISS THAT DELICIOUS RING.
In June, our current president, Dr. Utopia, prostrated himself before the King of Saudi Arabia, begging to kiss the ring upon his hand and tell corpulent Falafel the Hutt how sorry he is for America’s exceptionalism, how ashamed he is to be an American (maybe), and how much he wants to remake this nation as just one amongst many, subservient and forever dependent to the House of Saud and other Islamic powers.
And now Dr. Utopia bows before the Emperor of Japan, on another apology tour where he’s been insisting the United States was wrong to use nuclear weapons to end Emperor Horohito’s madness — which included the rape, torture, and murder of millions of Chinese, Koreans, Russians, Vietnamese, and anyone else unlucky enough to find themselves in the grip of the Empire of the Rising Sun.
The Empire struck America at Pearl Harbor and cost the lives of thousands of America’s best and brightest in the Pacific campaign, with many United States Marines, the finest human beings on the face of this Earth, lost island hopping from bloody rock to foul swamp to reach the heart of the Empire itself and drive Old Glory into it like a stake through a sake sipping Dracula.
If President Truman had not unleashed the awesome power available to him, hundreds of thousands more Marines, sailors, soldiers, and air men would have been lost invading the main Japanese islands to force a surrender from an Emperor who believed himself to be a living god, and whose people were willing to fight to their deaths to honor him.
It took Truman’s determination, steeled will, and prescience to see that the ONLY way to break Japan and end the war was to drop those atomic weapons and stun the most ferocious enemy we have ever faced into submission.
Wherever he rests now, we hope scores of angels perpetually attend to President Truman, keep him warm and safe, and remind him he had the courage to save so many American (and Japanese) lives by ending the war YEARS earlier than it would have without our atomic strikes. Many of you reading this might not even be alive today if Truman had allowed the war to drag on needlessly: your grandfathers and great-grandfathers could have been killed in invasion of Japan proper, fighting on those main islands right up to Tokyo itself.
We all owe President Truman a great, great deal and will never allow anyone to forget that.
Every single day, the current president finds new and degrading ways to shame this country.
Welcome to Hope and Change.
It sure looks a lot like punk-ass emasculation of a great nation, at great cost to all of us to come.
November 14, 2009 at 2:05 pm
They’ll just say he lost his contact.
I would say that while he’s down there he can kiss something else.
November 14, 2009 at 2:09 pm
He used to that plenty often at Man’s Country in Chicago when he was a state senator.
Man’s Country: where men go to play in Andersonville.
A rub a dub dub. Fun in a tub.
November 14, 2009 at 2:23 pm
And Barry Husein did spend a lot of time in Pakistan and Indonesian were boy friends and men friends of the Muslim persuasion can walk hand-in-hand down the streets with each other…..
Thanks for sticking up the pic of Obama’s bow to kiss the Saudi’s _____________________ (fill in the blank).
November 14, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Why does Obama hate America so much?
To paraphrase a planted question from an O-Bought supporter’s abused child.
November 14, 2009 at 2:13 pm
RE: “Many of you reading this might not even be alive today if Truman had allowed the war to drag on needlessly: your grandfathers and great-grandfathers could have been killed in invasion of Japan proper, fighting on those main islands right up to Tokyo itself.”
Actually — my father would probably have been killed in the invasion of Japan. He was 18 at the time and slated to go. Spent 2 years in Italy’s “mopping up” operations instead. Got no more than a paper cut thanks to Truman
November 14, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Ditto. My dads Marine division was scheduled to be in the first wave. The guestimates were that there would be just enough of the USMC left to secure a foothold for the Army to land.
And I think when the Army went inland, fighting for every inch, what Rome did to Carthage would have looked benigne. People wring their hands and wail about our using The Bomb on two Japanese cities. Well, that saved millions of Japanese lives. You keep hearing “Well, Japan was ready to surrender!” Garbage. All her subjects were being trained and indoctrinated in the ’shattered jewel’ ideal of fighting. Yes, some in the high command were moderates cautiously talking about surrender, but the junta that ruled Japan was going to fight to the last.
November 14, 2009 at 2:35 pm
It must be said every time that the Japanese had been brainwashed to die – killing every family member, i.e., infants, children, adolescents, grandparents, wifes, aunts, and on and on – rather than surrender alive to their enemies.
It’s just possible that if humane Harry Truman did not drop the bombs, the Japanese would have made their race nearly extinct!
Proof: The Japanese preference for suicide over capture had been repeated throughout the war in the Pacific. But it was civilian suicides that would forever mark the memories of American troops on Saipan.
Mass Suicides
The civilian population on Saipan numbered close to 30,000. Twenty-two thousand were Japanese — though most came from the prefecture of Okinawa and were ethnically distinct from other Japanese. The rest consisted of Korean slave laborers and the original inhabitants of the island — the Carolinians and the Chamorro. As the battle of Saipan reached its final days, Japanese soldiers and panicked civilians made their way north to Marpi Point. Here, despite repeated calls by the U.S. military to surrender, civilians chose death by jumping off cliffs or drowning themselves in the sea. – from PBS
The emperor and empress also visited the cliff top from where hundreds of Japanese civilians committed suicide at the end of the battle, rather than face US capture. – from BBC
The Okinawa operation was truly a “Typhoon of Steel.” Casualties were some of the highest of any World War Two operation: the Japanese lost over 100,000 troops, and the Allies (mostly United States) suffered more than 50,000 casualties, including over 12,000 killed in action. Hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed, wounded or attempted suicide. Approximately one-fourth of the civilian population died due to the invasion.
As we closed in on the end of the last battle of WWII, huge numbers of civilians crowded behind the dwindling Japanese line. The Japanese commander, Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima and his chief of staff, Lieutenant General Isamu Chō committed suicide and the Japanese troops launched final banzai charges. To the horror of American troops, whole families jumped from the cliffs rather than face capture. To this day, many Okinawans hate the Japanese for their callous abuse of the people of Okinawa in 1945.
http://aoundthescuttlebutt.blogspot.com/2009/10/suicide-cliff.html
November 14, 2009 at 5:57 pm
I lived on Okinawa from 1955 to 1968. I am very aware of the history there. Not only did families jump, whole schools jumped off the suicide cliffs. The children were forced to. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Perhaps it is my years there and my respect for the culture that I do not have a problem with ObaMao bowing to the Emperor. It is a common sign of respect and does not mean the assumption of a lower level. I often bow to my Oriental friends, especially if they are older than I.
November 14, 2009 at 5:59 pm
To clarify…to the Saudi prince…forget it the bast**d! This is the only thing that doesn’t gall me about ObaMao.
November 16, 2009 at 12:42 am
Whether Mr Obama, private citizen, wishes grovel or bow to various foreign dignitaries is, naturally, up (or down) to him. However, he is not visiting Japan, nor the Japanese Emperor, in that capacity; he’s is there as President, in his capacity as Head of State, representing a sovereign nation (USA). As such, his bowing (especially that from-the-hip, low bow of which he seems so fond) does actually indicate, not cultural sensitivity, but the recognition that the US is not a nation of equal standing, but somehow of lesser rank or worth. Mr Obama is either ignorant of or chooses to ignore this fact. I don’t know which is worse.
November 14, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Let’s call this guy out for what he is. Confused, ashamed and downright disloyal. Anyone who is this damn ignorant to not realize the true greatness and strength of the nation he is charged with leading is an imbecile. What made us this great? Our liberties and freedom which he should be trying to export as much as he is our soverignty right now. He is a fraud and we are paying for it!
November 14, 2009 at 2:40 pm
High time to impeach the self-confessed cocaine abuser who is in the White House.
November 14, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I agree. Just how much DOES he have to do before he can be impeached?
November 14, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I would say that failing to keep our country and her inhabitants safe (allowing the KSM trial to take place in NYC) passes the test -
November 15, 2009 at 11:10 am
One thing his is not is confused (unless you are talking about his loylty and policy). He knows exactly what he is doing. Cold, calculating, and ruthless.
November 14, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Bowing while shaking hands is a traditional greeting between East Asian and Western cultures, although it is usually the Asians who do the bowing. Nevertheless, this *could* be counted as a legitimate show of traditional respect. Perhaps there are other photos showing the Japanese emperor bowing to Obama as well.
I’m not saying I agree with it, just saying we should be fair. Bowing to the Saudi prince, however, was unforgivable.
November 14, 2009 at 2:42 pm
It is a traditional show of U.S. citizens’ respect for our forefathers, foremothers and our heritage of freedom to never bow down to foreign powers of any type.
November 14, 2009 at 10:23 pm
That could be… but I never picked up that tidbit of traditional knowledge in any of my readings on our founders. It would make sense due to the issue of casting off fealty to the crown, but while in some settings a bow is a show of submission, in other settings it’s simply a show of respect.
I’m by no means a globalist or one who believes we should cast off our own heritage in deference to foreign powers. But I do believe the average American, myself included, is fairly clueless about the cultures and customs of other nations. It makes sense to me to try to learn about and honor some of those traditions when traveling to those countries. Part of our “bad reputation” throughout the world is due to the complete ignorance to the host country’s culture when we travel abroad. And if you think about it, as Americans we are often annoyed when foreigners visiting this country seem oblivious to our own culture.
As St. Ambrose said, when in Rome, do as the Romans. If a bow may be appropriate as a sign of mutual respect in the Japanese culture, I do not criticize Obama for it. On the other hand, bowing to a Saudi King is a whole other story and I WILL criticize him for it.
November 15, 2009 at 2:41 am
A slight bow is a sign of respect, this deep bow shows a sign of weakness. You should maintain eye contact and never bow so low. That is for me or you. But for the US president, he shouldn’t bow at all.
November 15, 2009 at 8:56 am
Well then- let’s see what other leaders from around the world do when meeting up with the leader of Japan:
http://hotairpundit.blogspot.com/2009/11/president-obama-vs-rest-of-world.html
I don’t think utopia’s “man’s country” flashbacks here are part of some skeery smart conspiracy to leech prestige and power from the US.
I just think the ignorant sulky teen we call the preznit is too stubborn to ask people at the State Department how to behave in these situations.
I put this latest jaw droppingly stupid transgression in the same category as the incident with the Saudi king, the ridicutarded gifts he gave PM Brown and the Queen, and First Lady bush hog’s perpetual fashion trainwreck show.
Occam’s razor, people. This guy is a dunce. He has no experience as an adult- of course he does stupid, stupid things all the time.
Oh, and thanks to the moron 52 for this travesty.
November 15, 2009 at 9:49 am
Heh. At least he didn’t try to fist bump the Emperor.
November 14, 2009 at 2:48 pm
The video:
November 14, 2009 at 10:27 pm
It was a pretty deep bow, to be sure. I notice he doesn’t bow as deeply to the missus.
I don’t like it, but I’m still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one issue.
November 15, 2009 at 2:43 am
Benefit of the doubt? That he broke protocol, or that he is a jackass?
November 14, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Sorry….really…but I am an American and sir, we BOW to no one!
November 14, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Well actually we bow all the time. Like after a dramatic performance, piano recital, or vocal display. Maybe we bow to an audience after doing standup comedy. We bow to a sensei if we take martial arts. Some of us may even bow when entering or leaving our favorite sushi restaurant.
And of course some of us bow to God.
It’s all about context.
I do understand why people are upset. When Obama bows… even in a show of respect… it’s as though he’s bowing on behalf of each of us, and that doesn’t reflect our individual feelings. I’m no different in this regard. I would surely prefer Obama did not bow to foreign dignitaries, at least not bow as low as he does (which DOES *appear* to be a show of deference or submission). But on the grand scale of Obama debacles to be ticked off about, this is pretty darn low. I’d rather be talking about the civil trials of those 5 terrorists, or the upcoming Copenhagen global climate treaty that’s supposedly creating the first one world government.
November 15, 2009 at 7:46 am
Well of course we bow in situations such as you mention. It’s to do with that often ignored thing these days that my Granny called…..manners and common courtesy. This was not manners…it was deference pure and simple. IF it had been the first time he had done so, okay, an error of protocal. It is not the first time and sadly will not be the last I fear. I believe you knew exactly what I was speaking of in my reply earlier…..why the need to try and explain it away?
November 14, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I went to school in Japan, and while it is considered polite to bow, if you bow lower than the person you are facing, you are declaring that your status is lower than that person. As President of the U.S., Obama shouldn’t really have done more than a head nod.
November 14, 2009 at 8:38 pm
or a slap on the behind, since he spends all his time playing “shirts and skins” basketball!
LOL
November 14, 2009 at 10:18 pm
There’s a whole huge article on the etiquette of bowing in Japanese culture on Wikipedia if anyone is interested. All I’m saying is that this *may* be an honest attempt at showing respect… I just like to give the benefit of the doubt if doubt exists. There are PLENTY of things to be infuriated over with Obama, including his bowing to the Saudi prince.
November 15, 2009 at 2:45 am
The thing is, any advisor to the president ought to know what is considered appropriate according to rank and culture. It’s not that hard to look it up if you’re not sure. If this is an honest mistake, then it’s just another rookie move by an incompetent administration.
November 15, 2009 at 3:17 am
“Any advisor to the President” – oh yeah, that same guy who had him give Gordon Brown DVDs he couldn’t even play, that guy who didn’t tell Michelle not to touch the Queen, that guy who advised them to give the Queen an Ipod with the One’s speeches on it and the guy who told him to bow and kiss the ring of the Saudi prince. Yeah, that guy really knows his stuff on protocol, right? Idiots…
November 15, 2009 at 8:10 am
EricP: with all due respect (and I do enjoy your posts), I think you miss the point here. This is the head of state of a major nation meeting another head of state. Obama showed disrespect to ever citizen of this country in this bow. Protocol does not allow our head of state to bow but to act as an absolute equal.
Why give him the benefit of the doubt. You are upset at his bowing to the Saudi prince, so why is this any different? Because you like the Japanese more than the Saudis shouldn’t be an excuse in this case. Whether it is a friend or unfriendly nation, our President is simply not supposed to bow. I can’t and won’t make excuses for him.
I’m just saying.
November 15, 2009 at 8:58 am
Again, let’s see how other heads of state behave in the same situation:
http://hotairpundit.blogspot.com/2009/11/president-obama-vs-rest-of-world.html
As usual, obama= epic fAil.
November 15, 2009 at 1:56 am
Obama’s Botched Bow
By Thomas Lifson
Bad enough that Obama bowed down to another head of state yesterday. Even worse, he did not bother to learn how one bows in Japan, and just winged it.
Excerpts:
Obama’s bow violates a fundamental precept: NO TOUCHING while bowing.
The one thing that virtually everyone who teaches bowing etiquette stresses is under no circumstance try to combine a bow with a handshake….
The Emperor appears to smile, which is something polite Japanese are taught to do when embarrassed…..
Another fundamental precept of the ordinary bow: it must be reciprocated. To do otherwise is a grave insult. Yet, we see in this short video clip that the Emperor did not even nod his head. To be honest, I am not sure the Emperor is ever supposed to bow back to anyone. He is, after all, according to Shinto, a god.
I suspect the poor Emperor was so shocked by the faux pas that he just pretended it didn’t happen. That is one way Japanese people deal with breaches of etiquette, especially from the powerful, who are also ignorant. But the end result is that Obama has been snubbed royally. Imperially, in fact.
Read Article:
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/11/obamas_botched_bow.html
November 15, 2009 at 8:05 am
Why would this administration suddenly decide on a new protocol of bowing to other state leaders? I have to think that it is part of a larger effort to reduce America’s stature in the world.
Does Obama place himself above all past presidents who, as the leaders of this country, refused on principle to bow to other leaders? I think it’s more than that. He is systematically trying to tear apart this country, to destroy it from within and to remark it in his image.
Will he succeed? Not if the sentiment raging across this nation is any indication.
I remember the second world war, the sacrifices of family members, the gold stars in the windows on my street. I remember the Korean War, Vietnam and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Those were Americans who died there, not to mention the other countries which lost their citizens as well. What did they die for? To protect and preserve our system of government. For Obama to demean this country so demeans all of those who died and suffered in those wars. It demeans those left behind and we won’t forget.
November 15, 2009 at 9:01 am
Nope, don’t think there’s a plan. Utopia is just a very, very stupid lil’ fellow.
Utopia is too ignorant to realize there’s an entire department (State) within our federal government than can instruct him on how NOT to act like a provincial rube in situations like this.
Yo, utopia- meeting heads of state ain’t like meeting with Acorn reps. Figure it out, you dolt.
November 15, 2009 at 11:17 am
Does Dr.U not have a CZAR of Global Etiquette?
November 14, 2009 at 2:32 pm
So far he’s only had the opportunity to prostrate himself in front of a Saudi prince and the Emperor of Japan. He didn’t show much respect for Queen Elizabeth, and MO had her hands all over her as a sign of disrespect, no doubt, for England’s colonial past.
I can’t wait for the day that BO meets one his true idols like Mugabe. It won’t be PG rated, for sure.
There are no words to describe my disgust and loathing for this poseur.
November 14, 2009 at 2:33 pm
That last sentence says it all perfectly.
Keep hammering away guys (and girls, whomever). One of these days, hopefully in time for 2010 and certainly 2012, we all have to get America’s eyes open to who this administration is. Not just Obama, but Axelrod, Emanuel, Jarrett – the whole lot of the puppetmasters steering Dr. Uptopia AND his ‘yes-man’ Congress.
By the by, someone here (or anywhere with a blog) find the now few-days-old audio/video quote by Obama on his “slow approach” to Afghanistan troop levels. I heard it on Fox News (via Sirius) on the road last night. Says he’s taking his time so that he doesn’t needlessly send our people into harm’s way and waste billions more of taxpayer money…The kicker is, this healthcare takeover is going RUIN the US health system for 100% of the people in an attempt to “fix it” for 10% of the people (harm’s way), and is going to cost TRILLIONS, not billions. Disconnected thinking? I think so. Lessee – worried about 40k troops/billions of dollars – so he takes his time. But he wanted a 10 trillion dollar healthcare destruction bill passed by this past August that’ll affect 300+ million…that’s some awefully bass ackwards thinking if you ask me.
And yes, I do think the healthcare system needs a lot of work (cost containment, tort reform, expanded coverage) – I just don’t think “this plan” is what is needed. This plan, IMNSHO is a mish-mash of new taxes, tax increases, and wealth redistribution.
November 14, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Just when you think its safe to take a quick on line look at the news (its Saturday, The Won is in Japan) what could possibly be incindiary or eventful?
Well…never let it be said that The LightBringer can’t muck up the simplist of no-brainer acts.
No American President bows. Ever. Until this one. In Japan, the “deep” bow Barry bestoyed is an acknowledgment of subservience. Look at the ‘degree’ of bow Akhito has…about 10 degrees…for both parties, with the handshake would say “we are equals.”. The deep bow says, oh “wow, it is beyond an honor to grovel before you…and by the way, America has always been wrong.”
And look at the Emperor’s facial expression…Akhito looks surprised, amused (do dieties LOL?) at the motion of the BoyPres.
November 14, 2009 at 2:50 pm
He is a complete fool.
Meanwhile, did you see the photo of Obama on Veteran’s Day? Everyone else has his/her hand over heart and Obama is standing there like a dumb jerk.
November 14, 2009 at 3:01 pm
He’s done that sort of thing before. There was a photo of him prior to the election staring off into space with his hands on his crotch while the anthem was being played. Everyone else had their hands over their heart looking at our flag.
This is another interesting photo: http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/obama-gives-another-crotch-salute-in-china/
Wassup with this? Oh, right. It’s just Barry being one of the boys.
November 14, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Hot Air found a little NYT history….from 1994….good read !
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/11/14/flashback-nyt-blasts-clinton-for-almost-bowing-to-akihito/
November 14, 2009 at 3:26 pm
To all those who never made it off those hell-hole islands in the Pacific in the early 1940s – I’m sorry. We let you down. Thanks to We the People dropping the ball, your sacrifice is now meaningless.
November 14, 2009 at 3:33 pm
our ever loving bowing potus lol…….
November 14, 2009 at 3:39 pm
My grandpa who I am named after was waiting to invade japan and he loves truman for dropping the bomb. My grandpa died this year, and he and Harry are having a real great time in heaven im sure.
November 14, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Has he actually apologized for the Hiroshima and Nagasake? I hadn’t read that, but don’t really question it.
Another item that I am curious about: WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Saturday urged Congress to hold off on any investigation of the Fort Hood rampage until federal law enforcement and military authorities have completed their probes into the shootings at the Texas Army post, which left 13 people dead.
What is that all about? What is about to be swept under the rug?
It has been two years since anyone started investigating Rangle….no investigation is quick….so my guess is obama is hoping to get the Health Scam and Cap and Trade and the Welcome to America all Illegal Aliens Immigration Bill” passed before we find out whatever it is he wants under lock and key.
November 14, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Joanne – I think that the intent is to tie up this investigation for a very long time so that no one from Congress can ever find out that it was indeed a terrorist attack. That way, Utopia can go on saying that this country has not suffered from a terrorist attack on his watch.
November 14, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I think I have it. The former junior senator from IL is really a closet radical right wing conservative. And he is doing all this stuff to piss off the right and middle so we will rise up in righteous rage and vote out the leftist thugs.
Yeah…that’s it. Gotta be it…I hope.
November 14, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Gentlemen, just wanted to thank you, as the daughter of a retired officer of Marines, the wife of a former Marine, and a former Marine myself, for capitalizing “Marine” – you’d be amazed at those who SHOULD know better {including some who passed through our ranks} who refuse to use a capital “M”
Semper Fi’
DM
November 14, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Can’t wait to see if when Zero wafts into Beijing he doesn’t take one up the ass for the Gipper when he meets Hu Jintao.
November 14, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I know why he didn’t bow to Queen Elizabeth. She’s a woman and he has no respect for women.
November 14, 2009 at 5:02 pm
You got it Modem….
and Muslims hate women.
November 14, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Gentlemen, Amen.
November 14, 2009 at 5:21 pm
bho the fraud looking for daddy in all the wrong places.
November 14, 2009 at 5:23 pm
LOVE IT! Well said and… YOU GO GIRL :-) What an embarassment of a president we have!
November 14, 2009 at 5:54 pm
your POTUS is a moron
November 14, 2009 at 6:20 pm
We did a family trip to Japan in 2007. Our Japanese tour guide was a young child during WW2. He told us that the people were starving, no one could question the Japanese leaders, and that his family credits the Americans with saving the life of his father, who was conscripted to fight in the war just before the bombs were dropped. The end of the war freed him, and the U.S. helped rebuild Japan and establish democracy.
November 14, 2009 at 6:48 pm
I don’t know what all the salute complaints are about. Dr. U feels with his crotch, not his heart. Its the natural place to put his hand.
November 14, 2009 at 8:39 pm
So says Larry Sinclair!
snark snark!
November 14, 2009 at 7:07 pm
The current POTUS has little knowledge of protocol and has few, if any, manners. There was a large gap in his social education somewhere along the line.
What is sad is there is a department in the WH where he could get a few lessons on protocol. There have been manuals written on the stuff.
In addition, the man lacks knowledge of appropriate flag etiquette. He also needs a few lessons on saluting. Both of these could be solved by having a Marine DI over to the WH for an afternoon of lessons.
November 14, 2009 at 9:11 pm
It sure sounds like you boys are becoming Conservatives…
If so, I’ll be the first one to welcome you to the “Right” Team.
November 14, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I am almost in tears. You are doing some of the greatest writing. And now this. My dear cousin, who was my surrogate brother, joined the Navy in 1943 when he was still a kid, lying about his age as many did. He ended up on an LSM, landing on all those island beaches from the Philippines right up the line. Had the bombs not been dropped (thank you, President Truman) he and his shipmates knew that a landing on the Japanese mainland was next. Instead he and all the other brave servicepeople who liberated the Japanese-occupied territories were able to come home. They brought their pain with them – his best buddy was blown up next to him as they went ashore on Okinawa – but they didn’t have to make war any more.
Thank you so much, Boys, for your patriotism, your intelligence, and your gutsy pursuit of the truth.
November 14, 2009 at 10:04 pm
your missing the recent photo of him with some military in which HE was the only one that did not have his hand over his heartwhen the national anthem played.
Right, bow to other leader but won’t put his hand over his heart for his own country’s anthem
Your missing the point of the trial in NYC. 1)that public outrage is meant to distract the outrage aimed at his Deathcare. If your mad about the trials, your NOT doing anything to get trainwreck healthcare killed. Shiny objects no longer work and he has to play with immediate life and death to get people distracted 2)He WANTS to give Islamist a world stage to preach their anti-American hate 3) He wants to blame Bush on a world wide forum.
November 14, 2009 at 11:14 pm
EricP, as one who LIVED in Mexico, and had the opportunity to visit Morocco, Prague & Plzen, Czech Republic several times, Graz, Austria for a week, & a few days in Munich – *I* found that if I was quiet, respectful, willing to TRY to understand – THAT was all it took, for EVERYONE I met to go out of their way to help me – the ‘ugly Americans’ are those fellow citizens who go to other sovereign countries and expect it to be “just like” ‘little Italy’ or ‘little Mexico’ or ‘Chinatown’ back wherever they came from …………………. and who are loud & obnoxious when they find the ‘REAL’ country isn’t anything like what they’re familiar with ………………… lo, this 5 years later, I’m certain that I could take you to places I visited, and not only would YOU receive a warm welcome, but the folks there would go out of their way for YOU – as long as you respected THEIR way of life ………………….
Semper Fi’
DM
November 14, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Palin would not bow.
November 15, 2009 at 1:50 am
It is part of the Japanese culture that when two men meet they bow to one another. The depth of the bow is based upon the status of the two men.
November 15, 2009 at 9:17 am
I lived in Japan. This bow by the President goes beyond what is required by an American when greeting an elder Japanese. Their etiquette requires you bow your head (not half your body) and you hold it until they bow back then you quickly lift your head. First of all this is a hand-shake turned bow…which…in Japan you don’t shake hands so this whole thing is messed up. Furthermore, the Japanese do not expect Americans to bow at all. They appreciate when you do but they do not expect it. He looks kinda stupid half bent over like that shaking hands and bowing at the same time. If he lived in Asia half his life wouldn’t you think he’d have a clue about this?
November 15, 2009 at 11:16 am
Even if he feels the need to bow (and I don’t see him changing this any time soon), the fact that he doesn’t maintain eye contact indicates that he doesn’t consider himself their equal – classic “beta male” behavior.
As far as I’m concerned, he can bow to whomever he chooses to – WHEN HE IS AN ORDINARY CITIZEN; not as the President of the United States.
November 15, 2009 at 11:22 am
I’m a Canadian and Harper did not bow. None of the other leaders bowed more than a nod of the head, but that could be because the Emperor is short.
About Obama showing respect, if true, this would mean that he’s showing respect to everyone except Americans. Also, if it’s a sign of respect in Japan, then let the Emperor bow and if you bow at all, match his moves. Apparently, he’s never watched The Karate Kid.