American Exceptionalism – Cancelled
Commentary by Daniel Mallock
This deep bow to the Emperor of Japan by the President of the United States is a display of deep respect in Japanese culture, but is completely inappropriate.
Obama’s purpose appears to be the total opposite of Reagan’s; the destruction of the concept of American exceptionalism and power. The Obama nightmare presidency is a seachange moment in American history as we have never had an anti-American in the White House prior to this.
Every action of sycophancy and subservience to foreign leaders that Obama does plays well in the liberal countries of Europe but is a total disaster here at home. The American President does not owe displays of deference to the Saudi king, the Emperor of Japan, nor any foreign leader; American presidents prior to the current resident of the White House interacted with foreign leaders as co-equals. Obama’s apparent purpose is the diminishment of the United States at home and abroad; it’s an extraordinary and shocking thing to see as it is unprecedented in our history.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/11/obama-emperor-akihito-japan.html
The liberals in Europe who love this debasement of the United States even as we support and protect them do not seem to grasp that the EU itself exists solely because of American military power. If there were no American military protections for Western Europe there could not be a massive welfare state there.
The diminishment of the United States at home and abroad can only have disastrous consequences for the world. What this means is that there is no defender of freedom any longer. Former presidents in recent memory have spoken of “the American century.” There is no longer discussion of such things.
This is nothing short of a purposeful diminishment of US power and prestige so that supranational organizations like the UN can lead in international affairs. It is irrelevant to Obama and his sycophant supporters that none of the organizations function correctly or are friendly to the United States.
Bowing to the Emperor of Japan is a deep insult to the living veterans of WW2 and to the memory of our fallen heroes of that war. We have previously called the WW2 generation “the greatest generation”. Now, they are apparently something very much more commonplace, just another set of heroes for our supranationalist president to insult and negate.
I challenge any reader of this site to refute this argument, and provide an alternative explanation for our current situation. I suspect that all I will receive is a great silence, similar to the great silence of the “moderate Muslim” community in response to the jihad attack/massacre at Fort Hood.
(posted by Atlas Shrugs)
Note that the Emperor does not reciprocate and bow to Obama, this is loss of face for Obama and the United States because Obama is the president. I’d think that Obama is entirely ignorant of this most likely unintentional slight on the part of the powerless Emperor of Japan. I would think that because protocol is so important in Japanese culture they never expected Obama to deeply bow to the Emperor, or even to bow at all.
In addition, the correct process of bowing in Japan is to put both hands at your sides then bow at the waste and keep eye contact with the person to whom you are bowing. Shaking hands and simultaneously bowing is an error of etiquette on the part of Mr. Obama.
I reply neither as liberal nor democrat, nor indeed conservative, but as a Brit and a well-travelled European on these shores for nigh on 14 years, with a broad view and experience of both sides of the fence, throughout the world.
This deep bow is – very appropriately – a sign of respect for another person, another culture – regardless of friend or foe. Whatever you want to do to each other in America, do it – but when in Rome … BO did not defer, he didn’t give anything up, and neither did he display the arrogance that this post would seemingly prefer is portrayed to the rest of the world. When foreign leaders come to the US, they do not bow, they do not kiss hands, they shake the hand – for that is the American custom, the American sign of respect. You know it would be different if there were another official greeting in place. The expectancy of respect around the world is true regardless of who you are – it’s a sign of being a gentleman (or a lady in other cases), a portrayal of etiquette, the sign of a true leader (and I do not refer to BO or anyone specifically here).
If we want to discuss disrespect, Michelle Obama was inappropriate, for one does not do to the Queen of England such that she did and is repeated in the article – that is a sign of disrespect, of ignorance of international etiquette. BO’s purpose, however, be what it may, is far from unprecedented. The previous occupant of the White House achieved significant effort in the “diminishment of the United States at home and abroad”. I believe this not to be intentional but more through ignorance, as per Michelle Obama. BO has some work to do to restore the respect of the US around the world, and that is a fine line to walk with that on one side and freeworld leadership on the other. Regardless of what Americans may think about George Bush, the truth for the rest of the world sits outside these shores, and I have experienced it in more than my own country.
It is also inappropriate to continue saying that, without the US, there would be no Europe. Are we forever going to hear this as a defence for right wing or left wing views or is the world going to move on? I absolutely acknowledge history, but I’m not going to cower to the power of something that has previously happened, that I can do nothing about, and has so oft been acknowledged before. Let it go, move on – deal with the present for we cannot change the past.
It really is pointless talking about Europeans existing because of the US – when one considers that the US exists because of Europeans. Should we consider the ancestry of 20% German or the volume of Irish and Italian and the impact of those ancestors on America? No – move on – we are who we are and that requires respect for others. For what it’s worth, Britain just a couple of years ago finally paid off the monetary debt that the US lumbered it with for “talking care of business” during WWII. As with so many things over here, it too often comes down to hard cash.
The article presented in the LA times was talking just for the sake of talking, and BO may not be the saviour so many had hoped for (and that happens to also be my personal belief) – but don’t let’s get our knickers in a twist over something such as a display of good manners.
Watching the video, you see OB bobbing like he is bobbing for apples. He bowed at least 10 times, in little bobbing motions.The Emperor looks like he cannot believe his eyes, so does the Empress.
My take on this, other than the ones people have already said, is that OB is very unsure of himself–as well he may be! His actions define the word “sycophant”.
What a shame this man is our president, and that he was elected mainly by people who never even tried to see what he stood for and who he was. It was all out there, not hard to find.
How wonderful to have had a really good black president! That would have spoken to the world of America’s true character. I guess that will have to wait for another day–if we can continue to be a free country.