Translated comments on President Obama's bow from Japanese blogs and open forums

[ClarkUSA]

In response to some negative commentary here at DU, I thought I'd post this enlightening story from the Japan Headlines Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-16352-Japan-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m11d15-Japans-reaction-to-Obama-bowing-before-the-Emperor

While the Japanese media has largely avoided commenting on the incident, numerous comments have been made on Japanese blogs and open forums. The general comments have been rather different in tone from that of American counterparts. Here are some select comments made on several sites:



“What a bow!”

“Such a deep bow from Obama, what a fine guy.”

“I’m surprised he bowed. He’s really trying hard to meet the Japanese way!”

“President Obama is a top-class person, isn’t he? Amazing!”

“The Emperor is giving a nice smile!”

“Is the Japanese Emperor really that special?”

“The Emperor or the Pope, the President or the Prime Minister, whoever is greater is not something that I think can be decided objectively.”

“I laughed because it was a much better bow than I had imagined.”

“Obama’s huge!”

“Obama has more of a true Japanese heart than most Japanese do.”

I hope that this story enlightens naysayers here about our President and the great job he's doing representing this country. :)

[Schema Thing]

1. OMG, he's a secret Japanese Muslin!

[HopeOverFear]

4. LOL

[Drunken Irishman]

5. He's going to sell us off to Beijing! And then we'll be forced to watch Korean horror movies.

Along with eating egg rolls!

:crazy:

[DavidDvorkin]

6. I love egg rolls! And Korean actresses.

So I'm okay with that.

[emulatorloo]

16. He is going to force General Motors to manufacture Korean and Japanese cars1111!!!

[Enthusiast]

78. Hey!

That might not be such a bad idea!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

9. a real oriental silk cotton blend!

[elehhhhna]

14. LOLOL

[Ikonoklast]

25. I wonder what his thread count is.

Must be dreamy to sleep on.

[Skinner]

56. LOL

:thumbsup:

[liberal N proud]

67. Rofl

:rofl:

[whistler162]

74. No he is a......

secret asiaman.... cue Johnny Rivers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iaR3WO71j4

[Enthusiast]

77. That's the last straw!

Schema Thing you're getting a beatin'. :spank: :rofl:

[NYCGirl]

2. I love the "top-class" person quote. NT

[Cha]

3. President Obama's heart

is as big as the Universe and when he does something he puts his whole heart into it..as in when he was so complimented on the way he saluted at Dover Air Force Base.

He's not or ever has been in the military but that didn't stop him from learning how to respect the Soldiers through many ways..not just the salute.

Thank you for these reactions from the Japanese people, Clark. We had a poster last night whose Japanese wife thought it was a respectful bow, too.

[ClarkUSA]

10. Yes, it is and he has.

You're welcome, Cha. I thought it was time for a reality check. :fistbump:

<<We had a poster last night whose Japanese wife thought it was a respectful bow, too.>>

Yes, I saw Bonobo's excellent comments and smackdowns to the usual bitter haters, one of whom actually negatively critiqued the Emperor's bow!
:rofl:

jenmito's husband is Japanese as well, isn't he? And he thought the Pres was cool with it. It's ridiculous of some idiots to diss the Prez over this, but there ya go. I have Japanese next-door neighbors who said it was a "very correct" bow, too. It's a shame so many Americans can be so ignorant, eh?

[Cha]

11. Thanks for telling

me about the last two confirmations that President Obama wasn't "degrading" himself.

[ClarkUSA]

23. lol! Did someone actually say that President Obama was "degrading" himself?

:rofl:

[Cha]

26. Oh you know it..

Those whacky so-called left wingers.

[AsahinaKimi]

31. I had already posted this in another part of GD

But not as a topic. His bow was most respectful, coming from my eye, as a Japanese Korean American. And.. by the way, I love Korean Horror movies, Japanese Horror movies, As well as Jdorama, Kdrama, movies from Asia, and especially Asian Music.


Kuraku-san domo arigatou gozaimashita, thanks for this.

[ClarkUSA]

50. Ohayou, AsahinaKimi

Thank you for your informed comment on Pres. Obama's bow. I'm glad that you brought this information to GD. I made it a topic here due to the unpleasantly ignorant OPs and posts that preceded this OP. Please come to GDP and reply more often here.

I love Japanese horror movies, too. In fact, this used to be my signature until I changed to a smaller icon....




:fistbump:

[NBachers]

59. AsahinaKimi has spoken. And she knows what she's talkin' 'bout

Oooooh no
They say he's got to go
Oh No - Obama!

On another unrelated subject, I've become obsessed with Aloha Joe Hawaiian Music Radio: http://www.alohajoe.com/

[Indenturedebtor]

73. Japanese horror movies should be illegal

They're creepy in a way that might just open a gateway to hell. :hide:

[Jennicut]

12. He is a class act and the Japanese peope appreciated it.

[roguevalley]

46. we're just not used to a global sensibility. good on him.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

65. He seems very Buddhist to me

Compassion, Wisdom, Courage, Life Force.

Applied in actual reality, with a vision to truly relieve suffering.

Pretty awesome!

[icnorth]

7. Class act Mr. President...

comfortable in identifying with and acknowledging someone elses culture and etiquette.

[alsame]

8. Thank you for this. Anyone who thinks it was a

faux pas or mistake doesn't understand our President.

[ClarkUSA]

15. You're very welcome. And you're right, lots of folks don't seem to understand our President.

So it's up to those of us who do to speak truth to power. :)

[msallied]

13. To see so many ignorant people here sounding like Rush Limbaugh

is embarrassing. I come here to avoid the dittoheads who don't understand the importance of respecting the cultures of other countries. I'm thankful to have President who is so thoughtful about such things.

[Cha]

19. That's why I come here

too and get so mad when the dittos have wormed their way in.

[euphoria12leo]

54. I came here to get away from the ditto heads

and noticed alot of haters have been here for awhile with +1,000 comments. Surprised they lasted so long but I'm not familiar enough with the
forum to understand why they weren't kicked off.

:banghead:

[ginnyinWI]

20. and if he had not bowed--

just think of the noise we'd be hearing from the right.

"Arrogant! See, we told you he was arrogant!"

"Putting on airs, thinks he doesn't have to follow protocol!!"

"He is so much worse at international affairs than _____________________ (fill in Republican President of choice).

"He's an elitist, that's what he is. Why didn't he just stay home?"

we know they would.

[cognoscere]

61. Well of course they would.

What else can you expect from a group who only looks for the negative? Here's what we can expect next week. Obama goes to Chicago for Thanksgiving...or not. If he goes, the right says, "Hey, why didn't he stay in DC and get some extra work done?" If he doesn't go, they say, "Hey, is he too good to go back home for the holidays?"

[xxqqqzme]

71. You're right, of course.

We might as well just accept that, no matter what Obama does, how he does it, what he says or how he says it, he will be criticized by the racist rabid rong. We just need to be ready w/ the rapid response

[ClarkUSA]

22. Yes, it's a shame. Fortunately, there are many of us who appreciate our President's efforts abroad.

And at home. :toast:

[goclark]

36. The President is first class

The problem that I see at DU is that after 8 years of Bush,some are shell shocked and are so worried that the Republicans will say this is a bad thing for our President to do.

Of course they will say that ~ that is what Bullies do.

[emulatorloo]

17. Nice. . .thanks for posting n/t

[dhpgetsit]

18. Obama does not want to appear arrogant.

This is an example of why he won a Nobel Peace Prize in the first year of his presidency.

[ClarkUSA]

51. Good points.

He's the first president in my lifetime whose private and public behavior has made me proud.

[annabanana]

21. BIG k&r. . . . .n/t

[opihimoimoi]

24. Waait till he eats natto and sashimi w wasabi using chop sticks

[Cha]

28. Maybe some

sake or heaven forbid..a Japanese cerveza!

[nemo137]

29. Actually, Sapporo beer tastes like what Budwiser is trying to be.

Nothing like a nice, cold Sapporo lager when you're grilling out. :9

[Cha]

30. That's what I'm talkin'

about! :toast:

[nemo137]

38. I'm also pretty sure you can't sell Bud or Miller as "beer" in Japan.

Not enough malted barley, too much rice and corn.

But, for real, Sapporo might be my favorite beer that's not 100% barley malt. It's also the beer that tastes best ice cold. When an American macrobrewery puts out a beer that good, I'll jump for joy.

[Cha]

43. I'll drink

to that:beer::D

[GoCubsGo]

58. Remember, he grew up in Hawaii

I'm sure he's had his fill of Spam sushi, so I think he'll survive natto and sashimi w/ wasabi. ;-)

[NoQuarter]

68. ...and doesn't puke in the PM's lap. eom

[patrice]

27. Some people don't understand the difference between a strong self-secure person bowing and

and a bow made by a weak insecure person. The first is an honor recognizing peers. The other is toadying flattery.

When you know what you are about, there is a very intimate, very private, but very Real victory in co-operation.

[AsahinaKimi]

honto desu!

This is very true, arigatou

[ClarkUSA]

52. Exactly. Too many here at DU haven't a clue or they are only to glad to attack our Prez.

The rest of us are not cultural ignorami nor are we such nationalistic chauvanists that we cannot appreciate a President showing respect to our global partners' cultural protocol.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Cha]

34. Thanks for

Kicking it GrovelBot.:)

[jenmito]

33. K&R. Funny how none of the haters are posting on this thread, isn't it?

I guess they prefer to stick with their own ignorant ideas with a closed mind.

[CakeGrrl]

37. Positivity acts like repellent?

That's unfortunate.

[jenmito]

40. It sure seems that way!

Yes, it is.

[ClarkUSA]

47. Yeah, all the know-it-all DU bowing experts who dissed our Prez should apologize.

But we know their Code of Bitter Hatred forbids acting like reasonable and mature adults, so I'm not surprised that they haven't.

[jenmito]

70. They should, but they won't.

They, like freepers, have no interest in the facts.

[firedupdem]

35. Rec'd! n/t

[HughMoran]

39. Good stuff

Not that this story is anything less than silly, but I it's nice to hear the voices of "real people" versus us responding to the teabaggers (for whatever reason.)

[davidpdx]

41. Great to hear he did so well in Japan

He's headed here to Korea next and I'm sure he'll be a hit here. I'm just sorry I can't go out to the airport to great him as I have to work that day.

[Onlooker]

42. The bow was great

It's so easy to get the right wing all riled up with trivia. I think Obama bowed knowing that the right wing would show it's lack of priorities my trying to turn it into a big issue. Obama played them nicely with that bow.

[NBachers]

57. Actually, I think it was a half-moon to the reich wing

[Cha]

80. You'd be wrong.

[Hekate]

44. Thank you for that! I thought maybe the bow was a little too low, but apparently he struck...

... just the right note with the Japanese people, and that is what counts.

Hekate

[Monk06]

45. Having now seen the vid that was a perfectly acceptable and well executed greeting and if

you look closely replied with an equally acceptable
short bow of the head. So much for the, "President bows
to no monarch unless they bow back", crowd

[reggie the dog]

48. Here in France most people I talk to

do not understand what his wrong with bowing in Japan as that is what Japanese people do. This is not even a story on this side of the Atlantic

[geek tragedy]

49. Because there aren't Teabaggers in Canada. nt

[fasttense]

53. I honestly think President Obama's bow was more an act of

his humility than an act displaying submission. It merely indicates that President Obama is NOT the arrogant, swaggering, idiot that was our last President.

[cleverusername]

55. Love the huge comment--LOL!

"Obama's huge!" LOL! Love that comment. He is so much taller than the emperor. I'm small, too. It's always a little awkward when there's a big disparity in height.

[appleannie1]

60. It sure beats the German thoughts on an unwanted backrub or English thoughts on talking with an open

mouth while eating, spitting bits of food all over their PM.

[Phx_Dem]

62. I think he was born in Japan.

I previously thought he was born in Kenya, but now I'm pretty sure he's Japanese.

:rofl:

Being respectful to leaders in their own country is such a disgrace. It's always better to give them the perverbial "bird" by ignoring long-standing customs and traditions of the country you're visiting. You know, like Dick Cheney always did.

[cleverusername]

63. Crazed freepers break out protractor

Some crazed freepers were actually using a protractor to measure the bow. :crazy:

[TwilightGardener]

64. President Obama is a very genuine and gracious man, and very secure in his role--he doesn't succumb

to any expectation to act like an arrogant ass to prove he's a good 'Murkan. I'm proud of him.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

66. Wonderful antidote to the ignorant, ugly amerikan comments on the webz

I needed these!


:)

[LSK]

69. Thom Hartmann just read this post on air n/t

[Cha]

79. That's

coolB-)

[Politicub]

72. I'm avoiding DU until this stupid bow "outrage" stops

When we look back, posts complaining about the bow, the exact degree at which President Obama was to properly lean, the proper velocity of the pivot at the waist, and the posts that describe the bow as a harbinger of pestilence and locust plagues will be seen as some of the most ridiculous discussions EVER on DU.

I've read some of the complaints about it, in hopes of understanding what has everyone worked into a frothy frenzy here. And, I've concluded that indeed, many of you have WAY too much time on your hands. I often post to inane threads, too, and I'm also guilty of starting them. But come on... 50 OPs a day about this is over the top.

And try as I might, I can't see any reason to care or get worked up. Not one.

So I've decided to avoid DU for a few days in hope that the conversation about the bow will be supplanted by something really important, like the color of our President's tie at the nest presser or the even number of rows in the organic garden at the WH as opposed to there being an odd number.

[badgerpup]

75. oh for crying out loud...

:banghead:

I saw some of the hissy-fits and drawers-pissing hysterics and recriminations with which Freeperville was entertaining itself...

Japan is not a touchy-feely hands-on culture in formal situations. The bow not only takes the place of a handshake, it is an extremely nuanced social grace.
This I was told by a guy born and raised in Japan, so he probably has a pretty good handle on how it works.
He taught me the correct way to bow. It really delighted his parents when they came from Japan to watch him graduate to be greeted both courteously and correctly by an uncouth American...

We are shockingly rude as a culture.

[smoogatz]

76. Makes you long for the good old days

when American presidents greeted Japanese dignitaries by vomiting in their laps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnOnDatqENo

Also, let's not forget the class act that is Dick Cheney, shown here at the Auschwitz memorial:



Yeah, this business of being polite to other world leaders is just SO embarrassing.