Do You Believe It?

megasat16

Ok! I was quite shocked to read the headline but seeing is believing. After watching the video on youtube, all I can whisper is "since when do our leaders start doing things like that"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed0Qp2vxkSQ

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BeRad

Isn't that considered a proper, and respectful way to greet a King?

obieone

LMAO! Is there ANYONE, in this administration, that has a CLUE, about diplomacy, and foreign customs?!
I'm not from IL, or HI, but NOW I know how Natalie Maines felt!

megasat16

BeRad wrote: »

Isn't that considered a proper, and respectful way to greet a King?

Of coz if you are the citizen of such Kingdom.

BeRad

Meh, seems to be blown out of proportion. I'd bet he just figured that bowing would simply be a courteous sign of respect and nothing more.

Odd that he did not bow to Queen Elizabeth as well though.

Regardless, big whoop. If this is your biggest complaint of the day, you are having a remarkably wonderful day! (you meaning ANYONE, not you specifically)

megasat16

Complains? NO! But it's a sad day indeed for the tragic news (shooting in NY) I heard since this morning. The video just adds a little blue to the mood.

phipiper10

Yeah not even worth mentioning....now who wants to talk about the impending phish tour?????:rolleyes:

MacLeod

Yeah, only subjects of the king are required to bow. Notice nobody else bowed to him. And yeah, why would be bow to the Queen? Shes a "typical white woman".

comfortablycurt

Ehh...I think this is what's known as "common courtesy". This doesn't worry me in the slightest bit.

cnh

I'm with Curt on this one. Relax...

It makes 'us' look insecure if we start worrying about a U.S. President exchanging normal greetings with a King. Do you think that a U.S. President is any less head of the free world as a result...because if you do that may mean you really do think the U.S. is no longer the major player on the world scene. And that is NOT a good thing.

There are 'politics' and then there is the office of the Presidency. Whether you like it or not this man occupies the highest office in the land. Is that office only a matter of being a Republican or a Democrat...or God forbid a liberal? Where is "O" L. when you need him?

cnh

BeRad

phipiper10 wrote: »

Yeah not even worth mentioning....now who wants to talk about the impending phish tour?????:rolleyes:

Personally, I have no desire to run at all, let alone like an antelope! I went to a Trey Anistasio (sp?) concert at UNLV. Watched The Roots open, then left before Trey came out!

brettw22

Holy cow are there people that **** about the most ignorant things........he did bow to the Queen in some video as well.......big whoop........heaven forbid we see other people (President or not) being respectful to others.......LOVE LOVE LOVE how 'that side' is fear based........it entertains me daily.......(true story)

nooshinjohn

protocol for the president of the Uniited States is to NEVER bow to a foreign potentate EVER. it is considered a sign of subservience and therefore weakness. It just gets worse and worse

brettw22

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Airplay355

Where's the book of protocols for being president? I wanna read the how to manual for fun...

comfortablycurt

Eh...I don't really care if that's "protocol"...apparently Obama doesn't either. I don't see it as a sign of "subservience" myself, but rather respect and courtesy.

I don't know why people get worked up about stuff like this. What's it supposed to mean? Obama is secretly being controlled by the Saudi's or something? I could think of a couple past leaders that were a whole lot more buddy buddy with the Saudi's than Obama.

megasat16

Well, I must be blind and ignorant to be bitching something since I don't know anything about common courtesy.

Well, I have the least of intent to be bitching and just wondering what other polkies think about the video and the title. It's apparent that most people doesn't care.

I believe common courtesy for exchanging pleasantries between country's leaders is a two way road and I must be blind to see the King bow back to our President or it must has been cut in the video purposely. I only saw a fair handshake. So, please fill me in.

wizzy

phipiper10 wrote: »

Yeah not even worth mentioning....now who wants to talk about the impending phish tour?????:rolleyes:

I went to Hampton, all three nights!

megasat16

comfortablycurt wrote: »

Eh...I don't really care if that's "protocol"...apparently Obama doesn't either. I don't see it as a sign of "subservience" myself, but rather respect and courtesy.

I don't know why people get worked up about stuff like this. What's it supposed to mean? Obama is secretly being controlled by the Saudi's or something? I could think of a couple past leaders that were a whole lot more buddy buddy with the Saudi's than Obama.

No Curt! I don't think that Obama is being controlled by Saudi or anything! It's not the point. I think courtesy is two way road and mutual respect is what I meant. It seems to me we didn't get back what we've given as far as courtesy is concerned.

Of coz, being friendly has nothing to do with courtesy on the instances such as this. Yep, I know! The President may not care as well as most folks here.

mrbigbluelight

What President Obama should have done, of course, was march right up to King Abdullah and extend his hand in friendship. When the King extended his hand in return, then President Obama would have had a perfect opportunity to rear back and kick him in the balls, followed by a power elbow to the back of King Abdullah's head.


Then, and only then, would the residents of the Middle East have truly understood and feared the power of the United States.


Or not.


Yeah, probably not. That avenue of thought, backed by $500+ million a month in military might, doesn't have seemed to have persuaded the Middle
East citizens to either fear or respect us.

megasat16

Mr. BBL,

You crack me up on this one. I certainly don't think this is a good way to show common courtesy either.

phipiper10

wizzy wrote: »

I went to Hampton, all three nights!

****! Followed closely at home sadly ....looking forward to summer. Returning to my youth!! Hoping for tour opener at Fenway rumor to become true.

Ok, now back to your regularly scheduled my president has a bigger dick than your king arguments..or however that goes.

megasat16

phipiper10 wrote: »

Ok, now back to your regularly scheduled my president has a bigger dick than your king arguments..or however that goes.

:eek: How do you even remotely come to that conclusion?

brettw22

megasat16 wrote: »

I believe common courtesy for exchanging pleasantries between country's leaders is a two way road and I must be blind to see the King bow back to our President or it must has been cut in the video purposely. I only saw a fair handshake. So, please fill me in.

Do WE even bow to our President? Do you at all realize how people are greeted differently (for instance) in Japan and wherever that King or Shiek are from? (Japan mutual bow, not so much in the other one)

nooshinjohn

Thanks to his years of Muslim schooling as a child in Indonesia (from 1967-1971 he lived there with his mother and Indonesian step father, who was like his Kenyan sire, of the Islamic faith), Obama is certainly aware of and sensitive to the special religious status and legitimacy claimed by the Saudi Monarch "as guardian of Mecca and Medina, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and of the Islamic faith." While we citizens of the American republic mull over the possible insult to the sovereignty and republican mores of the people Obama is supposed to represent, his gesture of religious fealty sends an unmistakable message to Muslim millions around the world. Could it be the proverbial wink that a con artist uses to communicate his real identity to those who are in on the sting? Just another episode that, taken by itself, may mean nothing. But in the context of all we know, and ominously don't know, about the background and policies of the present occupant of the White House, it is as Arsenio Hall used to say, one of those "things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm."


Obama's deep lowly bow to the Muslim King was one of a subservient Sunni subject. Protocol does not require any bow, no other US president ever bowed to this king. The majority of Muslims in North Africa (Darfur) are Sunni Muslims as was B.O.'s Kenyan father. Notice the Saudi King did not return the bow, this was not mutual. The correct protocol with the Saudi King would have been to mutually kiss both cheeks and briefly grasp (shake) both hands as equals

The first paragraph is a quote comes from Alan Keyes, a former ambasador under Ronald Reagan, I forget to which country. The second comes from ana anonymous blogger on a different forum, however both are spot on in what this symbolism represents. To the terrorists that attacked us on sept 11th, it would appear we just surrendered...

megasat16

brettw22 wrote: »

Do WE even bow to our President? Do you at all realize how people are greeted differently (for instance) in Japan and wherever that King or Shiek are from? (Japan mutual bow, not so much in the other one)

I've been to many parts of the world such as Asia (especially in Asia, paying respect or making greeting is very different from country to country and Japanese mutual bow is being one but many limitations does exist in Japanese traditions) and most of the Western Countries. It would be a real under statement if I said I know how people are greeted in most parts of the world if not all and I am quite familiar with many customs and traditions and gestures.

I have respect for our President even though I may not have voted for him. I respect him coz he is the leader of our nation. I don't know how others feel so I can't speak for all. I'll speak for myself and yes, I will salute the President (and bow even though bowing is not the common practice for us to greet the president). But of coz, how I feel about what he is doing and how he is leading us is another story.

Edit : If I visit Japan, I would not Bow Japanese King the way most Japanese do since I am not his Subject. However, I would lower my head a bit to acknowledge and shows my respect to Japanese Culture and friends.

But meeting Japanese friends for formal dinner, I will bow the hosts and exchanges the bows as the Customs.

Likewise, if I visit Thailand, I will not put my hands together to worship the Thai King as the Thais did but will stop and silent when the Thai King passes the crowd, etc.

I'll show respect to the Thai Friends by not making or bad mouthing about their King but I can't show the same respect the Thais offers to the Royal family. I guess it makes sense, no?

mrbigbluelight

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Could it be the proverbial wink that a con artist uses to communicate his real identity to those who are in on the sting?

I don't think so. I watched the video very closely several times, and the "secret code" would involve President Obama bowing, than urinating in his pants, and breaking out into a soft shoe dance routine.

nooshinjohn wrote: »

The correct protocol with the Saudi King would have been to mutually kiss both cheeks and briefly grasp (shake) both hands as equals

Oh, sure ..... than the whole Saudi Kingdom would think we're all just a nation of ****, and then they'd come over here in their Saudi boats and attack our women and children because they'd know we're all just a bunch of defenseless cheek-kissing prancing nancys !!!
You know that cheek kissing stuff is the kind of **** stuff they do over in France, don't you ? (and also in areas of eastern Canada). You don't want a system like they have in France, do you ? I guess you do ....... COMRADE !!!

nooshinjohn wrote: »

To the terrorists that attacked us on sept 11th, it would appear we just surrendered...

I never thought of it that way ! Our only certain hope for recovery is for
former President Bush, VP Cheney, and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld to arrange a meeting with the Arab leaders, then charge into that meeting waving the American flag while singing the Star Spangled Banner, and then spear the Arab leaders in the guts with their brass-eagle topped flag standards !!!!

By gawd, that's our only hope for salvation from this debacle !!!



..... you know ..... I think I've used up an entire year's supply of snide and cynicism in one stellar post.

brettw22

The actual fear levels I've heard expressed by people about Obama are laughable to me....grown adults who would actually piss themselves just to show how much they're afraid of him being in office......

To get that fearful because the 'other party' is in office is tragic.....

Jstas

Um, I could be mistaken but I watched the video several times and Obama grabbed the king's hand in a fashion as to kiss it. The one dude is standing in the way but it honestly seems like he is kissing the ring of the king.

Whatever reason for the bow and possible kiss, I don't think it was appropriate.

BlueFox

brettw22 wrote: »

Holy cow are there people that **** about the most ignorant things........he did bow to the Queen in some video as well.......big whoop........heaven forbid we see other people (President or not) being respectful to others.......LOVE LOVE LOVE how 'that side' is fear based........it entertains me daily.......(true story)

It’s just "The Stupid People" complaining because they lost, and they know on a subconscious level their moronic ideology is on the trash heap of history. And that is my first, and last (I hope), political comment on this forum.

Sherardp

megasat16 wrote: »

Edit : If I visit Japan, I would not Bow Japanese King the way most Japanese do since I am not his Subject. However, I would lower my head a bit to acknowledge and shows my respect to Japanese Culture and friends.

But meeting Japanese friends for formal dinner, I will bow the hosts and exchanges the bows as the Customs.

If you ever visit Japan, then you will bow to me...................HAHAHAHAHA!!!. Then we can eat great Sushi and go to wonderful massage parlors, have Orion beers and toast to Happy Endings.