Obama understands that when in another country, you follow the traditions. Generally, you don't snub leaders when you wish anyone to take your seriously or to seek their support now or in the future. All you do is make an entire country feel slighted. Did our loud protests against Chinese human rights have an effect? Seriously? After his wife's gaffe with the Queen of England, he was not about to go 0 for 2.
The Japanese bow to each other all the time. It is just a tradition, not something that has any present time importance...just like bowing to the Saudi King out of tradition has no real importance for Obama other than honoring different traditions... Based on the hysteria of the Obamanoids regarding Obama's actions, it must mean that Bush was bowing to the God of Shinto religion because he actually worships the God of Shinto religion...and not Jesus Christ. Bush âWorshipâ at Shinto Temple Troubles Christians in Japan and U.S. Saturday, February 23, 2002 (12:00 am) By Mark Ellis Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service ORANGE, CALIFORNIA (ANS) -- When President Bush entered the ornately beautiful Shinto Temple erected to house the spirits of the late Emperor Meiji he clapped once and bowed deeply, following the common etiquette of worship at such shrines. At the same time, the Prime Minister of Japan was left sitting in the carâforbidden from entering the shrine by a postwar constitution written by the U.S. âThe Prime Minister of Japan is forbidden by their constitution from even participating in the Shinto religion because itâs emperor worship that led to World War II,â says Dr. Robert Morey, author of over 40 books dealing with false religions, cults and philosophies, and founder of the California Institute of Apologetics. âSo the Prime Minister stayed in the limo while Bush and his wife went into the temple and clapped to awaken the demon and then bowed in worship and signed the book of worship,â says Dr. Morey, referring to the Bush temple visit made February 18 as part of his Asia tour. Emperor Meiji ruled Japan from 1850-1914, during its transformation from feudalism to modernity. He set Japan on a course toward World War II by promoting a revitalized Shintoism that favored emperor worship and the removal of foreign influences from Japan. âIt was an act of idolatry,â says Kiyomasa Akashi, with Logos Ministries in Tokyo. âEven worse, it was an official, public idol worship,â Akashi says. âHe did bow before the shrine where the Meiji Emperor is enshrined as a god.â Sadly, many Japanese and Korean Christians were severely persecuted because they refused to participate in Shinto rituals, which involved bowing down and worshipping the emperor and other false gods. âJapanese Christians are furious,â Dr. Morey says. âThey were killed because they wouldnât bow before the image of the emperor,â he says. âKorean Christians had their hands chopped off because they wouldnât bow and worship the emperor,â he adds. Korea was ruled as a colony of Japan between 1910-1945. âTheir descendants see the Bushes making a mockery of those who, like Daniel and his three friends, refused to bow before a heathen idol.â For the most part, American Christians who admire President Bush hope and believe he acted innocently, out of respect for local customs and traditions. But Japanese Christian leaders do not take it lightly. âAccording to the Shinto ritual, clapping hands and bows are the set of Shinto style of worship,â says Rev. Isaac Ishiguro, of the historic Mino Mission in Japan. âIn Japan all the media reported, âBush Sanpaied at Meiji shrine.ââ he says. âThe verb âSanpaiâ in Japanese means, sanâvisit or go, and paiâworship.â The Japanese news media clearly reported Bushâs âworship,â in direct contrast to Prime Minister Koizumiâs restraint. Before Bush left he signed a special bookâwhich appears to be more than just a registry. âIf you sign the book, it means you actually did worship the god, not simply visit the site,â says Akashi. âThe record remains in the shrine for a long period of time.â Some see Shintoism as a quaint cultural tradition, but others disagree. âShinto has existed for a long time of history,â says Akashi, âbut itâs not a culture nor tradition of the Japanese peopleâitâs a religion and a cult.â âBecause of an ultra-long recession of the Japanese economy, the government is swiftly reviving the old Shinto nationalism in order to gain national pride,â Akashi adds. âKids in public elementary and high schools as well as teachers are now being forced to sing Kimigayo (âPraise Song of the Emperorâ) and salute the Hinomaru flag (to the sun goddess Amateratsu) at graduation ceremonies.â âChristian leaders and missionaries in Japan sent letters of warning and petition to the White House and the U. S. Embassy,â says Akashi, which apparently were unheeded. The White House declined to comment on this story. A State Department official said President Bush merely went to pay his respects and that he "was not involved in any religious activities, ceremonies or rites." The official noted that Presidents Carter and Reagan visited the same shrine. In the aftermath of September 11, amid Bushâs efforts to show respect for other faithsâparticularly Islam, some see a drift toward universalism, which denies the exclusiveness of Christianity. Another example was Bushâs mosque visit immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Center. âHe used the code word when he went to worship in the mosque,â Dr. Morey says. âHe said, âI worship with you the universal God.ââ Many believers would find it difficult to believe President Bush is drifting into universalism, which blurs the distinction between the God of the Bible and the Allah of Islam. In universalism, âAll the gods of all the religions are masks on Popsicle sticks that he puts in front of his face,â Dr. Morey says. âSo it doesnât matter if youâre worshipping Shiva with the Hindus or Jehovah with the Jews or Jesus or Allah.â âSince the 1970s, the locus of universalism has been the plurality of religions,â according to Donald Dunavant, Ph.D., with the Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. âAll exclusive language, in which truth claims are asserted about the uniqueness of Christâ¦is regarded as arrogant and divisive in relationship to other faiths,â he adds. âUniversalism promotes dialogue with other faiths that both acknowledges their legitimacy and affirms that love embraces all peoples of all times.â Such thinking seems to dominate popular culture. âThe politically correct people are in charge of the public school systems, the universities, and the media,â Dr. Morey says. âThey have brainwashed President Bush to believe all religions worship the same universal God.â âThatâs why he has no difficulty worshipping in a mosque with the Muslims or in a Shinto temple in Japan,â Dr Morey adds. Many believers will hope Dr. Moreyâs concerns and the fears of Japanese Christians are unfounded, as President Bush continues to live out his Christian faith in a pluralistic society. Hmmmm....then again, perhaps it was the Shinto God that told Bush to invade Iraq.
Obama also kisses saudi King's hand He has no shame whatso everrrrrrr http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5XXL5IrvVA Take a good look, Obama bows but Saudi King does not Now how does that relate to Japanese people's bowing to each other? Obama acts like a slave or servant of some sort Simple as that
From what I can see, he did bow (custom some say?), but from the Saudi king's arm angle vs the angle of Obama's back when he bows, it looks like Obama would have to have a 2-foot long neck to reach down far enough to kiss the king's hand. Some of this could just be protocol I guess. Like, supposedly it is bad form to show the bottom of your foot to others in the arab M.E. countries - these guys are probably all briefed on stuff like protocol/customs. Sarkozy's wife curtsied to the q.o.e. when introduced, so it doesn't look like a biggie. The strange thing I find was the fascination of europeans, as evidenced in that auditorium full of french and german people listening to Obama speak. Let's face it, how many people in the U.S. would go fill an auditorium to listen to Sarkozy or Merkle?...
Not many but I would be interested to see sarkozy and merkel speak. Of course, the golden era was Chirac, Schroeder and Zapatera.
Definitely bad form. One evening, we had a fairly large staff get-together outdoors. We were all seated on the carpeted grounds and I happened to have my legs crossed so that the bottom of my shoes faced outward in either direction. One of my Saudi colleagues asked me to please not show him the soles of my shoes. Also, meals are traditionally eaten without flatware. Not formal meals, but the old-fashioned traditional/casual ones. And so, on the few occasions I joined in, we would eat lamb and ghee-soaked white rice with our hands. (Ghee is clarified butter.) Actually, hand, since it is not customary to use your left hand. I learned that one at the office, when my co-workers were laughing as we ate lunch together and I used both hands that first time. I was advised that the left hand is used for "other purposes." (Think bathroom.) I responded by telling them that I wash my hands after using the facilities, so I managed to get my own laugh in as well. Yes, there are all kinds of customs around the world, and it makes little sense not to observe them when seeking familiarity and cooperation. And although Obama and the Saudi king were on neutral soil, culturally speaking, the king was the elder and Obama did the right thing by showing courtesy and deference customary to the king. As I noted earlier, the Saudis are very big on outward displays of respect. I think Obama scored points on that one. Not a touchdown or home run, but a toehold.