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Video: Obama bows to Japanese Emperor Akihito
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By now you have most likely heard the news of President Barack Obama breaking protocol and bowing before the Japanese Emperor Akihito. This is something that U.S. Presidents do not do. It is something that Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Kings of other countries do not do. So why he did it remains a mystery.
White house aides say Obama was simply following protocol; however, this is not protocol. It was not a simple bow to show respect, which would require a very slight tilt of the upper body. Instead, Barack Obama who stands 6' 2" practically bowed parallel to the floor, an obvious attempt to bow low enough to reach a subservient position toward the 5' 5" Emperor.
The Empress who stood approximately the same height, received a very meager bow in comparison as you can see in the video below. Both received a handshake, multiple nods and smiles as well. Thus it is obvious that the President felt compelled to make a distinction in his bow towards the Emperor, but why?
At this point we can only speculate. He also bowed before the King of Saudi Arabia - something U.S. Presidents do not do. So he has begun a very interesting new trend as our Commander in Chief. Something that people around the world all consider to be inappropriate, including the Japanese themselves. Click Here to see/read an article entitled "Obama bow to Emperor was inappropriate." (English translation of title)
Since Obama has openly declared to the world that the United States is not a Christian nation, perhaps he thought the Emperor and all practitioners of Buddhism and Shintoism - the indigenous religion of Japan, would be pleased with his gesture, regardless of how displeased the American people would be.
Video: President Obama's "Controversial" bow to Japan's Emperor
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