by fortbuckley on Nov.15, 2009, under Uncategorized
The Stars And Stripes Is De Facto Bowed Before An Earthly King—Why?
This week, President Obama bowed deeply and purposefully before Japanese Emperor Akihito when greeting him on official duties. Why do this, when it flies in the face of a proud American tradition? That tradition: America does not bow before earthly kings.
While other countries often dip their flags as a sign of respect, Americans do not. As an American of Irish heritage, I proudly credit Irish-Americans with making this tradition prominent.
In the 1908 Olympics in London, American athletes of Irish ancestry “urged” the flag bearer not to dip the Stars and Stripes in the Games’ opening parade, as the US team passed by the British royal family. (According to a PBS documentary on the Irish experience in America, narrated by actor Aiden Quinn, some of the Irish American athletes promised the flag bearer that, if he did dip the flag, he’d be in the hospital before nightfall). The flag bearer was convinced, and the Stars and Stripes stood tall and proud as the American team walked by the King of England.
As the story goes, there was an uproar. In response, Martin Sheridan, US team captain (and a native of County Mayo) reportedly said that the flag of the United States “bows before no earthly king.” Historians dispute whether Sheridan really said this…but neverthless, it’s now part of our tradition. To many Americans, it remains a symbol of national pride that the Stars and Stripes is never dipped to foreign powers.
Well, the President of the United States, when he’s representing our country in his offical duties, IS the Stars and Stripes. Both he and it are symbols of our nation—its heritage, values, traditions and pride.
Our President is the guardian of those traditions and that spirit, not their owner. They are not his to do with as he pleases.
I’m eager to hear his explanation for this, his SECOND bow before an earthly king. Surely this wasn’t carelessness. He must have had a purpose.
I’m also eager to see how American media reacts. If, as I suspect, they yawn indifferently, it won’t reflect favorably on them. Many conservatives think that America’s media community view itself more as residents of a global community, instead of citizens of the United States. I hope that perception is wrong—let’s see what the editorial pages have to say this week.
FoxNews photo of President Obama bowing to Japanese emperor: http://whitehouse.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/11/13/president-obama-meets-with-the-japanese-emperor/
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November 15th, 2009 on 3:01 pm
From the Washington Examiner’ Byron York, November 15th:
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs and some other senior administration officials held a press briefing a few hours ago in Singapore. No reporter asked about the bowing matter, and neither Gibbs nor the other officials mentioned it.
(Emphasis added by me)
Why wouldn’t a reporter ask about the bow? Perhaps it’s no big deal to the media community after all.
I still hope that perception (see above) is wrong. But, items like this one reinforce that perception.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Obama-bows-again—-how-will-White-House-explain-70102617.html
November 15th, 2009 on 4:22 pm
The sky is falling, the sky is falling – check with Fox news or Rushbo for latest details on this world shaking scandal
November 15th, 2009 on 5:10 pm
My, tip—I expected a better retort from you.
November 15th, 2009 on 5:38 pm
I’d like to accommodate you, but I need more substance – what can you do with a column complaining that the President hasn’t lived up to Republican standards for rudeness ?
November 15th, 2009 on 7:27 pm
the President hasn’t lived up to Republican standards for rudeness
OK—I’ll take that. It’s a “Republican standard” for US presidents to not bow to foreign leaders, while representing our country in official duties.
Hey, I never knew that Martin Sheridan and the rest of the Irish-American athletes on the 1908 Olympic team were Republicans! Erin go bragh!
It does lead one to speculate what the “Democratic” standard for foreign policy leadership is. Kiss up to the Nobel Committee? That would be my guess…
November 15th, 2009 on 6:02 pm
I don’t care so much whether someone bows or the flag is dipped, unless this means we are ready to give up the myth of American “specialness” and start listening to the rest of world, especially those countries that aren’t still wet behind the ears and don’t behave like a teenager out in his daddy’s car with his first beer in him.
November 15th, 2009 on 7:36 pm
Well, left, my beef is with those dry-eared countries (e.g., Germany, France, Norway) that have let their militaries atrophy behind America’s world defenses, preen and pontificate from behind the safety of those defenses—and then fail miserably in Afghanistan.
To be fair, in isolated cases, forces from those countries have performed well. But, in many other cases they haven’t, and the Afghan warlords are less-than-intimidated by them.
November 16th, 2009 on 12:38 am
I don’t think that the people in either France or Germany are behind the cause, Don. In fact, an article in today’s NYT highlights this in the case of Germany. It may make a big difference that both countries have suffered great devastation by wars fought within their borders; something we have been spared for a long, long time. As to Norway, well, the Scandanavians have long proven they are superior when it comes to organizing a society, and yet they don’t strike me as big pontificators.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:00 pm
I don’t think that the people in either France or Germany are behind the cause, Don.
That may be—but NATO and the European Union agreed to take the lead in Afghanistan a few years back. The rationale—they would fight in Afghanistan, and American and its allies would fight in Iraq.
If the EU nations are going to drop the ball in Afghanistan, they should do us the courtesy of not agreeing to pick up the ball in the first place.
November 15th, 2009 on 6:14 pm
Good to see you back at the keyboard, Don.
We missed you down at Ft. Huachuca today. Plenty of demonstrators and a slightly smaller number of counter-demonstrators, too.
November 15th, 2009 on 7:28 pm
You don’t need me to come bail you out…right?
November 15th, 2009 on 6:38 pm
This is exactly why I’m proud to be an American again. A respectful and honorable approach from our leaders to the rest of the world and their customs. No more do as I say or I’ll blow up your country because, we’ll because I can and I say so.
November 15th, 2009 on 7:31 pm
bill, I’m not going to try to argue with, ahem, “logic” like yours.
But, seeing as you brought it up, what countries have we tried to “blow up” recently?
Now, if you say “Iraq” and “Afghanistan,” you should explain why we didn’t use our air and missile forces to pound them to dust, and why we’ve used very little artillery in either country.
I mean, if President Bush really wanted to “blow up” those countries, he had lots of other ways to do it, much more quickly and cheaply. Mind speculating on why he didn’t use those methods?
November 15th, 2009 on 7:53 pm
Remember when Secretary of State Clinton promised an era of “smart power” with the Obama administration?
ABC’ News’ Jake Tapper has posted this comment from, as Tapper describes him, “an old friend — an academic with expertise about the Japanese Empire, and in general a supporter of President Obama.”
“Obama’s handshake/forward lurch was so jarring and inappropriate it recalls Bush’s back-rub of Merkel.
“Kyodo News is running his appropriate and reciprocated nod and shake with the Empress, certainly to show the president as dignified, and not in the form of a first year English teacher trying to impress with Karate Kid-level knowledge of Japanese customs.
“The bow as he performed did not just display weakness in Red State terms, but evoked weakness in Japanese terms….The last thing the Japanese want or need is a weak looking American president and, again, in all ways, he unintentionally played that part.
Yep…smart power!!!
(The bold-facing is mine. Tip—I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss that. Especially the “Karate Kid” part—sheer poetry!)
Full disclosure—Tapper’s friend points out that, in 1971, President Nixon bowed to Emperor Hirihito. However, Tapper’s friend said that Nixon got the bow right.
Here’s Nixon’s bow: http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=5c8f4325f5d81345&q=hirohito%20source:life&prev=/images?q=hirohito+source:life&ndsp=12&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N&start=12&um=1
Here’s Obama’s bow: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/11/on-president-obamas-bow-to-the-japanese-emperor-an-academic-friend-writes-that-both-the-left-and-the-right-are-wrong.html
Which of those two bows do YOU think makes the President of the United States look submissive, and which one makes him look like…well, President of the United States?
November 16th, 2009 on 7:34 am
I think you’re really reaching with this one. It’s a molehill.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:36 am
“Nixon got the bow right” He was probably trying to figure out how he was going to steal the emporer’s watch without getting caught.
Trying to rehabilitate Nixon is a lost cause, Don.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:02 pm
No, left, I’m not trying to rehabilitate Nixon. Frankly, I don’t think HE should have bowed either.
But, I think there’s a big difference between Nixon’s eye-to-eye bow and Obama’s supplication.
Wax on! Wax off!
November 15th, 2009 on 8:05 pm
I believe that the point Don is making has been missed by a desire to find fault with what this country was and can still be. Before you decide that we need to bow to the emperor of a nation, you must ask yourself – if in the eyes of the world we are equal partners, why then do we need to be subservient.
What is so wrong to want this country to be the shining example of individual freedom, and a source of prosperity? Why are we the country to which people have gone to great efforts, sometimes risking life and limb, to emigrate? Should we not be proud that over the last 100 years we have fought for and shed blood for the freedom of the people of the world.
Haven’t you noticed, that only this nation stood up and sent aid to the people of Africa suffering from the ravages of Aids, while other nations stood by? Haven’t you noticed that 31,000,000 people in Iraq are free to vote and prosper, without the yoke of Sadam’s tyranny.
Haven’t you noticed that women in Afghanistan are going to school?
While we take action, other nations dither. To this day, the Germans depend on the U.S. for their defense. While we spend nearly 4% of our GDP on defense, including the defense of Germany, they spend barely 1.5%.
I am proud of what this country stands for and I do not feel that we need to bow to any other national leader or dip our flag to any nation. I was disheartened to see that our President does not understand that we have been the strongest nation for good in the world over the last century. No other nation comes close.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:31 am
“Haven’t you noticed that 31,000,000 people in Iraq are free to vote and prosper, without the yoke of Sadam’s tyranny.”
The notion that America invades countries only for their benefit is born of either willfull blindness or deliberate obtuseness.
November 15th, 2009 on 8:24 pm
When you’re in Japan, you bow. When you’re in the Middle East, you don’t show the soles of your feet to someone unless your intent is to offend. What’s wrong with a little courtesy and respect for other’s customs when you’re a guest in their country?
I find a lot of good about this country, but I am not blind to some very glaring faults either. It’s just as big an error to consider us god’s gift to the planet as it is to consider us the devil’s curse.
November 16th, 2009 on 5:30 am
Obama is not one of us.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:18 am
No, I imagine not. He is intelligent and reasonable; and, I’ll bet he doesn’t have any velvet paintings of Elvis or posters of Dale Earnhart.
November 16th, 2009 on 6:58 am
To leftfield and others who claim that this was just a matter of following protocol, you are dead wrong. Consider these photos of other world leaders greeting the Japanese emperor: http://tinyurl.com/ycjbdos
November 16th, 2009 on 7:01 am
Leftfield derides the notion of American exceptionalism, and thinks that we should “start listening to the rest of world.” To which I ask: Which “rest of the world” is that? The part whose a** we kicked, or the part whose a** we saved?
November 16th, 2009 on 7:16 am
OK, lets start listening to Somali and Vietnam then. And I prefer the term “specialness” over “exceptionalism”; because we can be very “special” at times.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:02 am
Is Obama is doing a “step and fetch it” routine with the two kings he bowed to? What can he be thinking when he lowers himself more than is necessary? I’m ashamed of him, as an American President because of his disregard for his own country by his words and actions whenever he goes abroad. He is a disgrace whenever he travels, but my country and it’s values are not.
America is a shining star in the world of nations and Obama is not. The Irish-Americans, of which I am one, are correct: The Stars and Stripes bow to no one and doesn’t need to. Obama just doesn’t like to share a stage because it’s all about him and how HE feels at the moment. He continues to shock me with his rude and brash behavior in the office to which he was elected.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:14 am
“The Stars and Stripes bow to no one and doesn’t need to.” This is what I would call “rude and brash” and is exactly the sort of attitude that gets us into trouble and makes us look like fools.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:20 am
No more “Step and Fetchit” references, Grandma.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:07 pm
Ask nicely, Leftfield. This is my blog, not yours.
Ms. Judy, I’d appreciate it if you’d not use insensitive language like that. It allows other commenters to focus on the specific words you choose to use, and ignore the substance of the points you’re making.
If President Obama is making a specific point, or statement, by bowing, I’m sure he’ll explain it to all of us real soon.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:06 am
Maybe the narcissist-in-chief was just taking a bow?
November 16th, 2009 on 7:12 am
With you guys, one minute he’s full of himself and the next he’s too obsequious.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:26 am
46 handshakes, one groveling, subservient, apologetic (”sakkerei”) bow: http://tinyurl.com/ygso3bp
November 16th, 2009 on 8:40 am
Notice how he bowed to an Arab and a Japanese, but not the Queen of England? Because she’s White? Because he’s a racist?
November 16th, 2009 on 11:58 am
the shame
the shame
the shame
Now here is a President acting properly
November 16th, 2009 on 10:01 am
Shame on you leftfield. we have never had a president not even Carter weent that far and most agree he was the most naive we’ve ever had.I wish one of the old WWtwo vets had stood right behind B O and booted hin in the backside. How quickly you can turn the history around and uit is only the U S which is the bad guy! Harry Truman would not have put up with your crap either.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:09 pm
tiponeil, you used a word you shouldn’t have. Keep it up, and I’ll delete more of your comments.
November 16th, 2009 on 9:30 pm
Keep it up, and I’ll delete more of your comments.
No problem – I expect TC.com to be blatantly right wing and censor opposing opinion.
I’ll continue to post as I wish for as long as I can, realizing that TC.com wishes to remain the Free Republic of the Tucson area.
November 18th, 2009 on 6:07 pm
You used foul language, tip—that’s why I deleted that comment. Can’t you express your opinion without bad language?
November 16th, 2009 on 11:12 am
There is an even older tradition than that you cite: “there is no higher title available on earth than ‘American Citizen’”.
Before the foreign philosophies of our “sophisticates’ of the left became so ingrained, it was understood that all this business of Kings and aristocrats was barbaric nonsense and that to be a free citizen of The Great Republic was the highest achievement of man.
I guess that makes me an arrogant promoter of American Exceptionalism- and proud of it.
Also, see the famous 69th New York’s refusal to parade for the Prince of Wales in 1859.
Battley cry common in the American Revolution: “No King but King Jesus”- quaint, no?
November 16th, 2009 on 2:56 pm
You’re spot on the money, Leftfield. He would never have a velvet painting of Elvis nor a poster of Dale Earnhardt. That’s too close to the culture of the unwashed, little people. Besides, that would take up the wall space needed for his exquisite velvet painting of Jeremiah Wright damning America and the ornately framed poster of William Ayers throwing bombs at police stations.
November 16th, 2009 on 3:57 pm
There’s no law against ignorance, Country. But ignorance as a guiding principle of public policy is just, well…ignorant.
November 16th, 2009 on 7:10 pm
Jon Dough, I deleted your comment because of some of the language you used. Two words in particular: c….. c….
November 16th, 2009 on 7:13 pm
Left, I see you’re making some new friends…that’s nice.
November 16th, 2009 on 10:17 pm
It’s my cheerful and pleasant demeanor, Don.
November 17th, 2009 on 12:08 pm
Um, one problem for ‘the bow’ defenders is that he screwed up the bow.
It’s one thing to be culturally sensitive in Japan (precise bow with hands at sides, sort of at a 45-degree angle), it’s another to deeply screw it up with a 90-degree bow *plus* handshake.
Frankly, I’ve never seen *anyone* bow in Japan like Obama bowed to the emperor.
I think the bow could actually be a metaphor for his entire Presidency thus far — good intentions, screwed-up execution.