What has Obama done well?

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

I was stationed in Japan for 3 years. Huge difference in returning a bow to another citizen, which I did often, and bowing (especially as POTUS) to a monarch or king. In this instance the US commander was bowing to show remorse and regret, which he should've in this circumstance. Someone under his command disgraced him and the entire U.S. Obama has NOTHING to bow to any foreign leader for (I know we've gone down this road before so rather than the page long responses let me summarize: saden: The U.S. has many things to be ashamed of. SS33: The U.S. is the greatest country on earth. Both posts contain YouTube clips and links to various sites backing up each point)

In meeting with anyone from another government I would shake hands but never bow (and certainly not hold hands and kiss either). In the Far East I would return a bow, but not bow first.

My post was in response to TTL post that indicated that his superior and himself (admittedly surmised from his previous posts and his general dickishness) viewed bowing as unacceptable proposition under any circumstance which you voiced as agreeable. Clearly, by your response, you don't seem to share this view and so I am left confused as to what you find agreeable.

Bowing in apology is acceptable but bowing in pleasantries is not? Would you think it acceptable if Obama (the commander in chief) bowed to the same mayor, prime minister or emperor of Japan under similar circumstance of remorse?

When in foreign lands wise men show the utmost deference to other cultures and their customs even if one perceives such endeavor to be embracing and shameful for to do otherwise is ultimately acting against ones own self-interest. Do not limit yourself to simply returning a bow my friend. Perhaps knowing what bowing is and its significance in different cultures might be helpful assessing its permissibility and irrelevance of order of bowing which you find virtuous.

p.s. What does the Office of Protocol say about the Commander in Chief and citizens not bowing to heads of states (monarch or otherwise), where can I find the protocol text?