Okay so what if President Obama bowed to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at the G-20 Summit? Showing respect for the Elder King's position does NOT in any way mean the apocalyptic messages Republican Clerics are screaming over the air waves -- the U.S. is going to turn Muslim and Christianity is going to get thrown out of an ancient Uzbek tower and smash on the ground because of the so-called Obama genuflect.
It is so wildly crazy to see all of this talky talk about President Obama on this silly issue. On Fox News you see the veins popping out of the foreheads and necks of their squawkers. On MSNBC, their conservative guests' faces turn real red (Not Pat Buchanan, he is always very cool and does not get caught up in the petty stuff), with their venomous punditry.
The Right's charge in the blogosphere that the President is a secret Muslim (since he also said his full name -- Barack Hussein Obama -- aloud twice overseas and also in the "Muslim" country of Turkey), is being sung like an Ozzy Osbourne record played backwards. They shriek we are "less safe" because he has opened the clinched fist the United States had to the Arab and Muslim world since 9/11, 2001.
Effective leadership is not driven by authority proving power, but in graciousness and humility allowing others to experience the true power of a leader. President Obama's recalibration of America's respect for our European Allies and their leadership with -- yes -- the leadership of King Abdullah shows a higher level gentleman style Diplomacy that has not been seen in this way by any President. You may argue that Presidents Clinton, Reagan and Kennedy showed style and grace and I will agree -- they looked the part, spoke eloquently and were well received by our allies -- but Obama's approach is completely different and out of the box, and again this type of change scares conservatives. Hegemony was the way Americans grew accustomed to. However, abuse of this Leviathan style domination hurt us on so many fronts that it must be deconstructed to meet a new form of influence and command that is mutually inclusive as we lead.
Do you remember when the U.S. was the Great Empire and President Bush went to the last G-20 Summit with our allies and how they dissed him by not even looking at him or shaking his hand? President Bush was also snubbed at the NATO Summit last April. It was embarrassing for President Bush and our Nation because we had made serious missteps towards being emotionally and culturally intelligent about our allies. Finally, to end 2008, a pair of shoes being chucked at our former President was equally disheartening. This is nothing even for the liberal left to laugh at (but they unfortunately did), and celebrate when a President of the United States is reduced to a kid playing dodge ball at recess.
The President is speaking a language of acceptance and outreach that is quite sincere. Of course President Obama has an agenda attached to his efforts, but there is more of a willingness to accept or consider what his agenda is for America and the rest of the world if he offers his right hand of fellowship first.
President Obama is walking down a very divided and rocky road to establish his legacy as the Balancer in Chief between nations and polities that are dangerous, unstable and at each other's throat.
Now because he hosted Passover Seder (which by the way he also hosted during the campaign last April), there will be some extremists again coming from the Right who will say he is a secret Jew or perhaps even a Secret Muslim Jew? Is that really possible? And of course after he and his family attend church on Easter Sunday, some from the Right again will analyze this and accuse him of going to church to worship himself because after all, he is -- as Glenn Beck all but indicates -- the Anti-Christ Benito Mussolini Fascist. He can't possibly have a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. He is Pro-choice and supports Gay Rights! Wow, this is so bizarre!
You know the truth is Republican Clerics who are borderline xenophobic are working very hard in front of and behind the scenes to paint President Obama as someone who is weak without grit and Un P (atriotic). Calling him a "Foreigner or AyyRab Lover," they are screeching out domino and post ad hoc conclusions hoping that he will put on a thobe, tagiyah, ghutra, and agal (Arab male garb) to prove their point. Their political rhetoric is psychotic. Americans must be awake and allow our President to focus on a higher path towards authentic and noble leadership in the free world without this shrill and stupid discourse.
Unless it was on purpose.
...if you were sightseeing in England and happened to run into the Queen during your tour of Buckingham Palace, you'd not only bow, you'd do a courtesy and giggle like a little girl. And then you'd run off to your Facebook account so that you could tell everyone about it.
Don't lie. You know you would.
I like your points. You make your points in a comical way and I had to laugh. Thank you. You are right. I would even Twitter, Facebook and Huff Post it if I met and bowed to the Queen. I would giggle too. Thanks.
Yvonne
why the hell should any person, let alone american president, bow to a foreign 'king'.
I think it is incredibly wonderful to finally have a President who not only knows more about the world than most other past Presidents, but who shows a genuine interest and respect for the cultural ways and traditions of other countries. I do believe that his way of connecting to the rest of the world is going to place us not only back in the leadership position, but with the rest of the world openly willing to work with us (rather than begrudingly as usual)
In most other parts of the world, a bow is not a sign of submission, it is a sign of respect, a sign of friendship. Nobody else saw President Obama's attempt at a show of respect and frienship as embarrassing, why would it be? We are not superior to anyone to be embarrassed by this act of humility and reconcilliation.
I would be equally offended if he bowed to the queen as well.
In fact, it would be fine with me if obama either
1.) didnt bow to anyone (not to the queen, no to a king)
OR
2.) he gave slight nods to everyone, even if that person was the leader of a very poor nation like somalia.
i understand that obama is trying to show respect to the rest of the world, which i believe is a very good thing to do after 8 years of bush.
but why this special bow to the king of saudi and no bows to other leaders?
the question is, would obama had bowed to abdullah if he was the king of say a poor nation like burkina faso, instead of the oil-rich saudi.
i am very positive he wouldnt have dont that if US was not dependent on its oil.
Point in fact, your article is offensive, prejudiced, and lacks any attempt at clarity or honesty.
Wow Yvonne, despite your blatant disrespect and awful stereotypes implicating anyone against Obama (mainly conservatives) are mindless idiots,as lberals often tend to erroneously and maliciously portray anyone who has a diffrent opinion (as if we all say Arab as AYYrAB) let's get a few things clear. For one: from what I've seen, the reason that people are going bonkers over the fact that the President bowed (and I saw the video tape, he did bow, and by the way, he also lied about his left hand, you could see it come up way after his head was down) is not simply because he bowed to one Muslim leader, but because he and his wife showed such disrespect and disregard to the customs and protocols of European leaders and dignitaries. It is a slap in the face when the Obamas choose to show their dislike of the Anglo world by being blatantly disrespectful to our European allies, all the while he goes out of his way to bow to none other than a Muslim leader. It's not that he bowed to one, it's that he also refused to bow to another. That shows preference. So it's not "crazy" or phobic of people to wonder why he would treat one ally one way, and other leader America isn't as close to much better. THAT is why people have raised the flag on that issue.
Thanks for your post. Firstly, this critique does not fit conservatives such as George Will, Patrick J. Buchanan (as I mentioned) or a David Broder. They are conservatives with an intellectual discourse that may not always be agreed with, but certainly worth listening to and taking into consideration because they are smart, learned and focused on substanitive issues. Secondly, extremists on the right do say idiotic things that are not backed up with facts or figures and rely heavily on vitrolic statements to stir the pot of dissent and anger. We saw it during the Presidential campaign and we see it now. The same also goes for the extreme left when they move overboard, but this time they are not involved in this; except I criticize them in their treatment of President Bush over the shoe throwing incident. Thirdly, there is not any fact that proves President Obama ever denied his Muslim father's religion and that side of his family. You have for your facts wrong. If you are saying he only acknowledged his Muslim name and connection Turkey, again you are wrong and based on another fallacy. Thirdly, outside of 1st Lady Michelle putting her arm around the Queen after the Queen did it 1st, please name every act of mis-protocol and/or mis-step President Obama and his wife made. You can't name one. What are the customes and protocols for all of the G20 leaders and their countries? Do you know? Have you visited?
Please read part II if you wish.
Sounds very personal when you have no proof that the Obamas dislike the Anglo (Obama is half Anglo remember), when the European allies embraced him with open arms!
Be angry with French President Nicholas Sarkozy who said that it was the end of White Anglo Saxon rule. Sarkozy I believe is white. That fact you made an issue about his "bowing" to a Muslim leader supports my article completely. Prez. Obama bowed to the Queen of England too. Did you see that? You have not properly argued the case for your side because you don't have the facts. I do appreciate your comments however.
I have a simple question. Where were you when the entire news media did entire features and expose on President Obama and his life, roots and background? Did you ever read any magazine articles about him? How about any books? Since you are not very well informed and yes my article is very biased against ignorance I can understand why I would offend the uninformed. By the way, my writing is so clear that it made you upset. Finally, I am not a liberal - so you stop labeling. Have a great evening.
One thing also: the only thing I saw Obama give the Queen was a handshake and a head nod. They Obamas were getting heat for not bowing to the Queen BEFORE news came that he bowed to the Saudi King, which is what only exacerbated anger. SO maybe you should get your news straight before you go calling other ignorant. I didn't realize "liberal" was a perjorative term now, it seems that your views, at least what you express on here, are mostly liberal, so excuse me. I didn't mean to offend. I was only calling the term it clearly appeared to be.
I really appreciate your cultural perspective on this matter. You are correct and it is enlightening.
Yvonne
We see the historical documentaries and we know the stories, but what REALLY went down? When Charles Drew invented the blood bank did he get jeers and jealousy and spite from his white colleagues? Did they disrespect Thurgood Marshall's character and call his wife ugly names to his face?
The saddest and most twisted aspect of American life is the blatant "I'm a hater and I don't care who knows it" begrudgingly jealous attitude of the dwindling right wing. They are being shocked back to reality in these modern days of intolerance for pointless haters. Hating will be their downfall as evidenced by their loss of political power.
A great insight. All of the leaders you mentioned experienced tremendous suffering for the cause of African American empowerment and freedom. Many of the people you mentioned have been threatened with their lives, families have suffered political and economic consequences, but the beauty in all of this is that they perservered and moved on. They still got the job done; particularly when they were firsts.
You are touching on a third rail issue that even African American scholars and television pundits (courtesy of the Obama Presidential run, election and Presidency) are afraid to say this because they will be accused of racial baiting; which is the backlash response when something like this is very true.
For every success he will have, there will a chorus knocking him. Even someone had a negative comment abou Bo - the First Dog. Hate is the downfall of any nation. However, our nation is free to allow for open political discourse and we must thankful for this - even if we don't always agree. Thank you for your thoughtful post.
Yvonne
You are right. Nothing was said when President Bush showed respect and deference to King Abdullah; which the custom of hand holding is a part of Arab and Central Asian culture.
I have no problem with either gesture. It is cultural intelligence and respect. Thank you for your comments.
Your thoughts are strong and well received. You hit at a strong point - Islamophobia. Most won't admit this though. Thank you.
Yvonne
In the bible, you are to bow to NO MAN, but your God alone.
I was disappointed to see him do this, but he was showing respect.
Thank you so much.
Yvonne
From a Christian perspective, the Bible is quite clear, but that was not the critique that was visciously leveraged in the public. by the Extreme Right. God in the Bible is a respecter of no person and inside and outside of our nation this is done ALL of the time by so many. Joseph in the Bible bowed to Pharoah when he was ruler over Egypt; he respected the authority of Pharoah's power and God used Joseph as a tremendous instrument. Daniel was another who bowed and worked for the King - both king/Pharoah mentioned were not mono-theistic. So the notion of the Bow the Bible speaks of has an even deeper meaning inside our lives; it is not just literal translation. I appreciate your take and balance on the piece. Have a blessed week.
Yvonne