So What If Obama Bowed? HALAS!
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.
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Oh, and everyone is assuming that he made a mistake, like he wasn't sure if he should bow or not. OF COURSE he knew. This man goes into situations more prepared than the people he's hired to prepare him. One does not screw up something as simple as bowing.
Unless it was on purpose.
You know, you can all go one about being Free Persons and how No American Should Bow to A King, but ...
...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.
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TardisJockey,
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
The prince is royalty like the Queen of England, so you bow; it's called protocol. At least Obama didn't make out with the prince and hold his hand like Bush Jr.
i have to say.. i love obama... but seeing him bow -in fact he almost kissed the kings feet - was embarrassing.
why the hell should any person, let alone american president, bow to a foreign 'king'.
Read the article again. Here in the U.S. we have a serious case of dellusions of grandeur that has hurt us in so many ways, and President Obama is trying to cure this terrible ailment. Here in the U.S. we refuse to even try to see or understand the ways of the rest of the world, we believe our ways are superior and therefore we are superior. As a country, we have always ignored the cultural mores and traditions of other countries, and always tried to impose our mores on others.
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.
Well said, Beca.
AMEN TO THAT!!! IT'S CALLED R E S P E C T ! ! ! LET'S TRY SOME. HOW ABOUT STARTING WITH OUR OWN PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!! GEEZ!!!!!!!!!!
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Beca,
Very well written. I appreciate your comments so much!
Yvonne
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Boomachine. I have a kind question please. Why is the issue a "foreign" king such a problem. Is it that King Abdullah is foreign or Muslim and Arab? President Obama did a slight bow to the Queen of England, but not one discussed that. Just want to know. Thank you.
Yvonne,
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.
As far as Obama being a "secret Muslim", I think Obama has done this to himself. I mean, what do you get when you have a presidential candidate deny his Muslim roots, just to embrace them when he goes to places like Turkey once he's elected. If Obama had only had the decency to be a little more clear and honest on the subject, instead of hiding the truth and making anyone who points it out labeled as racist or what not, there wouldn't be such a controversy. He could have said from the beginning, you know what, my father was Muslim, and I did attend a Muslim school for a short time, as well as a Catholic school, and my mom was pretty much non-religious, although I did attend mosque with my father a few times early on, but I don't practice that relgion, and I do attend a Christian Church. Maybe then, if he could have had the nerve to be honest, there wouldn't be a need for liberals to point fingers at conservatives who are only pointing out the obvious.
Point in fact, your article is offensive, prejudiced, and lacks any attempt at clarity or honesty.
(didn't originally post as my second part did)
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.
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Danielle Freeman,
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?
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Danielle Freeman,
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.
Danielle, you are way off. President Obama was never disrespectful of anybody during his recent European visit! Who are you listening to? Everyone was absolutely enthralled by him and First Lady Michelle Obama, all the European leaders made very positive and laudatory comments about the President and First Lady. If you are referring to their visit with the Queen of England, you are also way off. The Queen's spokesperson already clarified that rumor. Our President and First Lady were totally appropriate and followed all required protocol, including the required short bow, and waiting to the touched by the Queen before you touch her, etc.
The only ones pissing a bitch were not even there--people like you, who have made all kinds of assumptions based on what someobody said.
Just let it rest, our President represented us very well in Europe, you should be proud.
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Danielle Freeman,
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.
Yes it is clear in the fact that it shows how biased and hateful you are towards anyone who holds opposing views. Again, there you go labeling anyone who disagrees with you as ignorant and uninformed. Yes, I have done research on Obama. That is why I stopped supporting him. As for him never denying his Muslim roots, um, I do clearly remember him saying on national television that he has never been Muslim. So unless you don't take the Presiden'ts own words as fact, I think again you are mistaken.
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.
Thank you Yvonne for writing a article that has created such a lively debate on something that no one should really care about, and thank you for personally defending your point. I can truthfully say you have changed my mind, maybe it was a good thing to bow, but I still say why should anyone care with so many more important things to worry about in the world today! I will say it again, I do not care whether he bowed or not, it is obvious that he did though, and if it causes some foreign nation or country to like us better, then that is great. Thanks again and I will be watching for more of your articles.
Danielle, President Obama NEVER hid who he is, if you would have bothered to listen to him, read his books, or just pay a little bit more attention to facts rather than pundits, you would have learned everything you needed to know. His book, Dreams from my Father was published in the 90's and is still available. He speaks very specifically about his father and his father's family--in fact that is what the book is about. He did not hide anything.
Just because his father became a Muslim does not mean President Obama was ever a Muslim. Being a Muslim is not an ethnicity or race, it is a member of a religion.
"Muslim roots"? there is no such thing. Besides who fully uses their middle name on a daily basis? We all know that thanks to the fear monguering of Bush, that the mere mention of his middle name would send some into a tizzy and would made people like you assume something that is not ture. He was never a muslim, ever. The only religion he ever belonged to is Christianity. Besides, who cares, isn't this the U.S. where we have freedom of religion? so why should that matter? it only does because of the fear monguers.
danielle, President Obama was honest, you were not listening. He did talk about his years in Indonesia, and of going to a school that was secular but since the majority of the population in Indonesia is Muslim, the school had a large Muslim student population, as well as catholics, etc. It was a secular school not a religious school. He did not learn about Islam. He never went to a mosque with his father, his father was not a practicing Muslim when President Obama was young and when he met his father on that one occasion in Hawaii.
He was honest all along, you just didn't bother to pay attention. He certainly was way more honest than his Republican contender who nobody seemed to care what religion he practiced or belonged to, how many women he cheated on his first and second wife with, his divorce, the lies and exagerations about his 'heroism', etc.
Danielle, why do you think everyone was carrying on so badly during the election? Obama made no secret of his family history or heritage on his mother's or his father's side. Hell, he only wrote a book about it!
You need to turn off your snark and open your eyes and your mind.
TarJoc - nice reply, but Ms. Freeman is here to convert infidels and will decline to the strange angels of her nature with persistent waving of arms, mantras of danger and alarm, etc. We can embrace her persistent warrior's spirit but never touch core beliefs that are immune to programming changes.
Well, he should of held his hand, too. I mean Bush did, although it is normal over there it is a sign of friendship. I guess Bush and the king are buddies, but that is cool; YEAH makes sense, but we are talking about republibabies. The fact that this is a story shows where the world and even are country is going. We are supposed to be dealing with issues. Life isn't showbiz tonight and people magazine.
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I like the Republibabies name. It is witty.
In African and Arab tradition it still happens in some tribes/cultures that you bow to someone whom you greatly respect, meaning it could be a grandparent, parent, leader etc. The King is old enough to be the POTUS grandfather, therefore it is expected. As much as it would be understood if he did not bow since he is American, just the fact that he did, is appreciated. It is unbelievably refreshing to see our POTUS going back to and understanding the cultures/traditions of old. He will get a better reception because of it and hopefully it will be to our benefit. You DO catch more bees with honey that you would vinegar ....
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Ibackobama,
I really appreciate your cultural perspective on this matter. You are correct and it is enlightening.
Yvonne
This is nothing but fake outrage from the right and these people call themselves christians. LOL.
I'm 35 which is fairly young and many of the "first blacks" and their achievements happened before I was born. I can't help but wonder what goes on behind the scenes of the lives of other black historical pioneers. Because Barack is president, we get to see his life and the jealous reactions to his success played out in public. What was it like for Shirley Chisolm? Charles Drew? Colin Powell? Jesse Owens?
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.
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Ohioan730,
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
A president with pinky-beige skin could have held hands with the Saudi and the right wouldn't have said a word. Does holding hands sound familiar?
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Leeza,
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.
These people need to read the whole bible so that they will know not to judge other people
Let me be the first to say that not only did the bow to King Abdullah not bother me, but I'm glad he did it. This shows that President Obama has been schooled in the proper etiquette of interacting with ANY person of royalty. You ALWAYS bow to the king/Queen. Those who object, who are making a big deal about this act of honor and respect to royalty are doing nothing but unconsciously (or perhaps consciously and calculatedly) propogating their own Racism and Islamophobia. I can't even imagine the flak the USA would have caught from The Muslim world and the international community in general if he had not bowed and showed his honor and respect. And, I suspect those who are objecting to this idea that The Muslim world deserves honor and respect are probably the same folk who think President Obama is a Muslim himself, and therefore aren't going to give him the respect he deseerves, let alone criticize his attempt to respect others
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PlaceboStudman,
Your thoughts are strong and well received. You hit at a strong point - Islamophobia. Most won't admit this though. Thank you.
Yvonne
Feigned outrage and shock show more of a weakness than humility ever will.
So, let me see if I've got this straight now. When you're in a Muslim country, and you speak to the King, you are not supposed to follow protocol and treat him like a king, or else the Rightwing media will slash you and slam you, but when you're in England and you happen to touch the Queen, even though she's obviously inviting the touch, unless you jump away from her and follow the protocall, you get slashed and slammed by the Rightwing media. Tell me my Rightwing buddies, have I got it right now?
I think mostly the shock of it all is because he is a Christian.
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.
The bow isn't a reason to be disappointed with the President! I think we spend too much time on mundane things! If we would allow the President to govern, we would be so much better off! Presidents have to learn diplomacy when dealing with other countries and if our President doesn't recognize that fact, then we can't expect other heads of states to respect our President.
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Madatnewsmedia. I am not sure what point you are trying to make. So forgive me of my ignorance regarding your post. Does a so called bow hurt or help public diplomacy? Did First Lady Obama touching the Queen reciprocating the gesture of affection help or hurt Diplomacy?
Thank you so much.
Yvonne
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Amond1,
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
Bible says judge not lest you be judged. Why do people cherry pick the bible and forget the most profound teaching??
I think the Bible references are aimed at bowing in the sense of worship. not when it is merely done as a sign of respect.
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You are right Riani. Thank you.
Yvonne
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