Take a Bow

President Obama's current visit to Asia was a key diplomatic mission for the United States and his administration. However, despite all the important discussions and developments; the big news story is what President Obama did when he met and greeted Japanese Emperor Akihito. Many from the right wing have criticized his action and has called it a sign of weaknesses and disrespect for America. When Obama greeted Akihito he bent over and bowed to the smaller leader. A little too low for some. Obama's critics see the bow as him bowing to Japan or worse: America bowing to Japan. These same critics feel that no US President should bow to anyone. Obama's bow has garnered comparisons of other leaders and their protocol when they met the Japanese emperor.

This is not the first time that right wing voices has attacked Obama when greeting foreign leaders. Back in April, President Obama bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the G20 summit. That was viewed as going against American tradition and values. In this case, critics of the bow saw the President being equal to a peasant bowing to a king and America lessen themselves to an Islamic nation.

However, this bow to Emperor Akihito was no different and not wrong either. Obama, being someone who believes in traditions and values of other nations, was simply following protocol. Anyone who wants to view this as anything more is looking for a needle in a haystack, so to speak. President Obama is respected in many areas of the world and is similar to one of his predecessors in that regard. President Bill Clinton also drew some criticism for his greeting of the Japanese emperor.

Those who want to find a fault with his bow by the president need to take a bow themselves. Because they are certainly putting on quite a show.