Obama's bow to the Saudi King

[honeychile]

An American citizen does not bow to any foreign leader; the American Flag does not dip to any foreign power.

In response, no one touches the Queen of England. Have you never seen when Prince Charles was a child, and bowed to his mother, as she disembarked from a plane? It's just not done. The bob of the head that the Obamas gave to the Queen were, IMHO, appropriate and not over the top.

In all honesty, I have serious doubts about the current Protocol Office. I think Big Bird has a better idea of protocol than they do.

The only other option is that the Protocol Office's advice is being steadily ignored. If that's the case, maybe we should save some money and fire them all.

[PhiGam]

I agree that he definitely bowed but WHY did the White House LIE about it?

That is what bothers me more than the bow itself (which bothers me). I mean of all of the foreign leaders to bow to... the King of Saudi Arabia shouldn't be anywhere near the top of the list for so many reasons.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by honeychile

An American citizen does not bow to any foreign leader; the American Flag does not dip to any foreign power.

I have a question, are you being serious with this remark? My sarcasto-meter has been off lately, so I don't know if this is some kind of joke, or if you seriously think that an American citizen shouldn't bow to a foreign leader.

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by epchick

I have a question, are you being serious with this remark? My sarcasto-meter has been off lately, so I don't know if this is some kind of joke, or if you seriously think that an American citizen shouldn't bow to a foreign leader.

That is actually protocol... while I'm not sure how I feel about ordinary citizens, I definitely don't think that the President should bow to any foreign leader.
To me a bow is a sign of subjection and submission... so bowing to such a horrible man is disgraceful. Saudi Arabia enforces sexist Shari'a laws, if Obama did not bow to the emperor of Japan or the leaders of the EU nations then he definitely shouldn't have bowed to this asshole.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

That is actually protocol... while I'm not sure how I feel about ordinary citizens, I definitely don't think that the President should bow to any foreign leader.
To me a bow is a sign of subjection and submission... so bowing to such a horrible man is disgraceful. Saudi Arabia enforces sexist Shari'a laws, if Obama did not bow to the emperor of Japan or the leaders of the EU nations then he definitely shouldn't have bowed to this asshole.

Well I can understand it being protocol for the President (although there are times that I don't agree with it). I was more concerned cause honeychile said "citizen" and that is what I don't agree with.

[DaemonSeid]

How Leonides Dealt with Submission

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally Posted by honeychile

An American citizen does not bow to any foreign leader; the American Flag does not dip to any foreign power.

Except between naval ships of two countries passing each other; the ensign is dipped as they pass, but naval protocol requires the 'dip' to be returned.

[Kevlar281]

Originally Posted by AlphaSigOU

Except between naval ships of two countries passing each other; the ensign is dipped as they pass, but naval protocol requires the 'dip' to be returned.

The keyword there is 'returned.' Without actually looking it up I believe the Naval regulation allows US vessels to acknowledge another vessels ensign being dipped. It's just a way of communicating that they've been recognized. In short they dip to us, we don't dip to them.

[nate2512]

Originally Posted by Kevlar281

The keyword there is 'returned.' Without actually looking it up I believe the Naval regulation allows US vessels to acknowledge another vessels ensign being dipped. It's just a way of communicating that they've been recognized. In short they dip to us, we don't dip to them.

Right, I would think it would be similar to a subordinate saluting a superior. Subordinate salutes, superior acknowledges the salute by returning the same.

[dekeguy]

Originally Posted by nate2512

Right, I would think it would be similar to a subordinate saluting a superior. Subordinate salutes, superior acknowledges the salute by returning the same.

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Sort of off subject, but I always pictured the salute not so much as a subordinate to superior thing but rather as a greeting among soldiers. The junior salutes first as a matter of courtesy and custom but I have often initiated the salute to junior troops if I see them first. The very senior officers for whom I have worked suggested that we view it as a private greeting among "the Brotherhood of the Sword" and I have often seen General Officers and Colonels initiating salutes as a greeting, not as a demonstration of superiority.