President Barack Obama's deep bow to the emperor of Japan and his wife when they met during the president's recent tour of Asia, unleashed a torrent of controversy.
His supporters contend that the president was simply showing respect for Japanese culture, since he was in that country. They say a bow is a sign of maturity and cultural awareness, not weakness. They also note that President Richard Nixon, a Republican, bowed to the emperor of Japan when he visited the U.S. in 1971.
The president's critics, which included some newspaper editorials, argued that an American president should never bow to anyone, because America rejected a monarchy and is built on the ideal of making the law king. Beyond that, they say his bow displayed cultural ignorance, because he didn't do it properly, with his hands at his sides. Instead, he was bowing and shaking the emperor's hand at the same time.
Should the American president conform to the greeting customs of foreign countries, even if it might make him look subordinate? Should he refuse to bow to anyone? Or is the whole thing insignificant?
Tell us what you think.
Web questions:
Should President Obama have bowed to the emperor of Japan?
Yes, it is important to respect the customs of other countries.
No, he should not bow to any other world leader.
It doesn't matter.
