Fly Like An Eagle

So… in 2010 - did you hear? Apparently U.S. President Barack Obama is in trouble with his own media for bowing to the Japanese Emperor Akihito during a recent meet and greet.
Click HERE to read it and see the offending bow. It really must be a slow news day, or it’s yet again Obama’s enemies clutching at straws to show that he’s ignorant. He's not. Love him or hate him, he's the President, and he deserves respect.
I don’t care too much about U.S. politics - it is what it is - but as a human being, I’m proud that the country was smart enough to not let race stand in its way of electing someone to this high office.
Did you see the photo? Did you read the article? Go back. I’ll wait. He’s shaking the Emperor’s hand while bowing. If anything, he’s doing too much at once, but offensive? Nope.
What would the media and political pundits have him do? He’s in Japan – and when in Japan, do as the Japanese do - to paraphrase a famous adage.
If he was in France and the leader wanted to lean in and plant a kiss on each cheek should he stop the friendly showing by sticking an outstretched hand into the chest – because that’s the way we do things in America?
People who believe that it’s 'the American way or no way' are suckers. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with the American way – especially when dealing with Americans… but the world is full of different social customs, and when you try to fit in, the world is a happier place. I should know... it's kind of what It's A Wonderful Rife is all about.
Obama probably got thrown for a loop… he was probably told that he could show respect to his Japanese friends by bowing, but the Emperor wanted to show Western respect by proffering a hand to shake.
Should he have ignored the Emperor’s attempt at a handshake and left him hanging while he bowed, or should he just have done what the Republican media wanted and just done a handshake?
Slow news day that it is, if he just shook hands and not wanted to bow, they probably would have roasted him for not observing Japanese protocol.
As an aside, I, too have been caught bowing and shaking hands with the Japanese – we’re all just trying to get along, and no one is offended.
Somewhere, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Andrew Joseph
Today's title is by the Steve Miller Band