Obama's Bow To The Emperor: Bookerista Perspectives

More reaction from bookeristas on U.S. President Barack Obama's deep bow to Japanese Emperor Akihito on Saturday, which has stirred controversy in America:

Sandra Rose: "47 Handshakes, 1 Bow"

The conservative blogger in Georgia writes: "Over the weekend, the president of the United States managed once again to set off a firestorm of condemnation when he bowed deeply to Emperor Akihito of Japan. The last time this happened the White House embarrassed themselves by claiming Obama did not bow at all to the Saudi King. Most Kool-Aid drinkers rushed to defend Obama by claiming he was being 'respectful' to the Emperor. But the problem is Obama was actually very disrespectful to the Emperor by bowing deeply and not maintaining eye contact — a no-no in Japanese culture. Then there’s the fact that Obama broke a longstanding protocol that dictates NO U.S. president bows down to Monarchs. The video above shows 47 different greetings between the same Emperor Akihito and various heads of state. Only one person among them bows inappropriately. Can you guess who?"

Ms. Rose continues her commentary: "Last night, ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper cited his source, an expert on Japanese culture who said the president of the United States not only broke protocol by bowing to the Emperor of Japan, but his bow was 'inappropriate' and 'displayed weakness.' Obama broke protocol by bending deep at the waist and taking his eyes off the person he was bowing to — a very amateurish error. Pictures of Barack Obama’s deep, subservient bow to Emperor Akihito on Saturday were considered so inappropriate for a foreign leader that the Japanese newspaper refused to run the photos to spare Obama any further embarrassment. Instead, the papers ran images of Obama’s reciprocated 'nod and shake' with the empress of Japan."

Alan Keyes: "Obama's Real Bow"

The conservative activist and America's Independent Party member opines about the meaning of President Obama's bow: "Given the decidedly outraged reaction to his bow to the King of Saudi Arabia, there's no way this new affront is anything but a deliberate repudiation of respect for the republican form of government (of, by and for the people) established by the Constitution of the United States. Given the cult of personality Obama worshippers have tried to promote since he won the 2008 election, we can be forgiven for suspecting that the Narcissist [I]n Chief shows such respect for monarchs because he aspires to be what George Washington wisely refused to become - King of the United States. Unlike Washington, of course, he has done nothing that remotely suggests he is worthy of such preferment. But also unlike Washington he appears to believe that ambition for power is the only qualification required. In this he resembles both Caesar and Napoleon, two historical figures who succeeded at the task Obama has undertaken - the destruction of a republican form of government in their respective countries."

He accuses President Obama of being an undercover Muslim bent on destroying America: "As a matter of pure political calculation, however, one has to wonder at the outward appearance of stupidity involved in this latest insult to the people he's supposed to represent. Even someone as blinded by his own self-image as Obama has to realize that his critics will pounce on this obviously deliberate reiteration of humiliated sovereignty. I think he not only realizes this, he means to provoke it. Obama's bow to the Saudi King was a reflexive expression of homage to a figure he revered on account of deeply inculcated religious feeling. It therefore revealed Obama's allegiance to Islam. From his insane waste of American lives in Afghanistan to his literally fishy reaction to the Ft. Hood episode; from his shutdown of Guantanamo to his decision to offer terrorists the propaganda platform of a civilian trial in the very city they assaulted; from his surrender of U.S. economic sovereignty to his determined and obvious efforts to drive the U.S. to utter bankruptcy; Obama's policies and actions are leading more and more Americans to question whether his true allegiance is to the Constitution of the United States and to the the people whose will and nationhood it represents."

More: "This substantive issue of allegiance inevitably came to mind as people thought about the implications of his bow to the Saudi King. Given Saudi Arabia's role in supporting the brand of Islamic fundamentalism that promotes the recruitment of Islamic terrorists like Major Hasan, these implications are intensely troubling. The bow to the Japanese Emperor is a deliberate ploy intended to take the focus away from the issue of religious and political allegiance and put it on formalities instead. The appearance of stupidity in the bow to Emperor Akihito covers the shrewdness of Obama's real bow, which is in fact to the requirements of the continuing deception that hides his deep betrayal of his oath and of America's trust."

Samantha Pierce: "Vassals"

The conservative Republican blogger in New York wonders: when did Americans become vassals of Japan?: "This picture sparked a lot of thoughts in my head. My first thoughts were, oh come one not again! Particularly after reading this post's title, Is There a Foregin Potentate Obama Will Not Bow Before? My second thoughts, before looking at the picture, were, it can't really be that bad can it? My third thoughts, after looking at the picture, were, when did we decide to become vassals of the Emperor of Japan? I don't think even the Emperor's own son bows that low to him. My fourth thoughts were, we'll survive this little snafu same as the others. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? While we're all moaning and groaning and picking sides in the dust up over this display of ignorance about the significance of bows in Japanese culture has our leader made up his mind yet about how/if he is going to fight the war on terror?