Roman Around

No, he’s not trying to steal a peak at a shoe-top teleprompter, nor is he offering the Emperor of Japan a closer look at his cool hair cut.

Yes, I know photos of this moment are making the rounds in cyberspace this weekend, as they ought to be.

People need to take a good look at this image.

Frankly, there really isn’t a whole heck of a lot I could say or add that hasn’t been done elsewhere far more eloquently or cleverly than I could.

The fact is, the President of the United States – this country’s head of state – has been caught, once again, bowing to another nation’s head of state. And although it isn’t a sign of disrespect not to do so, the most powerful man in the world keeps volunteering to show off his scalp to anyone who’ll look. It isn’t just embarrassing. It isn’t just inappropriate. It is absolutely unnecessary. Barack Obama isn’t a traveling business executive respecting the cultural landscape of his host country. He is not an ordinary civilian traveling in Japan with a tour group. He is the damn President of the United States. He bows to no one.

Or, at least, that’s how it should be.

And no, this wasn’t a little tiny tip of the head. This wasn’t a modest gesture done out of respect – which would have been unnecessary anyway, given that the two men also shook hands. This was an acquiescent, obsequious, servile full-body bend-over unbecoming of the President of the United States.

Americans simply do not bow to foreign monarchs. Period.

Personally, I think this latest bow may be a bit deeper than the one Obama offered to the Saudi King in April.

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