JeffreyLebowski
Lifer
- Aug 23, 2000
- 15,509
- 1
- 81
There isnt any reading into it. When you bow to a monarch you are indicating you are their subject. That means you are below them. POTUS is not below a monarch.
Like I said earlier though. It isnt the end of the world. I personally wont lose sleep over it. Just think it is silly of him to be doing it and should knock it off.
It shows his naivite. He claimed to be the well eductated world traveler that understands different cultures, but he's showing that he doesn't know squat, nor do his advisors.
You don't show servitude or subservience to another nations leader. You are equal. The King of Saudia Arabia didn't return the bow because he's not supposed to bow to HIS SUBJECTS. Same with the Emperor of Japan.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2000.html
"When bowing to someone of higher social status, a deeper, longer bow indicates respect. "
It's OK to respect a leader of another nation, but in doing the deep bow Dear Leader did asserted that he is subserviant to the Emperor.