Arrogant Americans, Mr. President?

[Wilma]

Why does the rest of the world think Americans are arrogant?

[Diane Amberg]

 Billy, Yuk! Somebody may lose his head for letting that get out. But you are generalizing again, Billy. Not everybody does that kind of thing. Should I say all priests abuse little boys? All men kill their wives? All women gossip?  All prisoners were water boarded? All women who were inconvenienced by an unwanted pregnancy aborted the baby? No, of course not. There is a lot of generalizing on the political threads. I may do it too. How about "fair and balanced", even Fox claims to do that. I'm not near as big an Obama fan as you think I am, but he's facing a number of monetary challenges that are like nothing we've ever seen before. I don't think there is a "Right" answer. It's going to be trial and error until somebody gets it working. He will make mistakes. Please don't assume that anyone anywhere that jumps in front of a camera and a mike represents the whole of their population. Not everyone looks down their noses at us. Our president does represent us in the world, but there are other "leaders" who are hated by most of their countrymen. Sometimes being a statesman means getting your hands dirty. It's politics. Perhaps they shouldn't have allowed photo ops. Keep in mind the media can create as much public feeling as the politicians do. Perhaps Pres. Bush made the world feel we were an arrogant country?

[Varmit]

I was not generalizing, I was just wondering why there isn't much outcry on this.  Monteray Challenges..the Great Depression, the recession in the 70's..we've been here before.  Yes our president does represet us to the rest of the world, so why is he apologizing for things we didn't do?  Why is he bowing to leaders that allow this kind of thing?  Why is he "reaching out" to those leaders that hate us? 

I know that so-called reporters do not represent the whole population.  I never said that they did. 

[Diane Amberg]

Why does "bowing" push your button so easily?  Pres. Bush shook hands with people he didn't care for either, I'm sure.

[sixdogsmom]

And president Bush was photographed kissing that same king. Where is the outcry about that?

[W. Gray]

Holy Cow, did Bush come out of the closet?

[Varmit]

Shaking hands is a symbol of or mutual greeting between two equals.

Kissing of the cheek is also a greeting.

Bowing is a show of respect, humilaty, and of being inferior to someone or thing. 

[Diane Amberg]

How about "submissive" rather than inferior. International protocol can be really tricky! I'm  glad I don't have to memorize it all. I'd insult somebody for sure!

[Varmit]

Okay, so why then would the president of the United States show "submissivness" to a foregin power?

To bad Nobama didn't think about insulting anyone when he went on his apologizing trip.

[Wilma]

My dictionary says that "to bow" is a sign of respect, greeting or  shame.  I don't find humility, inferior or submissive anywhere.  IMHO it was a bow of respect which all leaders everywhere should show to each other.  Perhaps Obama's bow of "respect" will have a chain reaction resulting in greater respect for each other all over the world.