Last Emperor, The
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IMDB rating: 7.80 Plot: A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People’s Republic. |
Actors: Lone John,O’Toole Peter,Ying Ruocheng,,Dun Dennis,Sakamoto Ryuichi,Young Ric,Tagawa Cary-Hiroyuki,Ikeda Fumihiko,Vuu Richard,Tijger Tsou,Biography,Drama,History,
Why are people freaking out over Obama bowing to the Japanese Emperor?
Last time I checked that is the traditional Japanese greeting and a show of respect. I’m a Republican but I don’t understand why this bothers people so much. It’s a freaking greeting!!! Why shouldn’t he observe their customs as a sign of respect?
I’d really appreciate It if we could leave the "were better than them crap" out of this thank you.
Be nice if every other post wasn’t trashing my party but that’s probably too much ask….
Bowing in Japan can mean many things. It can mean "hello", "thank you", or "goodbuy". Bowing in Japan is not a sign of weakness or strength as many of us in the United States wrongly perceive. How deep a person bows depends on the persons status or AGE. In this case, the emperor is older than obama. It is custom for younger people in Japan to bow lower than their elders. It is a sign of respect for their elders.
"If it’s a traditional Japanese greeting how come the emperor didn’t bow." Obama is younger than the emperor. The younger person bows lower. Yes. The emperor did in fact bow. It is was not as low. When I go to a restaurant, they bow lower as a sign of politeness and greeting.
Obama made a mistake in holding the emperors hand. That is something I never see in Japan.
Oh I love the thumbs down :0) . Glad to see some thumbs up. Your welcomed Yenmor
Bruce | Nov 16, 2009
"Conservatives" are deranged///
Mrs. G | Nov 16, 2009
Ignorance is widespread and that is part of our problem.
stu | Nov 16, 2009
I don’t understand it either–this is a traditional Japanese greeting.
Julia Sugarbaker | Nov 16, 2009
Neo-cons are douchebags…they conveniently forget that Nixon bowed, too (as does EVERY emmissary to Asia)…its a sign of respect in Asia until they say otherwise, I guess…(you know, like waterboarding USED to be torture, to them.)
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?i mgurl=5c8f4325f5d81345&q=hirohito%20 source:life&prev=/images?q=hirohito+ source:life&ndsp=12&hl=en&cl ient=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US 
fficial&sa=N&start=12&um=1
Zap | Nov 16, 2009
Let me educate you:
I n the Japanese culture A LOW BOW shows that the person who stands higher is of higher rank or social status. Its not about Obama bowing but the IGNORANCE of his action in bowing LOWER than the Emperor.
EDIT:
WOW! Look at all that liberal ignorance.
Im stating a cultural FACT, not my opinion.
Enzyte Bob's 4th Clone | Nov 16, 2009
You are correct and I agree with STU.~
firewomen | Nov 16, 2009
Well its more then just a greeting. And NO other world leaders have bowed to monarchy in this manner.
TyranusXX | Nov 16, 2009
All the American late Night comedy host do it.
Fox News Watcher Guy <2> | Nov 16, 2009
JUst another in a line of idiotic moves by our ignorant president who is just totally uninformed about everything. Of all the black democrats that were available how one party could elect such a complete fool.
lienot | Nov 16, 2009
Because he bowed LOWER than the emperor. Nothing wrong with bowing, but just look at the pictures here:
http://messageboards.aol.com/aol/en_us/a rticles.php?boardId=88685&articleId= 1153691&func=6&channel=People+Co nnection&filterRead=false&filter Hidden=true&filterUnhidden=false
Every other leader was bowing equally with the Emperer. Obama bowed LOWER.
Greg | Nov 16, 2009
There are 2 types of bows in Japanese culture a short one as a sign of respect and honor and the deep over the waist type that is a sign of weakness and apology . Obama took the deep one now didn’t he !
Justine | Nov 16, 2009
Damn right!! Had the Emperor had come to the USA he would have had the respect to bow to Obama! Much better sign of respect than pukeing in his lap like Bush did! Fuc**** Lush!!
SULLY | Nov 16, 2009
They detest humbleness…
They are insecure people…
Plus it gives them a reason to trash the President…
Chupate esa! | Nov 16, 2009
It is only a greeting and show of respect when the bow is mutual.
When it is a unilateral bow, it is a sign of fealty.
The Japanese emperor did NOT return the bow. Neither did the Saudi king.
So, if Barry is such a bower and scraper and wants to respect royalty why didn’t he bow to the Queen of England? He just gave her a plastic ipod.
Rupert G | Nov 16, 2009
If it’s a traditional greeting, why didn’t the EMPEROR bow too??
Doesn’t he represent the country and, therefore, its traditions?
laurentius89 | Nov 16, 2009
learn your history,no president before him has ever bowed.democrat or republican.we are superior
you notice that those that agree with you have less then 1,000 points,500 even
skeletons of society | Nov 16, 2009
Because the ignorant do not think before they speak.
Knowledge is secondary to the sound of their own voice resonating in the vacant space between their ears.
television rules the nation | Nov 16, 2009
Only those suffering from Obamaphobia are doing this, per instructions from right wing radio and FOX noise…..
Obamaphobia:
A condition wherein someone suffers from obsessive negative delusions regarding Barack Obama. Those afflicted are often prone to propagation of false rumors about Obama in an attempt to discredit him, seemingly out of irrational fear of him and his Presidency. Misquotes, twisting of facts, contextually inaccurate statements, and flat out lies that play on xenophobic prejudices and exaggerated jingoistic nationalism are staple attacks used by the Obamaphobe.
truth seeker | Nov 16, 2009
Brian, thats good to hear your not biased, Im bi-partisonship, But even tho I support one party doesnt mean it effects my view on life. But anyways, no offense but I think its a mix of being a hipocrite and some kind of political game the opposers are trying to play. Hope this helped. Bi-partisonship all the way
Da Man | Nov 16, 2009
If it’s a traditional Japanese greeting how come the emperor didn’t bow.
greenie | Nov 16, 2009
Maybe you missed your marching orders from either Beck or Rush. I could understand being a Republican and not liking Obama, but the rants that I am seeing more and more on this site are really starting to reach and getting very pathetic.
And no, Bush was not torn apart like this.
Thank you for reminding me that not everyone on the other side has completely lost their minds.
edit – thank you Bruce
Yenmor | Nov 16, 2009
That may be their tradition for lesser persons to bow before the Emperor,
but a Head of another State, would not. Remember that Obama offended
the Queen of England, bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, kissed Hugo
Chavez on the cheek – all no, no’s. Now, he’s pulled another boo-boo.
Someone needs to inform him before he goes trotting off to foreign
countries. Bowing makes you lesser than to whom you’ve bowed, like
Obama’s apologizing to foreign dignitaries for U.S. actions. That is
putting down America, which an American President should never do.
expertgal | Nov 16, 2009
That is because you haven’t actually checked. There is so much ignorance regarding foreign cultures, traditions and customs on these boards, particularly from those who seem to want to be thought of as ‘enlightened’ and progressive. No. Bowing is NOT a sign of respect in Japan and it is far from a ‘freaking greeting’. And it is most definitely not on par with a ‘hand shake’. Thinking such is the height of ignorance.
Bowing is a centuries old custom filled with subtle nuances and tiny rules that western culture does not understand and in most cases will not even notice. But these nuances have enormous significance to the Japanese. Even westerners who have lived in Japan for a number of years still do not understand it all. Bowing, when done right, is an acknowledgment of a person’s place and position relative to the other person. That is it. Respect? Sure, there is an element of that, but this aspect is by far the least significant. It is the exquisite and well executed acknowledgment of ‘place’ that communicates the respect. When done wrong, it is as welcome, as meaningful and as articulate as a fart at a dinner party. As a result, American businessmen are warned and advised NEVER to bow to a Japanese counter part no matter how tempting it may be and regardless of whether they bow to them. It is THEIR custom, it is their means of communicating. Do not attempt to imitate it unless you know precisely what you are doing. And even then, you will not.
The fact that Obama bowed the way he did showed two things. First, it shows the simple minded ignorance that western civilization, and our president in particular, has of other cultures…which is surprising given his ‘global neighborhood’. And secondly, by his ignorant and botched imitation of their custom, he embarrassed the Emperor in a culture that is incredibly sensitive to such things.
NOTE: It has been pointed out that in order to maintain some dignity for the visiting president, Japanese news papers did not show the picture of Obama bowing, but rather the more appropriate greeting he gave the Emperess. They were embarrassed FOR him and as a result, for themselves as well. Well done, Barry.
lrwilliams82 | Nov 16, 2009
I agree with you. I have more than 1000 points and was just on here giving thumbs up and down. Thought I should let you know that we are here and we agree with you. Stupid Cons are just that. Stupid.
Michaelfan58 | Nov 16, 2009
And they seem to forget Bush’s hand-in-hand walks with the Saudi dictator. Conservatives don’t think it’s embarrassing when a Republican shares an intimate embrace with a murdering tyrant. but they go ape sh*t when Obama bows to an old, short Asian man.
Also, I don’t know if you were alive for this, but I remember Richard Nixon sipping tea with Mao Tse Tung and his wife Mme Mao. Both of them oppressed and murdered the Chinese people, not to mention the American lives lost during the Korean War. Nixon’s daughter also wore a MAO pin during the visit. CAn you imagine if Malia or Sasha were photographed wearing a Chavez pin? Glenn Beck would literally die.
Bottom line, cons are hypocrites with no sense of history, even when it took place only a few years ago. They are oblivious to what their own messiahs do.
WYETT M | Nov 16, 2009
The people that are freaking out are the ones that know that culture. You see, in the asian culture a bow, depending on how deep it is shows either respect for your equal or respect for your superior. If it’s too deep then you’re conceding that the other subject is superior to you. I’m sure Obama was just trying to be polite and had no idea. I guess one factor that makes it even more controversial was the fact that it was the Japanese he was bowing to. There’s still a lot of raw nerves for the Japanese in that part of the world. People over there have long memories and still remember Japanese oppression. It was innocently done but sometimes it’s good to know customs, especially when you’re the president of the United States of America. You’re the leader of the free world. He needs to take someone along when he goes to these countries that knows how he should greet their leaders. It’s seems like he gets himself into trouble quite a bit on his greetings.
I’m sure there are those that would blame conservatives, but this has nothing to do with them. The people that were offended are those that know the culture and look up to the United States of America. They can’t see our leader conceding status to the likes of Japanese.
Thunderstruck | Nov 16, 2009
yeah, you are completely right. Its just a freaking greeting. Those other republicans and obama critics should just leave this alone because it really is a Japanese culture tradition to bow. The Chinese also does it too.
lildude211us | Nov 16, 2009
Travis Hudson