Obama's bow shows cultural tolerance not subserviance
By: Marie Leonard
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Opinion
It is important to build relationships with other powerful friendly countries around the world like Japan, and powerful not-so-friendly nations like China. According to an article from the Associated Press, the Chinese government is America's largest foreign creditor, and they have so far loaned the United States over $800 billion. In the same article, a researcher from the Shanghai Institute for International Studies said, "The U.S. has a lot to ask from China. On the other hand, the U.S. has little to offer China." This statement is very true, as China has had the world's fastest growing economy for the past 30 years and currently has the third largest economy in the world, just after the United States and Japan.
The situation is ironic, because the United States does not always get along with the Chinese on a few key subjects, but they are our largest foreign lender because of their huge economy. If the United States wants to improve its conditions and stay on top of the world economy, Asia might be the place to look for advice. Americans have much to learn about different cultures; making a big deal over our president bowing to a Japanese official makes it obvious we have not made much progress yet. America has been one of the largest superpowers in the world since the end of WWII, but if we don't watch out in the future, the mouths on our big heads may come back to bite us.
The situation is ironic, because the United States does not always get along with the Chinese on a few key subjects, but they are our largest foreign lender because of their huge economy. If the United States wants to improve its conditions and stay on top of the world economy, Asia might be the place to look for advice. Americans have much to learn about different cultures; making a big deal over our president bowing to a Japanese official makes it obvious we have not made much progress yet. America has been one of the largest superpowers in the world since the end of WWII, but if we don't watch out in the future, the mouths on our big heads may come back to bite us.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Nate
posted 11/19/09 @ 9:17 AM CST
Ok I might as well add my two cents into this. I see nothing wrong with Obama bowing in this case. It is the cultural "hello" in this case. The only problem is the manor in which he did bow. (Continued…)
Sohei Fox
posted 11/19/09 @ 10:17 AM CST
You do not even have a cursory understanding of how Japanese culture works. If you bow lower then someone, you are showing that you acknowledge them as higher then you. (Continued…)
ronmossad
posted 11/22/09 @ 4:25 PM CST
Can tolerance breeds intolerance? How can this be?
http://ronmossad.blogspot.com/2009/11/tolerance-breeds-intolerance.html
Historically, the indecent minority has only been able to succeed due to the indifference of the decent majority. (Continued…)
Denice McCormick Myers
posted 11/22/09 @ 5:02 PM CST
Ms. Leonard, I agree with your comments that many U.S. citizens need to be cognizant that other cultures may have ways of showing friendship and respect that may seem strange to us on the surface. (Continued…)
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