[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by saden1

You're telling me that if you were stationed in Japan and a local person bowed you wouldn't reciprocate? Not bowing is not only acceptable but preferred by superiors? How vile, especially coming from people who value and fight for their traditions and way of life. I suppose one can not expect certain men to be wise, fortunately U.S. commanders and generals have traditionally showed respect to Japanese customs even under disgraceful circumstance.

I was stationed in Japan for 3 years. Huge difference in returning a bow to another citizen, which I did often, and bowing (especially as POTUS) to a monarch or king. In this instance the US commander was bowing to show remorse and regret, which he should've in this circumstance. Someone under his command disgraced him and the entire U.S. Obama has NOTHING to bow to any foreign leader for (I know we've gone down this road before so rather than the page long responses let me summarize: saden: The U.S. has many things to be ashamed of. SS33: The U.S. is the greatest country on earth. Both posts contain YouTube clips and links to various sites backing up each point)

In meeting with anyone from another government I would shake hands but never bow (and certainly not hold hands and kiss either). In the Far East I would return a bow, but not bow first.