While I cannot expect refinement in coming up with attention-grabbing headlines, the phrasing of the headline may mislead people into believing that observing the custom of greeting Emperor Akihito in this way can be simplistically reduced to a show of obsequiousness. In fact, bowing is a highly ritualized and ubiquitous form of salutation shared with at least two other countries (North and South Korea), and the non-observance of the custom of bowing can connote unfamiliarity, inattention, or at worst, overt disrespect. In Korean culture, we bow to people we recognize every time we see them and want to say hello or part ways--it takes getting used to, and it certainly feels a great deal more formalized than saying "Hi, how are you", but it can be compared to the custom among Muslims of saying "Al-salaamu `aleykum" and "Wa `aleykum al-salaam" in response (and "ma` al-salaama" in the case of parting). If two people pass by one another without bowing, they may not be familiar or they may not be paying attention, but if they do know each other, it is disrespectful not to bow. Furthermore, if one is meeting an elder on a formal occasion, especially at first introduction, not bowing would be insulting and humiliating to the elder party and it would be like the younger party is openly calling for a fight. It would be almost like being introduced to Mr. Obama and then greeting him with "Hi, Negro," or "Hi, half-breed." Another way of understanding what it would be like is if a person from a culture where people always greet each other casually by sticking up a middle finger at each other greeted Mr. Obama in this way. If that culture were one that had been antagonized by the U.S. at some point, and then that people from that culture became economically and militarily powerful and culturally influential, then everyone from that dominant culture would wonder what's the big problem with middle fingers, and they would consider it demeaning to shake hands with a previously hegemonic power like the U.S.!
Posted by: Anthony Shin | November 14, 2009 at 05:20 AM
Take that!
Re: Outrage in Washington over Obama's Japan bow
Member #: 59436
Registered: 5/25/2008
Posted:
333
Name:
J. Zoll
Name:
J. Zoll
Location:
Naples
Personal:
mid 40s
Experience:
~24 years
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