While at the G20 Summit in London, Obama had the opportunity to meet and talk the ears off the heads of state of the 20 top economies in the world. When he met the King of Saudi Arabia, he bowed to him. A photo and the video of that bow are below.
Obama Bows to Saudi King
Bowing to royalty is symbolic of that monarch’s power over his or her subjects. That’s why Americans don’t bow to the British Queen while the subjects of the Crown do. Our forefathers fought a pretty nasty war called the American Revolution, so that we would not be subjected to the will of the British monarchy.
I know things have changed a lot since then and some Americans choose to give a quick curtsy to Queen Elizabeth as a courtesy. Not a huge big deal. Inappropriate and indicates a lack of understanding of the dynamics between to two countries, but not a sign of treason any more.
In fact, when Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, met the Queen this week, they did a quick little perfectly executed bow. That was probably an effort on their part to make up for their series of insults to the British in the short time Obama has been President of the United States. Regardless of their reasons, it was still not proper for an American President to bow to the Queen.
One does not bow or curtsy to a foreign monarch because the gesture symbolizes recognition of her power over her subjects.
Even the English found it to be inappropriate and wondered about the heyday the press would have had if President George W. Bush had been so out of touch with proper protocol. We know he’d have been laughed at endlessly in the media and had those images broadcast out to the public 24/7 with ‘journalist’ asserting it was proof that he was just an ignorant American (as though being American is an insult).
It turns out that Obama has yet to appoint a chief of protocol. Seriously.
When someone has spent two years campaigning for the presidency, don’t you think they might have been a tad bit better prepared then this?
Much worse than the curtsy to the Queen of England was the deep subservient bow to the Saudi King. When Obama met Saudi Arabian King Abdullah, he sank into a bow that made some watching wonder if he was fixing to lick the king’s shoes. At its best it is unbecoming of an American President to bow to a foreign king, or its just clueless.
Does bowing, deep bowing, to the King of Saudi Arabia leave much doubt as to where Obama’s loyalties lie? His has made numerous attempts to court the Arab world since he’s been president.
The Saudi king himself has stated that ‘the faithful’ bow only to God. That makes me wonder how King Abdullah himself viewed the subservience of the American President.
New Saudi King Abdullah has effectively banned citizens from kissing his hand or that of any member of the royal family, saying only fathers and mothers deserved such reverence.
“Brothers, there is something on my mind I want to tell you,” King Abdullah told delegations of princes, officials and ordinary citizens at his palace in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.
“Kissing hands is something alien to our values and ethics, and is refused by free and honest souls,” he said, quoted by the official SPA news agency.
“Moreover, it leads to bowing, which violates God’s law as the faithful bows only to the one and only God.
The whole thing is embarrassing. Its like the ‘American Hillbillies go to Europe’. Yet the slobbering American press will just gush over them as though they are the most sophisticated people ever to reside in the White House.
I can’t really laugh at Obama’s antics in Europe. He is throwing American power and prestige out with both hands as fast as he can. I can’t laugh at it, because he’s taking all of us with him.
Obama Bows to Saudi King - Video
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Who is being elitist? I know that GW and his keeper, Dick Cheney were trying for an American Empire, but if you haven’t realized by now that instead they alienated most of the free world and other not so free nations you’re deluding yourself. Obama and wife have garnered rave reviews around the world. People the world over were hoping against hope that hope would prevail. That American Imperialist leaders would be replaced by American egalitarians (which by the way we are supposed to be.) Thank goodness that has happened. Better a few gaffes in protocol than a bankrupting invasion and war based on lies and selfinterest. (Oh and torture!) Now we have a chance to make friends abroad since this is a global world.
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Lisa - that’s a sad comment. If you really believe that, its very sad indeed.
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:53 pm
yep beth. the ‘evil twin’ clampetts. geez these interlopers are just too much.
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Obama is an embarrassment. The left and the left-leaning press can’t admit it because they’re so deep in the tank for Obama. Everyone with even a speck of objectivity can see that the man is a disaster. The “rave reviews” that Lisa mentions are manufactured. It’s funny listening to the Obamabots rationalize and justify Obama’s missteps, gaffes and mistakes.
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
You know what was on the iPod he gave the Queen? Videos of himself!! Oh geezzz.
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Exactly Irvin. The foreign press doesn’t have to justify their allegiance to him so they are being more honest in their assessments of him. Its just mortifying.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:06 am
HAHA. I reckon that your president owes more than a bow to the man.
The Saudi royal family is owed a debt in the trillions from America. I’d say he’s almost working for them
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:14 am
obama is a Muslim lier , the American people is completely naive don’t know any thing about the Muslim evil mentality
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:32 am
Obama’s bow wreaks of dhimmitude. It’s much worse than a breach of protocol, BHO is haphazardly displaying his weakness and incompetence before the world.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
As a life-long conservative Republican, I can’t understand “throwing American power and prestige out with both hands.” All the power and prestige we had with Clinton and Bush? The whole world thought we were as dumb as they were, like deer caught in headlights. If large crowds of Europeans showing up to cheer for our President, for our policies, for the Marshall Plan, for past cooperation, etc., etc., is throwing our prestige out, maybe it’s just as well.
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Hey Lisa! Obama has preserved renditions/torture. He’s doing nothing different to Bush - just more inept.
April 4th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Its fascinating the racism disguised as constructive criticism. A smart, educated and admired black man is in office, and you all hate that.
Bowing to the king is a show of respect. But ignorant un-educated trash just don’t get that. Pity.
April 4th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Kesh - how sad that someone can’t criticize the President without being accused of racism. Isn’t that racism itself? If you truly feel he’s capable, then why do you have to try to intimidate people into quieting dissent? No one accused you of racism when you criticized George W. Bush. Obama is the president, surely he’s man enough to take the heat or he wouldn’t be in the office. If you think he’s not able to handle it - then you are the racist.
April 6th, 2009 at 4:15 am
I think this is an unnecessary act.
This symbolism action can be used by many people as a source of stupid humor or even being politicization.
April 7th, 2009 at 1:24 am
As far as I am concerned, people in Saudi Arabia do not bow to anyone, they kiss hands and heads of their parents and they used to do so with the king as being their father in age. We didn’t take it as a weakness from pres. Obama, we know that it is a way of showing respect nothing more. ( I know because I am from Saudi Arabia).
For comment 8:
With all respect, either you dont know the American people very well or you dont know a clue about Islam.
Guys, although Obama is trying to have good relations with Islamic countries. We know that he made actions that clearly shows that he is not a muslim.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:12 am
Amr - its great that Obama bowing doesn’t bother you. However, as an American citizen, it bothers me. I’m more concerned about what is culturally appropriate here than in Saudi Arabia. He is, after all, the American President. Therefore, he should act like it and bowing to any other head of state is unbecoming to say the least.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
That is true beth, you are right. However, I thought of providing you guys with the other side of the story and how did the Saudis see it.
April 8th, 2009 at 3:02 am
Obama’s childhood dream of bowing down to a sovereign in the Muslim country where Mecca is located is now fulfilled! I hope he at least got front row seats for the big pilgrimage because this formal bow suggests he no longer values the sovereignty of the United States. You know, that LAND OF THE FREE where he is supposedly the President?
April 8th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Unfortunately it was not a bow it was worse. It appears he is kissing the ring of the Saudi King! As a member of the U.S. Military I can’t help but feel a little sick to my stomach at this.
April 8th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Well, do you think he’s a Muslim now?
How’s that change working for ya?
Don
April 9th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Oh come on…screw protocol. The Obama’s are just themselves. Hey when did an American President and first lady walk down a crowded street with millions to see. Protocol is not needed when you are trying to heal a broken down country by a Former President who thought war and fear rules the true protocol. Bush had a chief protocol called Rove and Cheney. By the way they ran the Whitehouse. Give Obama a chance and strength doesn’t have to be in war and lies of it’s reason. And as far as the King of Saudi goes. Bush allowed this King to make trillions off of high gas prices from the saudi king. Hows that for proper protocol. He didn’t just bow he blew hard.Did you see him in the news demanding gas prices to go down. No…he said drive less.
April 10th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
“Its like the ‘American Hillbillies go to Europe’.”
I imagine that even a hillbilly would know the difference between “its” and “it’s.”
April 10th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
wow!! the president of the united states bowing down to The House of Saud Monachy and to Mecca. I guess the women,children,mothers,fathers,husbands,wifes,infants are resting in peace under 60 feet of dirt in their graves in the world trade center thanking Obama for finally asking the forgivness of the house of Saud and Islam and also the magificent 19 plane hijackers who were all saudis.
Now Obama needs to make america and look towards MECCA. The queen of england got a nod and House of Saud got a DEEEP Bow and respect. Pity the USA
April 10th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
hillbilly - thanks for pointing out a typo - do you have anything else to offer the conversation?
April 13th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
“Fixing” to lick the king’s shoes?
Am I supposed to respect the rest of your article after that? Not likely.
April 14th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Rick - What an elitist response. Do you have a problem with colloquialisms?
Wait - you’re right - it should have been ‘fixin’ - whoops.
April 22nd, 2009 at 2:05 am
Once again the sheep have gone astray. I shall do my best to heard them to the truth. When it is said that we shall only bow to god, the word bow is meant as kneeling or being on one’s knees before god. The act of bending at the waist is also considered a bow but should be taken as a greeting of peace, respect, and understanding to your fellow man. Similar to a hand shake or a nod. Do not let your pride, anxiety or ignorance overshadow your ability consciously think and understand with compassion. Your fear drives you to these conclusions and darken your judgement with such blasphemous claims against an embassador of peace. I hope those who have mistook Obama’s actions as direct assaults against their religion, beliefs and freedom will call upon god to deliver them the truth. Remember that when Jesus was crucified one of the main reasons for it happening was the twisting of words and creation of lies on behalf of the jews and romans. They made a man of peace out to be an anarchist, yet he died for their sins with out malice or forsakening them to their enevitable fates. So settle down super right wingests for your personal interpretations may twist the very words of god to serve thy own purpose and that in itself is a sin of epic proportions. Does the ignorance of the masses ring any bells? I rest my case before the public and god. I leave you in love. Peace.