# Why NOT bow to King Abdullah? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 3, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581 "2009-06-03T14:55:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/201 "2009-06-10T13:47:28Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Do you have a real cite for the Bush claim? > > Regards, > Shodan The last 8 years is proof Bush is either really incompetently stupid, evil, and/or insane. If that’s what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/202 "2009-06-10T13:57:31Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Do you have a real cite for the Bush claim? So that you can further attempt to derail the conversation into “that’s hardly an unbiased source” territory? If you actually want to debate who is the most anointed President, start another thread. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/203 "2009-06-10T14:04:09Z")
huh. And I thought this thread was about Obama… -XT ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/204 "2009-06-10T14:06:07Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > By that, I mean that you have the Telegraph claiming that the BBC says that the Palestinian foreign minister allege that the interpreter told him that Bush claimed that the Palestinians should have their own state, and that Bush should fight terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was the Independent, not the Telegraph- and Bush has said often enough that he “asks God for advice”. ---
**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/205 "2009-06-10T14:19:03Z")
It seems that since the White House very promptly insisted that the President did not bow, even though he clearly did, someone must think that it was something he shouldn’t be doing. In other words wrong. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/206 "2009-06-10T14:41:50Z")
> [@lalenin](#): > > It seems that since the White House very promptly insisted that the President did not bow, even though he clearly did, someone must think that it was something he shouldn’t be doing. In other words wrong. So “someone” thinks it’s wrong sit must be absolutely wrong? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/207 "2009-06-10T14:51:49Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > I always though of the USA as the great and proud republican nation founded on a certain disgust for royalty and all that it entails. If it is true that your president has started to bow to kings, that is all past. Just another nation. An exaggerated reputation at best. And as far as “bowing to kings” goes, when someone far more powerful bows to the lesser, it’s more patronization than submission. Reality matters more than ritual. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/208 "2009-06-10T14:53:01Z")
I suppose Obama could have demanded the king get up on a chair to put the collar over his head and that way Obama would not have to lower his head. I suppose an American president should never say “please” or ask for anything because that would show subservience. Just say “gimme that!” or take it. Maybe it would have been better if Obama had just grabbed to golden collar and put it in his pocket and declared he was taking over the palace for himself. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/209 "2009-06-10T15:10:05Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Reality matters more than ritual. Exactly. And many times ritual is a way of pretending the opposite even if everybody knows it is just ritual. An important man will defer to a woman pretending she is above him when they both know it is not the case but it makes them both feel well, the woman for getting the consideration and the man for granting it. A person who insists on not showing deference to anyone not his equal just comes across as a jerk and an asshole. In _Don Quixote_ Sancho tells the story of a peasant who was invited to dine at a gentleman’s table: > [@](#): > > “So, as I was saying,” continued Sancho, "as the pair of them were going to sit down to table, as I said, the labourer insisted upon the gentleman’s taking the head of the table, and the gentleman insisted upon the labourer’s taking it, as his orders should be obeyed in his house; but the labourer, who plumed himself on his politeness and good breeding, would not on any account, until the gentleman, out of patience, putting his hands on his shoulders, compelled him by force to sit down, saying, 'Sit down, you stupid lout, for wherever I sit will he the head to you; ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/210 "2009-06-10T17:21:45Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > [Couldn’t edit previous post, reposting for clarity] > > Why was this not bothering y’all back when [President Bush was bowing to King Abdullah](http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/33289_Bush_Bowed_Too#rss)? Because people of that ilk are assholes who hold the credo that whatever their guy does is 100% okay, if your guy does the same thing, it’s wrong. It’s the most primitive of mindsets; one I hope someone finds a way to breed out of humanity, using stem-cell research too!😉 ---
**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/211 "2009-06-10T18:27:23Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > So “someone” thinks it’s wrong sit must be absolutely wrong? :dubious: Someone closely associated with the president, as in the White House press office, does think it’s wrong. And if we assume the White House press office to speak for the President, then the someone we’re talking about is President Obama himself. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/212 "2009-06-10T19:32:44Z")
What makes Americans so special? And it’s a good thing it’s only the lefties who are unbiased. Imagine if someone on the right thought Obama was, say…a secret Muslim? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/213 "2009-06-10T20:51:47Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > The last 8 years is proof Bush is either really incompetently stupid, evil, and/or insane. If that’s what you’re looking for. No, I was looking for a cite where “Bush claimed that God chose him to rule the free world”. Got one? Here’s a hint - no, you don’t. So maybe you need to run away whining that calling you folks on your bullshit is “derailing” a thread. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/214 "2009-06-10T22:07:14Z")
[quote=“Shodan, post:197, topic:498581”] No he’s not - he’s God, sort of, and above the US and the world. [Cite](http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jromano/2009/06/08/newsweek-ends-all-pretense-of-objectivity-as-editor-evan-thomas-calls-obama-god/). Regards, Oh for heavens sake – OBAMA did not call himself a god. :rolleyes: > [@sailor](#): > > I suppose Obama could have demanded the king get up on a chair to put the collar over his head and that way Obama would not have to lower his head. > > I suppose an American president should never say “please” or ask for anything because that would show subservience. Just say “gimme that!” or take it. > > Maybe it would have been better if Obama had just grabbed to golden collar and put it in his pocket and declared he was taking over the palace for himself. If he DID do that, that would be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581/215 "2009-06-11T03:26:04Z")
I thought of somthng If King Abdullah were to meet with the Queen Of England would they bow to each other? And who would bow first or would they bow at the same time? I would like answers from those who live in countries that have Kings and Queens. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-bow-to-king-abdullah/498581.md?page=10)