Considering what Obama said was largely double edged, I wouldn't call it an apology. And the fact that Americans think they don't need to apologize for being arrogant probably is a good indicator that they are.
As for the bow, it's better than holding hands, as I'm not sure where in Texas holding hands was a sign of respect but I do know of places where a bow is respect (and not subservience).
To the extent that Obama "apologized" about anything, it was not about America. Rather, he has simply made the simply point that there is much in the criminal and immoral activities of less several years that the US needs to --properly-- distance itself from. To make clear to the people of the world that there are still Americans who understand this sort of thing is not what America means and stands for.
It seems dumb that that this needs to be explicitly stated, but criticizing any bit of idiocy done in the name America is not the same as criticizing America. Any child beyond the age of seven can understand a distinction like this. Why can't Tinsley and his ilk?
I just love the way the right has characterized this conciliatory tone as an "Appeasement Tour". These are our ALLIES. Of course, after the last eight years, it's easy to forget that we have any.
Obama also called Europe out on the anti-American undercurrents running through the area, saying it was just as unhealthy an attitude as, well, the overbearing jingoism of some Americans. But hey, if Mallard told the whole story there'd be nothing left to spin, right?
GeoX said... (4-19-09) "if he did that, one of us would link to some of the spectacularly idiotic signs dumbfuck protesters were brandishing in the recent teabagging farrago, and he would find himself pwned more than anyone has ever been pwned before."
Fat boy...as you well know they were "Tea Party" protests against BHO's stimulus bill. "Teabagging" is something you would obviously know about.
Obama's Travel Memories. "But I did not bow!" Obama's followers, the losers, liberals and assorted loons agree that he did not bow. Watch the video below and you be the judge.
White House denies Obama bowed to Saudi Prince. Ha,Ha! What were you doing down there "O"? Ok, well far be it from me to call Obama a liar. Perhaps he tripped. Perhaps, he saw his shoe was untied. Perhaps Obama was praying. Perhaps he was admiring the Prince's shoes. Perhaps Obama found his head particularly heavy that day, full of all sorts of pride. Perhaps he was...no, never mind.
Perhaps he was simply bowing to a foreign power. Yes, I'll go with that one. Obama, the freaking President of the United States was bowing to a Saudi Prince. It makes sense, he had already been apologizing the entire trip for America being evil. He had kissed every ass placed in front of him. Why not kowtow to the Saudi Prince? What more do you have to lose?
Oh Tinzynonymous, you really are a psychosexual mess, aren't you? I don't think I've EVER encountered anyone who laid his insecurities bare with quite as much enthusiasm and quite as little self-awareness as you do.
But hey, if you don't like "teabagging"--which YOU idiots started; we only latched onto it because it's FUCKING HILARIOUS--then fine; it can be "tea parties," which, by contrast, call to mind images of little girls in frilly pink dresses playing with their stuffed animals. Does that suit you Manly-Man John Galts better?
Shorter Tinonymous: NO U.Word verification: hercals
Musical interlude more relevant than anything Tinonymous has ever said or probably ever will: o/` Hercules! Hero of song and story! Hercules! Winner of ancient glory! Fighting for the right, Fighting with his might, With the strength of ten Ordinary men... o/`
So what do you guys think: is Tinzanonymous propositioning me? He certainly appears to have a disproportionate interest in my sexual orientation/proclivities.
If so, let me just address him directly: I'm flattered, sort of, but if that's your goal you're really not expressing yourself in an appropriate way, and in any case, I don't think you're really my type. Sorry! I'm sure there's someone out there for you, but I'm not sure anonymously trolling random blogs is the best way to find him or her.
My main frustration on this is that Obama made a perfectly valid point, IE that Americans tend to get jingoistic and forget that they are a part of the world community and need to be conscious of the fact that the world is smaller. He also pointed out that anti-Americanism in Europe and other parts of the world only causes divisions and inflames jingoist behavior in the US.
I don't see a problem with that, nor do I have a problem with a leader who is willing to criticize the actions of his nation and ponder them soberly rather than act as though his nation is somehow infallible. We are Americans, not God Almighty. We have to quit acting like we're somehow beyond reproach for our national sins. Especially when we seek to throw stones at other nations for their actions, some further in the past than ours or inflamed by our own meddling in the region.
I have a problem with people making a stink about the bowing. For one thing, it is an ancient practice that has risen to an art form in different cultures at various times. It does not mean one particular thing, similar to how kissing isn't just a prelude to sex.
But them, from martial arts I'm used to bowing to people before proceeding to practice beating them up. It isn't subservience, it's a sign that I respect the person.
21 comments:
So according to Mallard, America doesn't need to apologize for anything to anyone for any reason? We never did anything wrong, ever?
Seems about right.
Remember, showing any sign of humility or respect is weakness and entirely unpatriotic.
Considering what Obama said was largely double edged, I wouldn't call it an apology. And the fact that Americans think they don't need to apologize for being arrogant probably is a good indicator that they are.
As for the bow, it's better than holding hands, as I'm not sure where in Texas holding hands was a sign of respect but I do know of places where a bow is respect (and not subservience).
Let's make an obvious point here.
To the extent that Obama "apologized" about anything, it was not about America. Rather, he has simply made the simply point that there is much in the criminal and immoral activities of less several years that the US needs to --properly-- distance itself from. To make clear to the people of the world that there are still Americans who understand this sort of thing is not what America means and stands for.
It seems dumb that that this needs to be explicitly stated, but criticizing any bit of idiocy done in the name America is not the same as criticizing America. Any child beyond the age of seven can understand a distinction like this. Why can't Tinsley and his ilk?
I just love the way the right has characterized this conciliatory tone as an "Appeasement Tour". These are our ALLIES. Of course, after the last eight years, it's easy to forget that we have any.
So, let me get this straight:
Michelle Obama is an anti-whitey secret terrorist because she touched Queen Elizabeth IN VIOLATION OF PROTOCOL.
But...
Barack Obama is an anti-American secret Muslim because he bowed (if indeed that was a bow) to the King Abdullah IN OBSERVANCE OF PROTOCOL.
"Damned if you do, damned if you don't" doesn't quite do justice to this stupidity.
The wingnut platform in song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtMV44yoXZ0
exanonymous: Holding hands? How about kissing?
http://tinyurl.com/cwpbmn
NLC: I believe you answered your own question. These people are NOT beyond the (mental) age of seven.
12xuser: We have allies?
Meanwhile, on issues of substance involving issues that actually affect our lives, we have the following Mallard Fillmore "cartoons":
Obama also called Europe out on the anti-American undercurrents running through the area, saying it was just as unhealthy an attitude as, well, the overbearing jingoism of some Americans. But hey, if Mallard told the whole story there'd be nothing left to spin, right?
GeoX said... (4-19-09)
"if he did that, one of us would link to some of the spectacularly idiotic signs dumbfuck protesters were brandishing in the recent teabagging farrago, and he would find himself pwned more than anyone has ever been pwned before."
Fat boy...as you well know they were "Tea Party" protests against BHO's stimulus bill. "Teabagging" is something you would obviously know about.
Obama's Travel Memories. "But I did not bow!" Obama's followers, the losers, liberals and assorted loons agree that he did not bow. Watch the video below and you be the judge.
White House denies Obama bowed to Saudi Prince. Ha,Ha! What were you doing down there "O"? Ok, well far be it from me to call Obama a liar. Perhaps he tripped. Perhaps, he saw his shoe was untied. Perhaps Obama was praying. Perhaps he was admiring the Prince's shoes. Perhaps Obama found his head particularly heavy that day, full of all sorts of pride. Perhaps he was...no, never mind.
Perhaps he was simply bowing to a foreign power. Yes, I'll go with that one. Obama, the freaking President of the United States was bowing to a Saudi Prince. It makes sense, he had already been apologizing the entire trip for America being evil. He had kissed every ass placed in front of him. Why not kowtow to the Saudi Prince? What more do you have to lose?
Oh Tinzynonymous, you really are a psychosexual mess, aren't you? I don't think I've EVER encountered anyone who laid his insecurities bare with quite as much enthusiasm and quite as little self-awareness as you do.
But hey, if you don't like "teabagging"--which YOU idiots started; we only latched onto it because it's FUCKING HILARIOUS--then fine; it can be "tea parties," which, by contrast, call to mind images of little girls in frilly pink dresses playing with their stuffed animals. Does that suit you Manly-Man John Galts better?
The GeoX is beyond help. He is so easy. He has a gender problem and he needs to seek professional therapy.
Remember, AnonTinkley:
We aren't laughing with you;
we're laughing at you.
Oh no, the old bald guy with the bad teeth has not yet had his warm milk and been put to bed.
Shorter Tinonymous: NO U.Word verification: hercals
Musical interlude more relevant than anything Tinonymous has ever said or probably ever will:
o/` Hercules! Hero of song and story!
Hercules! Winner of ancient glory!
Fighting for the right,
Fighting with his might,
With the strength of ten
Ordinary men... o/`
So what do you guys think: is Tinzanonymous propositioning me? He certainly appears to have a disproportionate interest in my sexual orientation/proclivities.
If so, let me just address him directly: I'm flattered, sort of, but if that's your goal you're really not expressing yourself in an appropriate way, and in any case, I don't think you're really my type. Sorry! I'm sure there's someone out there for you, but I'm not sure anonymously trolling random blogs is the best way to find him or her.
My main frustration on this is that Obama made a perfectly valid point, IE that Americans tend to get jingoistic and forget that they are a part of the world community and need to be conscious of the fact that the world is smaller. He also pointed out that anti-Americanism in Europe and other parts of the world only causes divisions and inflames jingoist behavior in the US.
I don't see a problem with that, nor do I have a problem with a leader who is willing to criticize the actions of his nation and ponder them soberly rather than act as though his nation is somehow infallible. We are Americans, not God Almighty. We have to quit acting like we're somehow beyond reproach for our national sins. Especially when we seek to throw stones at other nations for their actions, some further in the past than ours or inflamed by our own meddling in the region.
GeoX is in LUV! So cute! Let's throw a tea party!
I have a problem with people making a stink about the bowing. For one thing, it is an ancient practice that has risen to an art form in different cultures at various times. It does not mean one particular thing, similar to how kissing isn't just a prelude to sex.
But them, from martial arts I'm used to bowing to people before proceeding to practice beating them up. It isn't subservience, it's a sign that I respect the person.
*then, not them
On the evidence, Geox is right: Anonymous Coward is in love, but dare not speak his name.
I still think he's probably a troll.
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