Take a Bow, Mr. President

I suppose if you are a 'Tea Bagger' your natural default setting would be to create lots of 'tempests in a teapot.'

There was a mild flurry when First Lady, Michele Obama, actually put her hand on the back of the Queen of England.

Gasp! Horror! Isn't that a breach of British Protocol - or, something? Anything? Bueller? Anyone?

Then, of course, the Right Wing Nuts spun themselves dizzy with that picture of the President bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia.

I saw a picture of the above, photoshopped with the caption, "Obama bows before his King." Honest to Pete! You just can't make this stuff up.

The most tepid and weak brew to be poured from the teapots of the Radical Richt however, is the kerfuffle over the bow the President made as he greeted the Emperor of Japan.

Some are calling it "Bowgate," seeing it as a sign of weakness. Others are calling it "inappropriate', noting that "Dick Chenney didn't bow to the Emperor when he visited China a few years ago."

Yup. That's who I want as my role model and guide. Dick Chenney. Watta guy!  When he isn't approving 'water boarding', he's firing buckshot int the face of his hunting buddies.

Now, there IS evidence that President Bush did a lot more than bow before a Saudi King.

Oh, but wait.

There's more.

Much, much more . . . . .

I'm not sure, but I think if you looked up the word 'inappropriate' in the "Handbook of Presidential Protocol", these two pictures would be right next to it, listed as "Exhibits 'A' and 'B'".

Moving right along.



Our highly skilled but terribly paid research team here at Telling Secrets has conducted an investigation of our own.

Evidence abounds that this President bows.

A lot.

Here is Mr. Obama at the White House with Hindu Priest Sri Narayanachar Digalokote, bowing down before a Hindu Oil Lamp in honor of the Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes knowledge, brilliance, health and wealth.

Here's Mr. Obama again, bowing to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during Memorial Day festvities.

I also have one of him bowing to a wreath - a WREATH, a pagan symbol for goodness sake! - at the 911 Memorial in NYC.

I mean to tell you, this man is a bowing fool!

He just never stops!

Take a look and see if I'm not right.

Here he is, being a gentleman, and bowing as he shakes the hand of Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

Looks like Vice President Joe Biden approves.

That's him applauding the President for making such a gallant gesture.

Here's the President - again with the bowing - with a small child outside the White House.

I mean, really! Whatever was he thinking?

Doesn't this man understand that he's the President of the Free World?  The King of the Universe?  And, he's doing it right in front of the brave men and women of our Military Forces.

Oh, the shame!

 Apparently, the man has no shame.

Here he is taking a HUGE bow at the Annual Easter Egg Rolling Contest on the White House Lawn.

You will note that the bow he gives to a little girl is much deeper than that which he gave the little boy in the picture above.

Indeed, it's an even deeper bow than anything he's ever performed for an official Head of State.

This one is a good effort - in the Oval Office and all -  but it just can't compare to the deep bow he gave that little girl.

On Easter Day - the day of Resurrection, for Pete's sake - when he should be standing in solidarity with the Risen Lord.

Subliminal message or just coincidence?

I suspect the Right Wing Nut Conspirators are already on the case.

I mean, this MUST be an impeachable offense.

Truth be told, this President is making a statement.  His 'body language' is loud and clear.   His strategy is a deliberate, conscious rejection of the previous administration's approach to global politics.

Which is why, of course, some of the folks on the Right are positively apoplectic. 

With every bow and at every turn, Mr. Obama has tried to avoid blunt confrontation in favor of something more collegial, more cooperative.  His focus is on the common ground, hoping for what he once described as a clearing away of "old preconceptions or ideological dogmas" so that nations will be more likely "to cooperate than not to cooperate."

His message has been consistent.  He wants to usher in a "new era of engagement with the world based on mutual interests and mutual respect."

So, what others see as a sign of weakness, Mr. Obama believes is actually a strength.

You know.  What Jesus taught about Servant Leadership.  And, the cross.

He's living his faith.  What he believes.  Quietly.  With great integrity.

Funny thing is, his wildest critics (and there are some pretty wild critics out there) come from the Evangelical Right.

Never mind.  Take a bow, Mr. President.  Every chance you get.

It's these little investments of humility which don't cost much at all, save some sharp criticism now and again, that will pay big dividends over time.

Besides, there are some Christians out here who see what you do and who know what you're trying to accomplish. 

Which is why you are not hearing thunderous applause.  That wouldn't be appropriate.  It's not about you so much as the future you're asking us to invest in.

You've had almost a year to make your opening bow.   The show will go on for the next three years - and, please God, for four more years after that - the 'bullcrap' (as Mrs. Palin likes to say) from Tea Baggers and Birthers and Bowgates notwithstanding.