The American Way

As Toby Keith so eloquently put it...

'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way

Is that really the America Way? Well, sadly it seems that is the way those who consider themselves patriotic, like to think. America believes in freedom (or at least what gets peddled to the servants of her markets as freedom) and seeks to impose this on the world, by force if necessary.

I bring this up because of an opinion piece posted in the Washington Times today, which has been touted by a person of my acquaintance online as a great piece.

Before I share my opinion on the opinion piece...

I voted for Mr. Obama, because I had high hopes that he could achieve some form of change in our government. I think he has achieved some, but the crucial deep changes needed in Washington haven't happened and I suspect they won't ever happen until our entire economy collapses and those who manage our government through lobbying and campaign donations are left impotent and ineffective.

Anyway, so while I admitted at the time that I felt he was a little overly optimistic about the changes he hoped to introduce, I'm now forced to accept the reality that he was being way overly optimistic. But I'm hoping he can still be a force for good. That's not to say I think Mr. McCain would have done any better - I'm of the opinion that things would be much the same had McCain and Pallin gotten the vote, with the exception that I think we would have seen an increase in US conflict overseas.

Which brings me back to the piece. You can read it here.

It's entitled Obama Bows, The Nation Cringes

Basically what happened is that the President is currently on a trip to Asia. When meeting the Emperor of Japan, rather than a handshake, the President bowed, which is a common way of greeting another person in Japanese culture.

Let me take a side journey here...

I was a Mormon missionary in Africa over a decade ago. Most of my time was spent in areas populated predominantly with those of the Zulu nation. Most Zulu people speak fluent English and are used to White men speaking down to them and treating them like second class citizens. When entering one of their homes, I could have taken the dominant role, and shared the prescribed lesson with them, filling my role as the dominant white man, and they would likely have listened respectfully and offered me food and drink before sending me on my way.

I tried a different approach though. When entering their home, I would greet them in their native language with a hushed tone and while bowing my head, extending my right arm for a hand shake. While doing this I would touch my left hand to my right elbow, and then engage them in a traditional zulu hand shake which consists of a series of grips. The handshake, particularly with the left hand positioned at my right elbow was a sign of tremendous respect for the people who had welcomed me into their home. It conveyed to them that I respected them, that I was willing to learn their cultural traditions and honor them as best I could. In many ways it's the Zulu equivalent of a very deep and long bow in Japan.

Perhaps it could be said that I subordinated myself to these people, but it never turned out that way. In showing my respect it didn't dimish me as a person at all, nor even as an emissary for God. Rather it showed that I respected them as fellow humans, worthy of great respect in their own right. Many I developed very deep and meaningful relationships with. While many chose to not accept the lesson I shared, any rejection was done with the utmost respect and good feeling.

Lets return to the offensive bow. The president of the United States chose to learn a foreign countries culture and perform an act of respect when greeting a cultural leader in a foreign land. If Japanese youth were now flowing into the streets chanting about recognition of their supreme leader, I think the writer of this article might have a point, but I have yet to hear any reports of this. I suspect the Emporer truly appreciated both the gesture and the intent behind the bow. I see it as a sign of respect which would lead into very honest and open discussion between these two world leaders.

I think there are two ways which Americans can view the world.

First, is that we're all part of the same human family. We have different cultures, languages and beliefs, all of which are worthy of respect. We don't have to disagree, but we can work together to achieve the great good.

The other way is the way of Toby Keith, George Bush and obviously Mr. Pruden.

F*ck you world!! We're the U S of f*cking A!! We rule the world, and you had better respect us and do what we say, or else... Take it away Toby!

In the grand scheme of things, is there really a difference between those types of people and Islamic extremists who would like to see the world as an Islamic state?

I guess it all depends if your god is Allah or the God the Father.