Why did President Obama bow down to the Saudi Arabian King and what message does this send to the world?

*President Obama bowed down to the Saudi Arabian king because he wants the Muslim world to 'like us.' Obama is a left-wing Muslim and by doing such acts shows he is a traitor to the country he represents.

*According to Islam when one bows down to a Muslim leader it is a sign of subservience so whether he meant it or not, He just showed that the US and the Western world are subservient to Islam -- no US president in history has bowed down to a Muslim leader -- ever -- until Obama.

*He was showing the King respect, and showing that he as president of the United States was no better than the King. It dose not show weakness for U.S, it showed that we wanted a friendly relationship with that country and its leaders.

*Different cultures have placed varying degrees of importance on bowing, and have used bowing in a variety of ways. To show the highest degree of politeness, you bend your head and waist about 45 degrees. Common courtesy to most people is shown by bending your head and waist about 15 degrees. In a very casual meeting with a person about your age, nodding your head would be enough. People often bow while shaking hands with one or both hands.

*He was showing the King respect, and showing that he as president of the United States was no better than the King. It does not show weakness for the US, but showed that we want a friendly relationship with that country and its leaders.

*Different cultures have placed varying degrees of importance on bowing, and have used bowing in a variety of ways. To show the highest degree of politeness, you bend your head and waist about 45 degrees. Common courtesy to most people is shown by bending your head and waist about 15 degrees. In a very casual meeting with a person about your age, nodding your head would be enough. People often bow while shaking hands with one or both hands.

*No one from the Obama administration has offered any official explanation. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has stated that Obama didn't bow, but merely shook the King's hand with both hands. However, a YouTube video has been posted which clearly shows a full bow, and according to an editorial in the Washington Times, "Mr. Obama later said in Strasbourg, France, 'We have to change our behavior in showing the Muslim world greater respect.'" That statement may explain Obama's reason for the bow, but the editorial goes on to say, "Symbolism is important in world affairs. By bending over to show greater respect to Islam, the U.S. president belittled the power and independence of the United States."

Michael Goldfarb from the Weekly Standard called the bow "a violation of more than two centuries of tradition and protocol holding that American presidents never bow before royalty."

Clarence Feldman, in commentary for American Thinker, wrote "I am quite certain that this is not the protocol, and is most unbecoming a president of the United States."

However, in defense of the new president's unfamiliarity with protocol, Kathleen Parker, in an editorial for commercialappeal.com entitled "Obama's bow a minor faux pax," writes: "No one of either party has cause for casting stones in these matters. Whether Republicans or Democrats are in charge, Americans are often formidably awkward around monarchs."

As far as how the rest of the world has interpreted the message, it's probably not knowable. In other countries around the world, just as in the US, the news is not necessarily indicative of what the majority of people think. It's likely that the brief gesture was tasteless to many, applauded by many others, and simply confusing to yet others. In any event, Obama's bow will not likely have as much effect on world affairs as the rest of his presidency.

First answer by Jonnydarcko1. Last edit by Litotes. Contributor trust: 148 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].