Comments on: Miss Manners on American Obeisance http://wopsr.net/archives/329 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:26:30 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Qwertz http://wopsr.net/archives/329/comment-page-1#comment-13800 Qwertz Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:04:36 +0000 http://wopsr.net/?p=329#comment-13800 The point Miss Manners and I are making by relating the background behind such customs is that it is <em>never</em> culturally appropriate for an American to bow to someone as a greeting. Americans do not bow. <em>Our</em> culture of individualism and the fundamental equality of all persons forbids it. American businessmen need to learn this lesson as much as President Obama does. The bow is, in all cultures where it is prevalent as a greeting, either for royalty or merely for one's "betters" (both are concepts alien to American individualism), is a display of obsequious obeisance, not appropriate for a meeting of equals. If an American wishes to be gracious when meeting a new acquaintance from a culture where bowing is prevalent, he should ask his new acquaintance please not to bow, to stand upright, and to extend a hand in equal partnership and respect instead. On a broader note, cultural relativism (the idea that no culture is superior to any other, and that all should be respected by outsiders) is garbage. Some cultures are better than others, and one can determine which are better by looking at them and asking "which is moral?" Or, "which culture best promotes human life as a rational individual?" The answer is still American culture. ~Q The point Miss Manners and I are making by relating the background behind such customs is that it is never culturally appropriate for an American to bow to someone as a greeting. Americans do not bow. Our culture of individualism and the fundamental equality of all persons forbids it. American businessmen need to learn this lesson as much as President Obama does. The bow is, in all cultures where it is prevalent as a greeting, either for royalty or merely for one’s “betters” (both are concepts alien to American individualism), is a display of obsequious obeisance, not appropriate for a meeting of equals. If an American wishes to be gracious when meeting a new acquaintance from a culture where bowing is prevalent, he should ask his new acquaintance please not to bow, to stand upright, and to extend a hand in equal partnership and respect instead.

On a broader note, cultural relativism (the idea that no culture is superior to any other, and that all should be respected by outsiders) is garbage. Some cultures are better than others, and one can determine which are better by looking at them and asking “which is moral?” Or, “which culture best promotes human life as a rational individual?” The answer is still American culture.

~Q

]]> By: Nicole Elizabeth Gabriela Schwarcz Faby http://wopsr.net/archives/329/comment-page-1#comment-13792 Nicole Elizabeth Gabriela Schwarcz Faby Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:39:00 +0000 http://wopsr.net/?p=329#comment-13792 I am not knowledgeable enough about Saudi Arabian customs to comment on whether or not bowing is culturally appropriate, but in both China and Japan bowing is a customary greeting when meeting almost everyone, not merely ones "betters"; moreover, while Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is not democratically elected, he is not royalty, either. On the other hand, if President Obama wishes to act in a culturally appropriate manner when he makes visits abroad, he should learn the exact etiquette (he is not bowing properly). I am not knowledgeable enough about Saudi Arabian customs to comment on whether or not bowing is culturally appropriate, but in both China and Japan bowing is a customary greeting when meeting almost everyone, not merely ones “betters”; moreover, while Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is not democratically elected, he is not royalty, either.

On the other hand, if President Obama wishes to act in a culturally appropriate manner when he makes visits abroad, he should learn the exact etiquette (he is not bowing properly).

]]>