BY: WC WINDBAG

Truth be told, this seems to be a rather silly story, but in my opinion it has serious ripple effects. Others have covered this story extensively, so I was not planning on jumping on the bandwagon, but with the recent White House denial of the bow (just making me laugh), I felt compelled. Seriously, who are they kidding? As I have heard pundits say and write yesterday, “who you going to believe, Obama or your lying eyes.”

Yet, the denials come:

“It wasn’t a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he’s taller than King Abdullah,” said an Obama aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Yes, President Obama is practically a giant. By contrast, my son is 43 inches tall, which is exactly 27 inches shorter than I am (yes, I am that short), and I don’t bow bend over that low to shake hands hug him. Perhaps I am not showing him the proper respect… hmmmmm.

Although I have not commented on this “bow” since it initially happened, it does not mean I don’t think it means something. Back in 1776, the men who founded this nation decided that we would be bound to no sovereign, and that all men were created equal by their Creator. Over the course of the 232 years, there have been many examples of this, but my favorite one is from the Olympics… a story that my parents told me when I was younger, and what I witnessed in opening ceremonies in modern times:

Traditionally, the Opening Ceremony is officially opened by the Head of State of the host nation and when the flag bearers pass the dignitarys’ Box, it is traditional for them to dip their nation’s flag in honor of the host Head of State. But for one nation, the United States, this is not done,’ and the reasons given are considered traditional and usually relate to an episode which occurred at the Opening Ceremony of the 1908 Olympic Games in London.

Going further…

Therefore, according to the official protocol, the flag bearers were expected to lower their flags to the Ring not once, but twice, although the second reference is a bit more vague and may have consisted of some other form of salute by the team members.

And finally, although the person’s identity, purposeful action, and even the exact quotation are in question, legend has it that Martin Sheridan said the following of the flag:

“This flag dips to no earthly king.”

Exactly! We, the People of the United States, and especially our elected leaders bow to no earthy king. This is likely just yet another rookie faux pas by a green President… a mistake in protocol on the President’s part, but something he must correct.

Time for the President to man fess up, or “tell the truth”, as Slow Joe would say. It was a bow… it was stupid. He should have just shook hands with the King and retained his dignity and the dignity of a nation.

Let’s hope he is learning from all these mistakes.

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