President Obama's Bowing to King of Saudi Arabia.

Oh for crying out loud!

There are times when I think American protocol is arrogant and misshapen and the newshounds that watch for each faux-pas, misstep are just a bunch of sadistic vultures.

During the G20 summit last week, President Obama made an apparent "bow" to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. NOT, as the Drudge Report put it: "White House Denies Bow to Saudi Prince".

First, the act of bowing to someone can be interpreted to mean several things. It can be the act of deference when performed by a person who is clearly inferior to another. It can also be used by equals to show respect and friendship, similar to the usage of a handshake or a salute.

I know that U.S. protocol has established that no American President should bow to royalty. I think that this particular position is pernicious and arrogant.

Had President Obama bowed to a subordinate member of the Saudi Royal family or any other Saudi who is not the head of the state, I would join many of the people who are decrying this act. However, King Abdullah is the undisputed ruler of Saudi Arabia. Much more importantly, the act of clasping hands or otherwise touching the person of a high position or title is very alien to many cultures outside of Western Europe.

Therefore, for two head of states to bow to one another while in a multi-cultural setting is totally appropriate and shows sensitivity to their culture. The same act of President Obama bowing to King Abdullah were he visiting the White House in Washington would probably be inappropriate, because in that setting he would be expected to be sensitive to our culture. When in Rome....

Something else does bother me though. It would appear that King Abdullah either did not believe that President Obama actually bowed to him ( which would support the White House' claim that President Obama did not bow to him ) or King Abdullah did believe he received a gesture of respect from one head of state to another and failed to reciprocate by returning the bow. If this is true, then it is King Abdullah who has failed to measure up to protocol by failing to recognize the respect given him by a head of state of a foreign nation, an equal.