Must be an older woman thing.
Posted on 11/19/2012 2:07:02 PM PST by Arthurio
As Barack Obama appeared in the home of Myanmar pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon, the U.S. president planted a platonic, but very affectionate, kiss on her cheek (to which she appeared to slightly recoil in embarrassment). This act has surprisingly elicited little or no comment in the global press thus far – quite unusual since public displays of affection represent a grave breach of custom in virtually all Asian countries.
Obama likely did not mean to offend his Burmese hosts, however, as a well-travelled man of the world, he must have known that a kiss – especially one between a man and a woman who are not married; and one delivered to the most famous woman in Southeast Asia – violates local etiquette.-snip-
With respect to Suu Kyi’s apparent ‘backing away’ from Obama’s kiss, another expert on Burma, Frederic K. Lehman, Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois, speculated: “if, indeed, she did back away, possibly it is a personal thing with her and maybe she may have felt it was not to be done in a Burmese context-- she is, after all, a politician and sensitive to how her constituents may feel about her behavior.”
Though the kiss has elicited no diplomatic incidents, Obama did make at least one other blunder during his informal meeting with Suu Kyi.
The Associated Press reported that Obama repeatedly mispronounced her name, though Suu Kyi politely refrained from correcting him.
The president called the Nobel laureate “Aung Yan Suu Kyi,” versus the correct pronunciation: “Ahng Sahn Soo Chee.”
Nile Gardiner, a Washington-based foreign affairs analyst for the Daily Telegraph, commented: “It is rather embarrassing, as well as sad, that the leader of the free world can’t even pronounce the name of the most famous human rights activist on the planet.”
(Excerpt) Read more at ibtimes.com ...
What was his thought process for even doing this? What could he think he was going to gain from this?
The boy did it on Purpose, not near as
stupid as he acts.
needs to distract the attention away from the HOMELAND
He can't be bothered with attending his intelligence briefings - why should he be concerned about being briefed on proper protocol when visiting another country?
I’m going to go against the grain of comments here.
When a foreign person comes to America, we are expected to go out of our way to make allowances for them and not expect them to understand or follow our customs. We’re never supposed to be offended if they follow their customs rather than ours. That’s part of being PC and not eurocentric or ethnocentric.
When an American goes overseas, we are expected to bone up in advance on local customs so we can understand and follow them. We’re supposed to be terribly embarassed if we fall back, even accidentally, into our own way of doing things. That’s part of being PC and not eurocentric or ethnocentric.
What I don’t understand is why only Europeans and particularly Americans have this standard applied. Why don’t Burmese have to learn to not be asiacentric or ethnocentric?
I wonder if you guys are all going the wrong way with this! Doesn’t he come from Chicago? Didn’t you see this in the Godfather?
Kinda like Caligula and his Senate? Yes I was watching the History Channel the other night. IMHO this was intentional....
He might have done more damage to the pro-democracy movement in Burma by just visiting and then he does that??
The junta must be laughing about this!
A genius who just discredited the Burmese pro-demoocracy movement in Burma.
Must be an older woman thing.
IMNSHO, that kiss was demeaning to Suu Kyi. The subtext is: “You’re not a serious human rights activist and Nobel Peace prize winner; you’re just a cute little piece of fluff, and I’ll just plant one on your cheek to show that to the world”.
Generally here in the USA men in professional situations don't go around kissing women on the cheek that they have never met before. In most circumstances that would be seen as awkward at best, and maybe an example of sexual harassment. A handshake is the normal American greeting in formal business situations.
In most situations even in social circumstances in the USA kissing some woman you've never met before is frowned upon. It is particularly a bad idea in biker bars, at rodeos, and when meeting some guy and his wife for the first time.
Perhaps the POTUS thought he was in Thailand in one of those "tourist" neighborhoods, instead of meeting a world renowned leader.
You are quite correct.
My comments were meant generally with regard to whether foreigners or natives should make the adjustments.
It seems Americans are the ones always expected to adjust, whether they are here or overseas.
He kissed Boehner??
When I first saw the photo on Drudge, I thought it was really weird. After all, Obama actually lived in Indonesia. Even if his childhood experience didn’t acquaint him local custom and etiquette, the State Department country experts certainly would try to. It’s not that hard to learn about such things: every tourist guide to SE Asia advises against PDA.
Then it occurred to me. Obama knew exactly what he was doing.
Aung San Suu Kyi is a champion of liberty who opposed tyrants. Obama’s PDA was a public demonstration to put her in her place. There’s nothing more pesky to a tyrant than a genuine champion of liberty.
Now you tell me.
And only if the woman extends her hand first.
After what he did to the Queen of England, Suu Kyi should consider herself lucky.
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