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 ...
Now he SHOULD have BOWED to HER!!!
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.
When an American goes overseas, we are expected to bone up in advance on local customs so we can understand and follow them.
ANY head of state, whether visiting the US or going abroad are expected to follow PROTOCOL!!!!
Presidents have teams of advisors whose duties include protocol. Apparently, Barry’s fired his advisors and assigned their duties to the same mental patient who advises Michelle on her wardrobe.
As long as you didn’t over do the tongue, you should be alright.
He looks like he’s humping her leg.
You’re right!
I thought BO looked like he was HUNGRY and was attempting to lick the wax out of her ear!
I can’t wait until the day that lowlife bhastid does something which cannot just be sloughed off, and for which he cannot just be given a pass!
Good observation.
She was supposed to be grateful that the Great Obama groped her.
Observation: In all pictures to Aung San Suu Kyi with Obams, she never looks happy - resigned is about as good as it gets.
Just a walk in the park
With British PM David Cameron
With US President Barak Obama
*I remember being under house arrest and people couldn't come to meet me. Wasn't all bad*
He was trying to suck out her soul and missed...
Actually I was thinking the other way around
The media will cover for this gaffe-a-minute President.
BTW he’s a chain smoker, ask a hundred liberals and not one will know that.
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