Thanks to those who 'got it' from my earlier posts. I will only wrap up one final thought about it because I may see the confusion or misunderstanding of what I wrote. I was not implying that Obama (or any U.S. President) not bow just for the sake of arrogance, or some higher-than-thou attitude. Far from it. Simply put, it is proper etiquette. The Leader (or Head of State) of one Country, does not bow to the Leader of another independent Country, whether or not they wear a crown. Usually, the protocol is set up in advance by representatives of both countries, and is performed as agreed at the appropriate time. Equal Heads of State can either shake hands, bow at the same time toward each other (at the same angle), extend verbal greetings with no physical contact, or as Obama would prefer, do some juvenile fist bump (which I'd prefer to his bowing).
The 'reason' for this etiquette, is that it, not only shows
mutual respect, it sets an important foundation for diplomatic talks and agreements between the two nations that's immediately set on equal footing, and helps ensure no underlying misunderstandings when it comes to negotiating important issues. That's all!
Now, a Head of State can be the President of a country, the King (i.e. Kind Abdullah of Saudi Arabia), a Queen (Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain), an Emperor (Akihito of Japan), or even a Prime Minister (PM Netanyahu of Israel). Yet PM Cameron of Great Britain does not 'bow' to Obama, because we do
not have traditions of Royalty in the U.S., yet he may bow to the King of Saudi Arabia or the Japanese Emperor because
they do. It's all etiquette. Maybe Obama thought he'd score points doing it, and I'm sure they loved it. But it sets diplomatic negotiations immediately on a cracked and unequal foundation traditionally. Okay, I'm spent.