The Symbols and Substance of Barack's bow
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
by Walter Rhett
Charleston Perlo
Rich Lowry and the hundreds of others who becry Obama's breach of the unstated rules of Presidential conduct fail to realize that these very rules, originally initiated for outdated purposes, have to be challenged and broken in order to bring about progressive change, inside and outside of American affairs.
Official White House photo
(2009, public domain)
For persons and nations, history offers clear insights and examples of rules challenged and broken to bring about greater freedom and progress. Obama breach of the old rules is not do to ineptness, defiance, or indifference-or inexperience. Instead, his actions are part of his clear pattern of redefining the symbols and signals of American power to enhance and extend its reach and influence by a new matrix. More than anyother American leader, Obama is comfortable with power, and uses its trappings to serve purposes beyond previous limits. Obama willingly fits his actions into the new international framework; he has the keen good sense to see opportunities and prosperity for America on all shores.
In looking at the old standards and assessing change, it is important to separate appearance from actual essence, signals from real substance, form from bonafided content, puffery from sincerity. The current moral intuition of America is strongly tied to appearances. But Barack's instincts take him in another direction. He relaxes the elements of imperial behavior that have caged the conduct of American Presidents, court rites, in effect, borrowed from Europe's monarchies. In doing so, he radically alters the sense of democratic relations and standings among world leaders.
While many at home are shocked by the bow or the smiling handshake, world leaders saw the gesture in a different light. By stepping down, Obama was actually stepping up. He signaled not weakness or disrespect, but began a new phrase of American national conduct: one of open regard; problem-solving rather than mischief-making, exchanging mutual dialogue rather than mongering in power. Simply, it's the carrot rather than the stick.
Obama is creating a new nuance in American foreign policy, separating his actions and personal gestures in meetings and conferences from his executive actsas head of state. It is a tactic Bill Richardson used successfully in international negotiation and one Ollie North attempted to use when he flew to Tehran, personally carrying a Bible and a key-shaped chocolate cake for the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in a deal in which President Reagan ended up swapping guns for hostages, sending the Iraqis more than $8 million in missiles.
The difference is Obama is President, and is skilled in the politics of personal statecraft and is willing to break with conventions to advance his policy goals. And he has not offered any regime a thin dime. Don't think the world is laughing. They, are, in fact, applauding.
McClatchy Newspapers reports:
" Obama returned from his first trip overseas Tuesday confident of at least one thing: He had managed to put his face indelibly on American foreign policy for much of the rest of the world.
Using personal diplomacy to advance his broad policy goals, Obama charted a new course as he moved rapidly across the continent, attending three summits, visiting six countries and meeting at least 15 foreign leaders, wrapping up with a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday.
Everywhere he went, Obama was a figure of fascination to foreign leaders eager to take his measure, as well as to everyday citizens.
"It was so easy to work with him," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.
"He's a great, great man," said Elisabeth Vogel, a teacher from Colmar, France, who came to see Obama when he appeared in nearby Strasbourg.
"Obama No. 1," said a broadly smiling taxi driver in Istanbul, flashing a thumbs up.
Jordan's Queen Noor acknowledges and supports the potential global impact of Obama's new direction, fully endorsing Obama's commitment to ending the spread of nuclear weapons.
" I, and all of the 100-plus leaders of Global Zero, are thrilled that Presidents Obama and Medvedev are demonstrating bold and historic leadership on this agenda, and taking an approach that is fully in line with the plan we presented at the launch of Global Zero in December 2008."
Queen Noor goes on to say: Today, nine countries have more than 23,000 nuclear weapons. Terrorist groups have been trying to buy, build, or steal nuclear weapons, and in the last two decades, there have been at least 25 instances of nuclear explosive materials being lost or stolen.
The two presidents -- the first to ever jointly commit the U.S. and Russia to work for the elimination of all nuclear weapons worldwide -- declared that they had "agreed to pursue new and verifiable reductions in [their] strategic offensive arsenals in a step-by-step process . . ."
Queen Noor, without a hijab, shaking hands
with Peace Corp trainess, 1997 (educational use)
In her praise for Barack's position, Queen Noor, often criticized for not wearing a hijab, the traditional head scarf worn by women of Muslim faith, a religion and culture that also finds women shaking hands as taboo, makes no mention of the bow.
Around the globe, government and citizen leaders understand this. The content and view of his actions in world capitals is at odds with the American perception that his gesture implied obeisance.
Actually, it was Obama being Obama. He loves the quip, the vocal repartee, the exaggerated gesture, the grand overture, he is playful and mocking of symbols that he believes are empty of meaning. His essence, core, and substance come into play when he makes decisions, and Obama relishes the tough call.
President Barack Obama bows his head
to composer and performing artist, Stevie Wonder
(Official White House photo, public domain)
I, for one, believe, imperial notions of American power and pomp need to end. Just as the social and legal rules that denied women the right to vote and denied equal opportunity have been banished. Just as its okay to work in the White House in shirt sleeves.
Rules based on intimidation and power flexing have no place in modern diplomacy.
In fact, a Nigerian pundit, Okello Oculi, writing in the Abuja Daily Trust, called Obama a "charm weapon, a diplomatic warrior." He went on to say: "The very sprouting of Obama himself into America's presidency [begins] a dawn of hope for change, not only for Americans but for a world citizenry disgusted with arrogant criminality and morally blind impunity."
This change of tone is an important first step to re-asserting American leadership.
Another report read, " Clearly the big stories coming out of the Trinidad Summit revolve around what is being called a "new beginning" for US relations with the hemisphere, particularly with Latin American states."
Chinaview.com quoted one Latin American leader as saying, "the summit successfully led to a new atmosphere."
Barack's cool has given him enormous street-cred, at home and abroad. Another story offers compelling evidence of how Barack's greetings and his coolness under fire has been internalized into the behavior of inner city youth.
In Albany, NY, Sam Fullwood at Politico.com reports, middle school African-American males are peer-correcting each others behavior with the phase, "Barack's in the house." Imagine the former extremes to which this same group might carry issues of respect for symbolic slights.
For the first time in more than a decade, the cultural connection that these young male students have with Barack has reduced the perception that "respect" is a value that must be aggressively defended at all costs, and that power is the ultimate expression and prized possession of the strongest, most intransient, unbendable will. Achievement and appropriate conduct, including reducing fights and confrontations, are the new peer generated goals. This shift in values among school aged youth is an extraordinary gain-directly connected to Barack's style.
"I believe we'll likely see a positive evolution in the relations between the United States and Latin America. It is possible to create a new dynamic of partnership and contribution," Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said afterward.
While we are making the world safe for democracy, we must be careful about being attached blindly to the old ways; moving forward, Americans must not continue habits and beliefs that place us among our own worst enemies. Let's re-examine our moral intuition.
In essence, what we have to gain is far more than what we appear to be giving up.
The Official White House Portraits
of the President of the United States,
Barack Hussein Obama
and the First Lady, Michelle Obama
(public domain)
Thanks for reading! I hope you found food for thought.
Walter Rhett posts Southern Perlo from Kudu Coffee in Charleston, SC. A Perlo is rice with local bounty, enjoyed by all.
By its witness, Southern Perlo, in print and photos, connects the American experience and builds a global heritage. Please, stir the perlo, add your spice; leave a comment below.
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