Respectful gesture

Randy M. Johnson is mistaking respect for obeisance (Readers' Forum, Nov. 19). If he knew the first thing about most Asian cultures, including the Japanese, he'd understand that President Obama's short, concise bow wasn't to acknowledge the emperor's superiority. Nor was the emperor's bow to acknowledge Obama's superiority. What they did was the cultural equivalent of an American handshake.

Obama did what any decent man would've done by showing respect to a fellow human being.

Scott D. Garner

South Jordan