Would you curtsey\bow if you met a member of a royal family

[Blazedtown]

Fuck no. I'm an American, I bow to no one. Unfortunately our presidents lost that idea along time ago.

Did US presidents ever refuse to bow to royals?

Not a clue. You'd think they would remember that we fought a war to make sure we'd never have to bow.

[Jumalariik]

No, for two reasons, 1. it's wrong to bow to another human, because they are just that, humans, rich ones at that. 2. The other is a religious one. I consider monarchy to be idolatry (or the veneration of any governing authority by giving them extra respect in general).
This is biblically substantiated:
Matthew 23 8-12
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

"Render unto Caesar unto Caesars." It isn't idolatry to pay respect to human governments.

It is if you pay more respect to them than to another human being because of their royal status, something created by humans.

[Boomhaueristan]

I'll shake their hand, anything more will cost them.

Dang ol, yeah.

Dang ol' Queenie 'lizbeth gotta flat tire by my driveway man, all them other boys man they start lookin' at the dang ol' ground lika ostrich or somethin' man. I just looked at 'er, drank a bit of my ol' lager, an just shrugged man.

Yep. *sips beer*

[Ifreann]

No, for two reasons, 1. it's wrong to bow to another human, because they are just that, humans, rich ones at that.

It's really not wrong to bow to people.

[Boomhaueristan]

Did US presidents ever refuse to bow to royals?

Not a clue. You'd think they would remember that we fought a war to make sure we'd never have to bow.

Quoted for truth.

[American Union]

Ironically, I think I'd be more respectful to a foreign monarch than to my own (assuming America had a monarch).

[Herador]

No, for two reasons, 1. it's wrong to bow to another human, because they are just that, humans, rich ones at that.

It's really not wrong to bow to people.

It is if you fought a war 237 years ago, apparently.

[Ceannairceach]

"Render unto Caesar unto Caesars." It isn't idolatry to pay respect to human governments.

It is if you pay more respect to them than to another human being because of their royal status, something created by humans.

No, it isn't. You're misinterpreting the very nature of idolatry. Idolatry in this context implies that you're placing undue, divine emphasis on something other than God. Respecting civil authority isn't undue, nor divine, exempting god-kings and such. Is it wrong to pay respect to patriarchs, popes and pastors?

[American Union]

Fuck no. I'm an American, I bow to no one. Unfortunately our presidents lost that idea along time ago.

Did US presidents ever refuse to bow to royals?

---

No, I would make a point of treating them as I would treat anyone else.
If they questioned it...

They wouldn't. They're not going to engage with randoms who don't bow to them. They'll just go about whatever it is they're doing.

Obama bowed to the Saudi one. Most bowed to Elizabeth.

[American Union]

I would respectfully incline my head, but not bow. Part of the point of being American is that you don't do that.

Nothing beats a good, old handshake.

[Ceannairceach]

Did US presidents ever refuse to bow to royals?

Not a clue. You'd think they would remember that we fought a war to make sure we'd never have to bow.

The United States fought a war to make sure it was an independent, sovereign entity. I don't see a single word in any legal document of the United States regarding ceremonially tipping your body in respect of a fellow ruler.

[American Union]

I would begrudgingly bow my head to the Queen Elizabeth II (and any visiting leader of a democratic country, royal or no). The rest of the Windsors can stick it up their backsides though.

I'd hang out with Prince Harry though. He seems like a good guy to hang out with.

[Ceannairceach]

Did US presidents ever refuse to bow to royals?

---

They wouldn't. They're not going to engage with randoms who don't bow to them. They'll just go about whatever it is they're doing.

Obama bowed to the Saudi one. Most bowed to Elizabeth.

Obama, as I said, has bowed to quite a few people. From the Japanese Emperor to the Saudi King to Nancy Pelosi. He's just a bowing sort of guy. I heard one theory that its a result from his upbringing outside of the United States.

[American Union]

As a Canadian it would be proper for me to bow to the Queen. I would do it for the royals/dictators of other countries too if I was fortunate enough to meet them.

I can't say most consider the meeting of dictators to be a fortunate event.

Meeting a dictator would actually be extremely interesting. Think about it, if you could have a private one-on-one with a dictator, you could ask them all sorts of questions. It would be very cool.

[Boomhaueristan]

Are you implying we should murder Royalty if we meet them?

If you can call Caesar royalty. He was essentially a military dictator at the time of his ascent.

He was also a bit more Plebian compared to the snobbier families at the time.

[American Union]

Obama bowed to the Saudi one. Most bowed to Elizabeth.

Obama, as I said, has bowed to quite a few people. From the Japanese Emperor to the Saudi King to Nancy Pelosi. He's just a bowing sort of guy. I heard one theory that its a result from his upbringing outside of the United States.

Well, Dubya bowed to people, too. Didn't Reagan bow to the Pope?

[Northwest Slobovia]

Some guy named Brutus rendered unto Caesar quite righteously.

Are you implying we should murder Royalty if we meet them?

Some yo-yo ruined the line for the rest of us, but sic semper tyrannis. No need to actually bloody your hands, though, deposing them non-violently is fine with me.

[Herador]

I can't say most consider the meeting of dictators to be a fortunate event.

Meeting a dictator would actually be extremely interesting. Think about it, if you could have a private one-on-one with a dictator, you could ask them all sorts of questions. It would be very cool.

I dunno, I certainly wouldn't have asked Gaddafi too many personal questions, and I'd be pensive about asking Lukashenko or someone like Stalin anything either.

[American Union]

Meeting a dictator would actually be extremely interesting. Think about it, if you could have a private one-on-one with a dictator, you could ask them all sorts of questions. It would be very cool.

I dunno, I certainly wouldn't have asked Gaddafi too many personal questions, and I'd be pensive about asking Lukashenko or someone like Stalin anything either.

Yeah, I'd stay away from the nutjobs. But Bashar Al-Assad and Fidel Castro seem to have regular personalities.

[Ifreann]

Did US presidents ever refuse to bow to royals?

Not a clue. You'd think they would remember that we fought a war to make sure we'd never have to bow.

No, you really didn't.

[Slorch]

no

[Cannot think of a name]

I would respectfully incline my head, but not bow. Part of the point of being American is that you don't do that.

Every once in awhile I get a reminder of how bent out of shape about that we get. Like, I took the girlfriend to the state capitol building during a visit and during the tour the guide pointed out the two empty chairs that are in the legislative chambers that indicate the lack of a king and queen. And my state became a state in the mid-1800s, we had plenty of time to get over the whole royalty thing...


Also, whatever, if it's the custom I don't really have anything to prove to be a stickler about who I bow to. I've bowed to people just for not falling in a particularly ungraceful manner.

[Darwinish Brentsylvania]

Yep, definitely.

[Respawn]

Yes, I would, as that is tradition. There is nothing wrong with that and it won't hurt you at all.

Similarly, If I were in the military, I would salute my superiors. If I met the Pope, I would address him as Your Holiness and not Francis. I treat my peers different from how I treat elders and children. None of this means that they are better or lesser than me. It just shows that different kinds of people deserve different kinds of etiquette.

[Herador]

I dunno, I certainly wouldn't have asked Gaddafi too many personal questions, and I'd be pensive about asking Lukashenko or someone like Stalin anything either.

Yeah, I'd stay away from the nutjobs. But Bashar Al-Assad and Fidel Castro seem to have regular personalities.

Castro is more likely to impregnate you than have a conversation with you.