Friday, July 17, 2009

Rethinking the Obama handshake snub

I posted a video that showed Obama extending his hand and in turn the line of men at the diplomatic function not shaking it. For all the world it looked like the Russians are snubbing him. That is what I, and most of the blogging world, thought.

Then I posted an entry describing my education regarding the depth of racial tension in Russia between whites and blacks. I thought maybe racial hatred could be the reason for the snub.

In looking at the video again from a different angle I think no such snub occurred. Sure, the Russians are suspicious of excessive adoration of new leaders proposing fascistic solutions. Sure they want to tightly control the crowds and disallowed the usual rock star raves at his entry and departure. But an outright snub? Look again, this time with the thought that he is introducing Medveded to his own entourage:



Therefore, this series of entries is called "evolution of a thought."

9 comments:

Tammy said...

I still there was a snub...either way. I am not sure of the reason....but they clearly did not shake his extended hand.

VoR said...

Perhaps because they would have looked like complete fools grabbing his extended hand while he was introducing them to someone else?

VoR said...

P.S. Congratulations Elizabeth for rethinking and posting the correction. Many people are just happy to believe it was a snub because it fits in with their world view.

Anonymous said...

He was not speaking! HOW DO YOU INTRODUCE WITH OUT SPEAKING. He realized by the last one that he was being snubbed and took a step back and made it look like an intro. You can clearly see how the media and Dem's are quick to justify an outright lack of respect shown by other world leaders to our great american "whoops" i mean muslim leader. http://www.jeffhead.com/obamaupbringing.htm

Anonymous said...

I lived in Russia for 20 years and I left Russia because of the racism. On my dying breathe I will say this is racism.btw I am married to a Russian and she said the same!

Anonymous said...

the actual answer is, these are not russian delegates. they are american delegates that the president is introducing the russian president to. if one watched the whole clip, (not just this last ten seconds)they would have seen president obama shaking hands with the russian delegates, just seconds earlier. "how do you introduce someone without speaking?" you gesture,directing their hand to the hand of the person you're introducing them to. especially if you don't share a common language.

Anonymous said...

That was aweful quick to accuse them of being racist...

Elizabeth Prata said...

anonymous, maybe it was quick...or maybe his assessment comes after 20 years of first-hand observation...

Anonymous said...

Regardless of real or fake - I wouldn't shake the hand of that fraud.