(Melchizedek Communique, MC111809) Millard Would Not Bow.

Much controversy has appeared due to President Barack Obama's recent low bow to the Japanese emperor.

If you have not heard of this humiliation, perhaps it is because most of the American "news" machine has not seen fit to report much about it.

Bloomberg News briefly mentions the incident, tucking it inside a report on how the world seems to have gone mad. "Obama Bows to Japan’s Emperor, Snubs Adam Smith," is the headline, then way down in the report is found, "...Obama bowed to Emperor Akihito of Japan on arriving at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Saturday..." [1]

Way over in Great Britain, their Telegraph newspaper included a photo of the humiliation. President Obama is shown humbly bowed at a 90-degree angle. [2]

The question arises, Would Millard Fillmore (image shown), U.S. President between 1850 and 1853, have bowed before the Emperor of Japan? After all, it was Millard Fillmore who initiated the opening of Japan to foreign trade by sending Commodore Matthew C. Perry there on a special mission.

We can be confident that Millard Fillmore would not have bowed.

When Fillmore was no longer President, he took a tour of Europe. Late in 1855, he arrived in Italy. As a former U.S. President, arrangements were made for Fillmore to have a private audience with the Pope. Shortly before being presented to "His Holiness," Fillmore learned he would be expected "to kneel and kiss the hand of the Pope, if not his foot." [3]

Our Millard, normally a calm man, in this case lost his temper! "Fillmore stormed in consternation: '...if this was the case, I must decline the honor...'" of an audience with the Pope. [3]

Millard Fillmore, even as an ex-President, still felt he represented the honor and dignity of the United States. To bow before any form of royalty would be un-American, contrary to this nation's founding principles. Thus, Millard Fillmore would never have bowed before the Japanese emperor, nor any other emperor, king, prince, or Pope.

Fillmore's firm stance caused the Pope to back down. The Pope received Fillmore and offered neither hand nor foot for salutation. [3]

(The Friends Of Millard Fillmore (FOMF) know the deeper truths of Millard Fillmore. More information may be released to the general public when and if the time is deemed appropriate.)

------- Notes -------
[1] "Obama Bows to Japan’s Emperor, Snubs Adam Smith", by Caroline Baum. Bloomberg, Nov. 18, 2009
[2] "Barack Obama criticised for 'treasonous' bow to Japanese emperor", Telegraph (U.K.), Nov. 16, 2009
[3] Millard Fillmore, by Robert J. Rayback. Newtown, CT: American Political Biography Press, 1959