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Turn the Other Shoe

Dec 15, 2008
By .
Politics & Current Events

By now, you have all seen the footage of Bush nimbly ducking two thrown shoes in Iraq. My favorite part of the the video is the token effort at defense the Iraqi Prime Minister makes with the second shoe. Actually, the whole video is pretty spectacular, if you haven't seen it, definitely check it out. The attack, by an Egyptian journalist, led to some breathless, unintentionally funny reporting. For instance, this handy cultural tip:

"In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt."

As opposed to other cultures, where it is just a sign of contempt. Seriously, how does that tradition evolve? I mean giving someone the finger isn't good enough, so go ahead and throw that loafer. That will properly demonstrate how much you don't like the person.

On the other side, ably demonstrating our deep understanding of the situation in Iraq, Bush had this to say after the incident: "So what if a guy threw his shoe at me?"

That sentence could pretty well sum up our attitude towards Iraq.

Last 5 posts by Ezra

8 Comments
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8 Comments

  1. Andrew  •  Dec 15, 2008 @12:07 pm

    I want the Prez on my dodgeball team.

  2. Ken  •  Dec 15, 2008 @12:26 pm

    I don't think anyone can reasonably expect Bush to break down weeping and plead for forgiveness. If someone chucks a shoe or a pie of a hatchet at me, I'm going to make light of it, no matter the rightness or wrongness of their cause.

  3. Ezra  •  Dec 15, 2008 @12:52 pm

    I thought his comment about the shoe size was good, and that he did a pretty good job of not making the whole thing into a real mess (notice at the end that Bush keeps his Secret Service detail from charging the guy with a gesture.) I just think the comment is funny in demonstrating our total disregard for their society as we have blown up their country over the past (good lord!) 6-7 years.

  4. Edwin Kemboi Sutter  •  Dec 19, 2008 @10:29 am

    I think the shoe throwing by the Iraqi ournalist was a sign to Bush and those in his ilk like Gordon Brown that their actions against Iraq, and for that matter other nations did not go well with the people. The stupid simplistic joke by Bush about the size of the shoe just shows the kind of contempt such heineous leaders have towards other people.

    I think the journalist is a brave man who used the only opportunity and weapon available to him to show the mighty and powerful that even the most powerless can defend themselves.

    The action has caught the attention of the world and people all over the Internet are throwing their shoes at Bush to demonstate the kind of hatred and contempt they have against him.

    I am sure this contempt is not about all Americans or the West at large but towards Bush and his spanner boy Gordon Brown.

    Eventhough Bush joked about it, I am sure deep inside him the pain must have been too much for him. It was a good sendoff to the murderer.

    I know that the man of the people, president-elect Obama shall be a really different man from the outgoing Bush whose intention was to destroy the world, if given the chance.

  5. Ken  •  Dec 19, 2008 @11:37 am

    I don't know, Edwin. It has certainly captured the attention of the sort of people inclined to be impressed by people throwing shoes.

    I agree with some anti-Bush sentiments, but think that shoe-throwing is an assault and attempted battery (albeit a minor one) and therefore not to be celebrated, whether or not the underlying sentiments are admirable. If you cheer when someone chucks a shoe at Bush, you can't whine when someone, say, tries to hit Clinton with a pie.

  6. Ken  •  Dec 19, 2008 @11:38 am

    Also, I think you are in for a rude shock regarding the "man of the people."

  7. Ezra  •  Dec 19, 2008 @11:52 am

    What, you don't think Rick Warren loves all God's children?

    Edwin, I think throwing your shoe at someone is absurd. Of course, I also think being able to beat and prosecute someone for "insulting a foreign leader" is absurd.

    I also doubt Bush was really in any psychic pain. He seems pretty immune to self reflection.

  8. Patrick  •  Dec 19, 2008 @12:57 pm

    While I disapprove of battery at any time, if Iraqis learn that they can make a more effective protest through political theater, by emulating Muntadhar al-Zeidi rather than by setting off car bombs, this will be one of Bush's most important gifts to Iraq.

    I say that with all seriousness.