Who Throws a Shoe, Honestly

[mmuhlenkamp]

President Bush gets a shoe thrown at him by an Iraqi journalist.

*No political discussion, I just thought it was funny because no one got hurt.

[CaptainTom]

I think in the Muslim community, to have someone throw a shoe at you , or spit on your shoes, is the highest form of insult.

[mmuhlenkamp]

Yeah, I read that while looking this up, if you show the sole of your foot or shoe to someone it's very insulting, but I still can't get the Austin Powers quote out of my head.

[Shelby Lane]

Originally Posted by mmuhlenkamp

but I still can't get the Austin Powers quote out of my head.

That is exactly what I thought when I read this story.

[Rson]

From Wiki:
In the Arab world, shoe flinging is a gesture of extreme disrespect. [1] A notable occurrence of this gesture happened in Baghdad, Iraq in 2003. When U.S. forces pulled down a giant statue of Saddam Hussein during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, many Iraqi detractors of Hussein threw their shoes at the fallen statue.

This may be an ancient gesture from the Middle East; Psalms 60:8, speaking of some of the traditional enemies of Judah, says that "Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe...." (KJV)

The shoe represents the lowest part of the body (the foot) and displaying or throwing a shoe at someone or something in Arab cultures denotes that the person or thing is "beneath them." Showing the bottom of one's feet or shoes (for example, putting one's feet up on a table or desk) in Arab cultures is considered an extreme insult. Examples include Iraqi citizens smacking torn-down posters of Saddam Hussein with their shoes, and the depiction of President of the United States George H. W. Bush on a tile mosaic of the floor of the Al-Rashid Hotel's lobby, forcing all visitors entering the hotel to walk on Bush's face to enter the hotel.

[mdparthum]

Maybe his boots were out for cleaning?

[Rson]

This is not directed at anyone, but IMO us as Americans are so sheltered when it comes to others countries and traditions.

To us throwing shoes is a joke....to them it is the HIGHEST form of insult. To us the longhorn hand gesture is nothing more that people paying homage to the BEST College football team in the nation. Do that in Italy, you will be beat (La Corna). Throwing a "peace sign" in England....better make sure your palm is facing out.

[David_3]

And, when Richard Nixon got off of the plane on his visit to Brazil, he gave them the "A-OK sign" (a very obscene gesture in Brazil...like giving the finger), not just with one hand but with both hands.

[brad]

The Austin Powers quote has been running through my head ever since I first heard the story.

[kimberley]

I will say prez bush has some pretty quick reflex's...lol

[tc95]

LOL....all I can think about is a time when I was in Junior High....and my mother was upset with me...and I ran up some stairs...and started to taunt her....she grabbed her slippers and threw them at me...both hit their mark....then we both started laughing....I guess we both did not think she had that good of aim... and to this day we joke about that incident...

+1 with Kimberley....I think G. Bush...is very quick...both missing him...

[TimmyTheTag]

I had a plunger thrown at me once! LOL

[tc95]

LOL....I guess that could hurt more than a slipper...LOL

[lyncca]

I thought it interesting that the news correspondent on whatever channel I was on at 3am this morning (couldn't sleep), referred to Bush as Mr. Bush vs. President Bush. I immediately popped my head up from my computer from that one!

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by lyncca

I thought it interesting that the news correspondent on whatever channel I was on at 3am this morning (couldn't sleep), referred to Bush as Mr. Bush vs. President Bush

President Clinton did the same thing to the first President Bush during their debates, a sure sign of disrespect...I try to refer to politicians by their titles (except the ones I know personally) as I believe I can show respect for the office regardless of how I feel about the character of the officeholder...Ben