So much for garnering adulation…

by: Blue Girl

Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 13:38:31 PM CST

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In a press conference with PM Nouri al Maliki, an Iraqi man stood up and hurled his shoe at Mr. Bush, narrowly missing hitting him in the head.  Our grave national embarrassment joked as the man was dragged away screaming that the shoe was "a size ten shoe he threw at me, you may want to know."

Now I don't want to get all pompous and liberal artsy on you, and I certainly wouldn't take it as an "atta girl" if a shoe was hurled at me in Kansas city.  There is really only one way to take that action, after all, and if you don't believe me do a little experiment - get yourself a bag of shoes and go stand on a street corner in any city in America and start throwing them at passers by and see what kind of reaction flows forth.  

That said, there is some cultural relevance to the act of throwing a shoe at someone in the Arab world.  It carries an added meaning in Baghdad that it doesn't have in KC.  Indeed, it is the gravest of insults in Iraqi culture.  I have heard it said that an Iraqi would rather be hit by gunfire than a shoe.   The attached symbolism can't - or at least shouldn't - be discounted.  Even atheists in the Arab world remove their shoes when they enter their own homes, because someone may visit who wants to pray on their carpets.  Carpets in the Arab world are more than an accessory to tie a room together - they are sacred objects, replete with meaning and symbolism, and not to be trampled across wearing shoes.   With even modest cultural awareness, and I only have enough Anthropology in my background to make me dangerous - the significance of hurling a shoe at a head of state visiting Iraq is obvious.  And I don't know whether to be amused and mirthful, or horrified that this man has so humiliated our country.  To the point that shoes are thrown at him during his final press conference in the country that defines his "presidency."

Updated video with the actual event rather than Michael Ware's description of it.

I dunno Greg - Something tells me that the reporter wouldn't inspire the wrath of Saddam for hurling his shoes at Bush - but kudos for the feeble attempt.  I expect nothing less from Fox.  And hey!  Dana Perino ended up with a black eye, and I didn't get charged with assault for smacking the unctuous, ignorant little twit!