BBC: Shoes Thrown At Bush On Iraq Trip (showing the soles of shoes to someone is a sign of contempt)

[Swamp Rat]

A surprise visit by US President George Bush to Iraq has been overshadowed by an incident in which two shoes were thrown at him during a news conference.

An Iraqi journalist was wrestled to the floor by security guards after he called Mr Bush "a dog" and threw his footwear, just missing the president.

(snip)

'Size 10'

In the middle of the news conference with Mr Maliki, Iraqi television journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi stood up and shouted "this is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog," before hurling a shoe at Mr Bush which narrowly missed him.

Showing the soles of shoes to someone is a sign of contempt in Arab culture.

With his second shoe, which the president also managed to dodge, Mr Zaidi said: "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq."

(snip)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7782422.stm

[damntexdem]

1. They're shoeing him his legacy.

lOL!

[Swamp Rat]

2. Thanks for the memories George

[Shardik]

3. Bush is a war criminal.

I dearly hope that justice eventually catches up with him.

[Swamp Rat]

8. But he's 'not a crook'

[malaise]

4. Trip overshadowed

Finally a 'Mission Accomplished' and I'm lovin' it. :rofl: :hi:

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq."

That hasn't been reported in a lot of the stories.

[Swamp Rat]

6. Interesting how that part is ignored.

[Octafish]

7. Perhaps in the near future there will be an Anti-Warmongering Traitor Prize of sorts...

Perhaps it could be the annual...



Smedley Darlington Butler Stop Insane War Racket Award.

[Swamp Rat]

9. I know who gets the 'Insane War Racket Award'

¡Órale Octafish! :hi:

[Octafish]

13. Stark, raving, insane.

I just saw the video footage for the first time, Compay Primero.

Gee whiz! The guy threw a pair of fastballs right at monkey.

The guy really is stupid. After the first one went by, he just stood there.

"Here we go again. It's like My Pet Goat. There's a saying in Tenessee. At least I think they have it in Tennessee. They have it in Texas. Throw one shoe. Shame on me. Throw another shoe. Shame on. Shame. You won't wait for the other shoe to drop. Again."

Bueno leer te, Herman'! Cuidate, estamos en tiempos muy interessante.

[Swamp Rat]

14. "Throw one shoe. Shame on me. Throw another shoe. Shame on....."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Hidden Stillness]

10. As Far as I'm Concerned, the Most Wonderful Shoes Since Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz

Yes, I also heard this hilarious comment by a "news" anchor on either CNN or MSNBC, like "showing the bottoms of shoes is considered a sign of contempt." I think astute observers of culture will also note that heaving two shoes directly at a person's head is also taken as a sign of contempt. I also have not heard once, about the angry comment on "widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq"; I'm sure it was an "accident."

I am so happy--I taped it earlier this evening, and the short clip has already given many, many moments of enjoyment and happiness.

[aquart]

11. But touching someone with the sole is MUCH worse.

According to the woman on al Jazeera.

[Nikki Stone1]

12. Who'd have thought there could be so much happiness from a single pair of shoes?

Yeah, I know you Sex and the City types have a lot to say about that...

But this was history. Kruschev only banged his shoe on the podium. :)