The Bush Shoe Throwing Incident...

Now, I'm sure you've seen the shoe throwing incident since it's been played over and over again the past week and a half. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually going to defend our (sad, lonely...insert depressing adjective here) President here. I just hate the way the media is spinning it.

On December 14th, President Bush took his first trip outside of the Green Zone (Baghdad area) in Iraq. During this trip, an Iraqi journalist, named Muntadar al-Zaidi, threw his shoes at President Bush. He was quickly detained, thrown from the room and has been subsequently arrested and faces up to two years for this "crime." (By the way, here it is if you haven't seen it yet).



Now, most media around the world has viewed this as another huge black eye to our "lame duck" leader. I think the contrary. I think President Bush was actually on the money after the incident. He says that it’s basically normal for him, as a world leader, to be ridiculed. Now the shoe throwing has been a very public act of protest, but I actually have to agree with our President on this one. But, viewing it in our cultural context, having a shoe thrown at you in the Middle East is like being flipped off or as in Dick Cheney's case, being told to go f*ck yourself.



It's even happened to President Bush in our own country.



My point is if we have set up such a "free" society in Iraq, Muntadar al-Zaidi shouldn't be facing two years in an Iraqi prison. It's not that big of deal, we already know that embarrassing moments comes with this administration.

If Iraq would let this man go, it would be a sign that Iraq is truely free.


Works Cited:

Londoño, Ernesto. (2008, December 23). Shoe-Thrower Is Called Defiant. Retrieved December 23, 2008, from WashingtonPost.com: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/22/AR2008122200371.html?wprss=rss_world

UPI. (2008, December 18). Man seeks leniency for Bush shoe-throwing. Retrieved December 23, 2008, from UPI: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/18/Man_seeks_leniency_for_Bush_shoe-throwing/UPI-82821229629478/