On the heels (ha ha) of the now-notorious incident in which an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at some guy named George Bush, the world press has rushed to tell us that throwing shoes is a really bad thing in the Arab world. Not like here in the west, where it's a gesture of affection.
"In Arab cultures, throwing shoes is a grave show of disrespect." —Bloomberg.com (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aabFVZj4gc4g&refer=home)
"The act is an Arab symbol of contempt." —Christian Science Monitor (http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1215/p25s06-wome.html)
"Throwing shoes at somebody is a supreme insult in the Middle East." —Reuters (http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/12/14/africa/OUKWD-UK-IRAQ-BUSH.php)
"In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt." —Associated Press (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iTki_d652tvHLYQvaRlelGq64GoQD952NAD00)
Those Mysterious Easterners, So Different From You and Me (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/010871.html)
I see what you are saying, but I think here it is a hostile act, whereas there it is also symbolic. I don't know a ton about the Middle-eastern culture, but I think shoes are very symbolic. From what I understand, if you show the bottom of your foot to someone, it is a direct insult (so you have to be careful when crossing your legs). If you show the bottom of your shoe to someone it means that you feel they are beneth you. I imagine if you fling that shoe at them, it is much worse.
I have to say, I don't like GW very much, but the man has MOVES!
Warmest wishes!
Ref
Quote from: Ref on Dec 15, 2008, 09:13:44 AM
I see what you are saying, but I think here it is a hostile act, whereas there it is also symbolic. I don't know a ton about the Middle-eastern culture, but I think shoes are very symbolic.
The whole point was that we don't really need the newspapers to tell us that
throwing shoes at someone might just possibly be considered an insult. I mean, seriously...each of them insisted on spelling it out for us as if we couldn't possibly understand it. They must all think that we're just unimaginably stoopid.
Quote from: Waylon on Dec 15, 2008, 10:23:01 AM
Quote from: Ref on Dec 15, 2008, 09:13:44 AM
I see what you are saying, but I think here it is a hostile act, whereas there it is also symbolic. I don't know a ton about the Middle-eastern culture, but I think shoes are very symbolic.
The whole point was that we don't really need the newspapers to tell us that throwing shoes at someone might just possibly be considered an insult. I mean, seriously...each of them insisted on spelling it out for us as if we couldn't possibly understand it. They must all think that we're just unimaginably stoopid.
This goes to a thread I read on another site...the dumbing down of America. The gist of it is that news people think that they have to talk down to people to make them understand the news. No big words, that general idea. This did take it to another level. Yeah, I was so stoopit I thought he threw that shoe at GWB because he liked him...who knew he was actually telling him what a jackass he is! I am SO glad the reporters clarified that for me...oops...I used a big word!
Having grown up in Europe....the news there is a far cry different than here!! When I first moved back to the states I was constantly cracking up at how "prudish" the american news was. It wasn't anything to see a naked woman on the front page of a German news paper.