Global Trend

[eumelia]

Ever since (in)famous(?) Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi threw his shoe at Former (hooray!) President Bush, there have been a number of copy cats.

A shoe was thrown at the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on Monday at his talk in Cambridge University. Unlike Mr. al-Zaidi, this protester did not manage to aim quite so squarely at Mr. Wen.

And just today a shoe and two books were thrown at Israel Ambassador Mr. Benny Dagan in Sweden.
The shoe and two books were thrown by two protesters at the University of Stockholm where Mr. Dagan was giving a talk about the upcoming elections.
I can only assume that the items were thrown in protest to the violence in Gaza.

Or Antisemitism.

Who can tell.

Although, it would appear that unlike the shoes thrown at Bush and Wen, these ones actually hit their target.

Here is a short video of the incident:

And on a more ludicrous note: books! They threw books?! Dude, shoes is one thing - it's dirty and out right disrespectful, but books! That's just disrespecting yourself.

Comments

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

Perhaps a shoe is just a shoe?

What else was the guy going to throw? A hat? His shirt? his shoe was probably the only thing he had which was small and heavy (necessary to throw properly). Perhaps his cellphone, but that was probably too small.

The "copy cats" are throwing shoes because that's what gets them into the news. "They're throwing the same thing that was thrown at ex-President Bush". Do you think a rabid-republican will not throw his/her shoe at Obama the very first chance they get?

I don't remember hearing the Arab culture getting more than a line of two in reference to the shoe, in any case.

Also, I would avoid sitting so that the soles of my feet point at someone in ANY culture, and merely because of the fact that many scuff marks are caused by brushing my shoes against his/her trouser pants/dress/skirt.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

What I've been saying :)

[mao4269.livejournal.com]

I really don't think that a rabid-Republican will thow hir shoe at Obama at this point - now anyone who does so is associated with al-Zaidi and that's presumably not an association ze would want, even if it does get the incident in the news. I guess only time will tell.

As for the last bit, good point :). In addition to the scuff mark issue, I would add that any position in which the soles of the feet are pointing at someone is likely to be considered immodest for women anyway. While I may choose to ignore that consideration at home, if traveling it seems prudent not to.

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

Unless of course, the said woman is wearing pants...

In which case, you might be opening a whole new kettle of fish!