Shoe Thrower gets Shoe Thrown At
It is good to know that the tradition of Free and Open Debate and Expression is taking hold in Iraq.
The last time we saw Muntadhar al-Zaidi he was alleging torture by his captors after serving time in an Iraqi prison for throwing a shoe at President Bush during a press conference. But al-Zaidi got a taste of his own medicine this week as a press event he was hosting was interrupted by an angry Iraqi who tossed a shoe at the shoe-tosser.
To clarify some cultural confusions, the media taught us a year ago that in Arabic and Muslim culture, throwing a shoe at a person is an expression of disrespect… unlike in Christian Western and Secular cultures? But What was the grievance and point of view of the Shoe Thrower who dared throw a shoe at the Shoe Thrower? Is he a charter member in the regional chapter of the International Association of W Lovers? By now somebody out there has gotten word from him and figured out his motivation. I choose not to look into it, thinking the idea that he just meant to commemorate the One Year Anniversary of the Historic and Legendary Shoe Throw, by throwing at the Master, as a more poetic concept.