Iraqi Journalist Throws Shoes At George Bush, Misses
Now, based on the fact that he was using shoes, one may ask what exactly was he trying to accomplish? Best case scenario, Bush gets a black eye or a scoffed up nose. But you know what, I feel the disgruntled journalist, along with millions across the globe, could care less at the effectiveness of his weapons of choice. It was the statement that spoke loudest. Upset with the leader of the super powerful nation of the world? Take off your jutha (shoe) and chuck it at him. I can see the internet jokes of “epic shoe maneuver,” already.
And check out how quickly he launches the first one and then removes his other shoe (reloads) and fires away. Maybe he had them untied and ready for deployment? Or rather, perhaps he wore slip-ons or loafers that day.
On a more serious and somber note, Shaykh Yasir Qadhi said:
One wonders the depth of anger that must have been present in him to be driven to such a drastic move: completely ineffective on the one hand, yet so symbolic on the other. The journalist knew he had nowhere to hide; he knew he would be facing at the minimum a prison sentence. It was nothing but sheer disgust that he felt, and millions of people around the world along with him, that drove him to commit such a trivial yet symbolic deed.
Here's the report from AP:
Bush ducks shoes in Baghdad
BAGHDAD (AP) — It gives fresh meaning to the phrase shooed away.
President George W. Bush ducked a pair of shoes hurled at his head — one shoe after the other — in the middle of a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Both shoes narrowly missed their target and thumped loudly against the wall behind the leaders.
“Don’t worry about it,†the president said as the room erupted into chaos.
Iraqi reporters started shouting what Bush later explained were apologies for the incident.
“So what if the guy threw a shoe at me?†Bush said, comparing the action to political protests in the United States.
“If you want the facts, it was a size 10,†he joked.
The shoe attack came as Bush and al-Maliki were about to shake hands. The assailant — later identified as television correspondent Muntadar al-Zeidi — leapt from his chair and hurled his footwear at the president, who was about 20 feet away.
“This is the end,†he yelled.
The crowd descended on al-Zeidi, who works for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt. He was wrestled to the ground by security officials and then hauled away, moaning as they departed the room. Later, a trail of fresh blood could be seen on the carpet, although the source was not known.
In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt. When U.S. Marines toppled Saddam Hussein’s statue on Firdos Square in 2003, the assembled crowd whacked it with their shoes.
SaqibSaab
SaqibSaab is an average Desi Muslim guy living in Chicago. He enjoys videography and design as side hobbies, and helps out with AlMaghrib Institute in Chicago, Wasat Studios, and other projects here and there. His go-around vehicle is a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta 5-speed Wolfburg Edition. Originally born in Michigan, he and his wife reside in Chicagoland with his parents who come from Bangalore, India. He blogs personally at SaqibSaab.com.
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