He is, hopefully, shaken. But unharmed. Whereas the journalist who threw the shoe was beaten till “he was crying like a woman” (Times). The shoe thing is deeply disrespectful in Arab culture, as is calling him a dog (unclean). I guess I don’t disapprove of what the journo did, well, actually, I think it’s OK. I wish more problems were aired symbolically rather than bombically. I mean, I wish people could see that there are other more creative ways to garner media coverage than dead bodies. And what he said was, well, coherent. “This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!” He then threw a shoe at Mr. Bush, who ducked and narrowly avoided it. As stunned security agents and guards, officials and journalists watched, Mr. Zaidi then threw his other shoe, shouting in Arabic, “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq!” (ibid).

Posted on Monday, December 15th, 2008 in Current Affairs, Iraq, New York Times, Politics, terrorism, USA, Video.