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It was something of a release for me when I watched this clip.
In the same way that one might feel joy at the sight of a pie being thrown at Ann Coulter, the throwing of shoes at President Bush brought laughter and joy to me.
If you think about it, we can all sympathize with this journalist and wonder why journalists in our own nation have not pulled any similar stunts or pranks during Bush’s presidency. You would think more journalists especially journalists from all over the world would be acting like this.
I’m sure Helen Thomas has considered throwing her dentures at W. But, on second thought, why ruin your reputation as one of the most principled journalists in the news industry?
We all would like to throw a pair of shoes at Bush. And, we all would agree that showing we have disrespect for Bush is warranted after all these years. To show disrespect in Arabic fashion would be even more meaningful to us; we might do this in honor of the millions of innocent civilians killed as a result of Bush’s phony and illegal “war on terror.”
I think of this shoe-throwing as a culmination of a series of unfortunate, illegal, and inhumane events.
From the manufacturing of consent for the Iraq War and the suppression of dissent during the lead up to the torture and abuse of detainees at Guanatanamo, Abu Ghraib, and Bagram Air Force Base to the shock and awe of U.S. military strikes on the people of the Middle East to NSA spying and warrantless wiretapping to Blackwater to the Wall Street bailouts to the electoral fraud in the 2000 and 2004 elections and so on, there’s more than enough reason to be angry, upset, and ruthless.
But, to top it off, the complicity, the spinelessness, the weakness, and the incompetence of the Democratic Party over the past eight years is enough to make the anger and ruthlessness be ten times more than what it would be if one were just angry with war criminals.
To be ignored, not listened to, and pushed aside and to have your ideas or thoughts or point of view vilified by the news media and by supposed allies in Congress when you have evidence and truth that any law-abiding and ethical government would investigate---That’s the kind of thing that would lead to shoe-throwing.
Let's be honest. Throwing shoes is far more appealing than voting Ralph Nader or Cynthia McKinney. It's easier than refusing to participate in this two-party system. So, why not do something cathartic and throw shoes at Bush?
This was a rational decision---to throw shoes at Bush.
Some may say the Iraqi journalist should have settled for profanity. But, a loud expletive became inadequate after the Mission Accomplished sign appeared on the aircraft carrier (at least, some may say profanity was inadequate after Bush v. Gore).
Many may have been searching for a way to release pent up frustration. Having tried protesting, one may now say shoe-throwing is the answer.
So, until Homeland Security or the Secret Service begins to require journalists to take off their shoes before participating in press conferences, let's consider shoe-throwing the eminent way of paying back Bush for all the hardship, trials, and tribulations he has put the people of this world through.
I may sound indecent, but there’s something indecent about committing crimes against humanity and then citing a so-called mandate from Heaven to justify actions in a a war of terror.
I have no problem with saying that I hope Bush develops a healthy phobia that haunts him for the rest of life---a fear of shoes. And I hope this phobia comes to him when he is on his book-signing tour for his future memoir, which I expect will be titled, “God Made Me Do It: How I Spent the Final Months Saving My Legacy."
