A HUMBLE PROPOSAL: HOW TO APPROPRIATELY MARK THE END OF BUSH CONTROL AND FASCIST TENDENCIES IN A BADLY RUN GOVERNMENT
By Kevin Stoda in Kuwait
I noted that Code-Pink and others had a shoe-throwing event this past week (December 17) in front of the White House.
Here in Kuwait, the Al-Watan Daily paper (partner of the International Herald Tribune) noted this week that roughly half those Kuwaitis interviewed approved of the throwing of a shoe at George W. Bush a few days earlier, i.e. when Bush visited neighboring Iraq.
Sawsan Kazak of the FRIDAY TIMES noted her dismay that the shoe-throwing had become
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NjcxNzc3Mzk5
a top story of the week in her article, “It’s Just a Shoe, It Could Have Been Worse”.
Kazak wrote, “I am here to tell you that Mr. Al-Zaidi's attack was symbolic, but it is not the insult or act of terror that people are making it out to be. Since the beginning of time, politicians have been hit with some really odd things, like pies, tomatoes and even eggs. And let's face it, a shoe thrown from a distance is not that insulting.
It could have been much worse had Al-Zaidi gone the extra step and taken off his socks. I believe that socks in the face is much more insulting. Think about it, it doesn't take any effort to kick off your shoes. But a lot more planning needs to take place if you want to throw your socks. Socks are also more insulting to receive in the face as they are usually smellier and sweatier than shoes.
Being a reporter, Muntazer Al-Zaidi must have had a pen and note pad at his disposal. What would have happened had he decided to use these items instead of his shoes? A shoe would leave a bump, put a pen can poke someone's eye out and the note pads would have given Bush a very nasty and painful paper cut. Clearly, the shoes represent the safer choice.”
CONNECTING THE DOTS—Bush is the Worlds’ Dodger
As a whole, Kuwaitis were probably the most supportive persons outside of the Bush-Cheney White House for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The economic boom that followed the U.S.-allied invasion of Iraq in 2003 ended over two decades of under-investment and development in Kuwait.
Therefore, in many ways, I was surprised that so many Kuwaitis—nearly half-- supported the symbolism of throwing a shoe at the 8-year-long President of the United States.
Sawsan Kazak ends her tongue-in-cheek review of all the fuss in Kuwait--leading to arguments over insults and the symbolism of shoes--by wryly stating:
“On a side note, I want to acknowledge the fast, cat-like reflexes George demonstrated during the surprise blitz. It was obviously something he picked up during his army years. If I ever form my own professional dodge ball team, I would definitely pick George W. Bush to be on my side.”
That Kazak makes an allusion to Bush—i.e. as a war-dodger from the 1970s Vietnam-era USA--may come as a surprise to Americans who are not aware of how some other peoples around the world both absorb U.S. culture and evaluate it more critically than Americans—themselves—often do.
