Average Americans, including this writer, have been conspicuously silent on political issues since the ascendancy of President-elect Obama… But we were forcibly shaken out of our Obama euphoria this past Sunday thanks to a pair of imprudent Baghdad loafers hurled at soon-to-be ex-President George W. Bush.
Iraqi journalist Muntather Zaidi delivered 2 shocking statements to President Bush, and all other
Americans in the form of shoes. The first statement delivered by Zaidi said Bush broke Iraq with his misguided war causing much death and destruction; the second statement was directed at all Americans prompting us to heed our views of other cultures. We should value and respect the world hereafter by not electing Presidents like George W. Bush ever again.
Because Bush is our President, we abhor the sight of some foreign correspondent throwing shoes at him. We come to his assistance and offer him protection out of respect for the Office of the President of the United States. But as we do when we offer our own children protection and representation even though they have done wrong, we say to our President, ‘You have done wrong and you need to apologize!’
Mr. Bush has clearly been mistaken. His foreign policies have caused the United States of America to lose face in the eyes of the world. His presidency has destabilized an already fragile world, and has caused the country itself to slide into disrepair. This has all been punctuated by 2 shoes thrown at Bush’s head by an Iraqi citizen filled with disdain that most Americans have felt over the last 8 years...
This does not endorse Mr. Zaidi’s actions, but underscores them.
The problem for the rest of America is the Bush Presidency has given rise to many Iraqis who now feel justified in evening the score. Instead of throwing “flowers and candy and being greeted as liberators,” according to Dick Cheney after he and Bush invaded Iraq, an Iraqi is brazenly throwing both shoes at our President's head; a symbol of ultimate disrespect among the Iraqi people.
I doubt that Bush is willing to take any responsibility for this unfortunate incident. Already he is making jokes about it, but if he understood the Iraqi culture he would become more introspective about it… Actually, if he understood the Iraqi culture he never would have invaded their country from the beginning.
All we can hope for at this point is… if the shoes actually fit President Bush, he will wear them for a long, long time. He will one day come to a full understanding why he received them in the first place, and maybe that understanding will prove sobering for him.
According to Native American proverb: "Never judge a man harshly until you walk a mile in his moccasins..." Especially if he's willing to throw them at you.
G.L.M.
Iraqi journalist Muntather Zaidi delivered 2 shocking statements to President Bush, and all other
Americans in the form of shoes. The first statement delivered by Zaidi said Bush broke Iraq with his misguided war causing much death and destruction; the second statement was directed at all Americans prompting us to heed our views of other cultures. We should value and respect the world hereafter by not electing Presidents like George W. Bush ever again.Because Bush is our President, we abhor the sight of some foreign correspondent throwing shoes at him. We come to his assistance and offer him protection out of respect for the Office of the President of the United States. But as we do when we offer our own children protection and representation even though they have done wrong, we say to our President, ‘You have done wrong and you need to apologize!’
Mr. Bush has clearly been mistaken. His foreign policies have caused the United States of America to lose face in the eyes of the world. His presidency has destabilized an already fragile world, and has caused the country itself to slide into disrepair. This has all been punctuated by 2 shoes thrown at Bush’s head by an Iraqi citizen filled with disdain that most Americans have felt over the last 8 years...
This does not endorse Mr. Zaidi’s actions, but underscores them.
The problem for the rest of America is the Bush Presidency has given rise to many Iraqis who now feel justified in evening the score. Instead of throwing “flowers and candy and being greeted as liberators,” according to Dick Cheney after he and Bush invaded Iraq, an Iraqi is brazenly throwing both shoes at our President's head; a symbol of ultimate disrespect among the Iraqi people.
I doubt that Bush is willing to take any responsibility for this unfortunate incident. Already he is making jokes about it, but if he understood the Iraqi culture he would become more introspective about it… Actually, if he understood the Iraqi culture he never would have invaded their country from the beginning.
All we can hope for at this point is… if the shoes actually fit President Bush, he will wear them for a long, long time. He will one day come to a full understanding why he received them in the first place, and maybe that understanding will prove sobering for him.
According to Native American proverb: "Never judge a man harshly until you walk a mile in his moccasins..." Especially if he's willing to throw them at you.
G.L.M.
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