anotherlook

Thought of the day – He who wants a rose must respect the thorn (A Persian Proverb).  This display of disrespect is the thorn on the rose of democracy. 

The shoe incident has been blown out of legal proportion.  It’s not like the reporter tossed a grenade or fired a weapon.  Bush, with ease, dodged the shoe.  The same Bush who wants to claims the spread of the democratic way to Iraq.  This reporter was simply demonstrating his freedom of expression, freedom of speech that is part of the democratic way and if it was a little violent, who did he learn that from, but Bush himself, as well. 

Under a false  pretext of “missiles of mass destruction”, George Bush attacked their country, killing thousands of people – some civilians.  Arrested, tried, convicted and killed their “leader”, created chaos in their land, lost American lives as well.  My question is, if they had that much evidence on Hussien then why could they not just march into the country and arrest him, why was war necessary, in this case.  

I may be over simplifying but at the same time, I can not understand the logic behind six (6) years of the death and destruction, the lies and deceit, the financial decay of a nation, behind the capture and eventual conviction and death of one man, who it seems could have been arrested on crimes against humanity anyway. 

Bush wants his legacy to be that he brought democracy to Iraq; well part of democracy is freedom of speech.  In Iraq, where this reporter threw the shoe, that is a custom, a way of showing contempt and distain for another person.  Was it disrespectful? Yes.  Was it rude? Yes.  On the other hand was it not freedom of expression?  Yes.  Were other people thinking and feeling the same contempt?  Yes.  Was the core of this reporter’s feelings justified?  Yes or at least, I can understand them.  

 It would have been “better” if the reporter would have yelled at Bush or cursed at him to show his objection, possibly but to me those are just as rude and disrespectful.  Yet, for this man, whose contempt was beyond words, obviously, he threw his shoe, the most blatant show of contempt, in that country. 

With all the other, more atrocious things that are happening in the world, I am glad I got some laughs by viewing that tape over and over again.  There are people, in
America, who view that incident as something Bush deserved so lets “keep it real” as the kids say and put some perspective on this incident. 

George Bush, thanks to his ability to duck and dodge, was not injured, yet he has caused injury to more than a few people.  Yes, it was rude but it was not deadly, as this war has been.  Does the reporter truly deserve jail time because he is exerting his new found, freedom of speech, of expression, in the “new” democratic way that Mr. Bush is claiming responsibility for initiating in Iraq?  I say No. 

While George Bush is an “important” bit part player in the totality of the play of life, he is a man, a human being – not a god.  Respect, is therefore, something that, in my opinion, is earned and not freely given.   Just because you hold a “position” in life does not necessarily mean you deserve my respect.  Show me why I should respect you, through deeds and not words and respect will follow.  

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said - “Men are respectable only as they respect”. 

Thurgood Marshall once spoke on intent saying - “Certain people have a way of saying things that shake us at the core. Even when the words do not seem harsh or offensive, the impact is shattering. What we could be experiencing is the intent behind the words. When we intend to do good, we do. When we intend to do harm, it happens. What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through. We cannot sugarcoat the feelings in our heart of hearts. The emotion is the energy that motivates. We cannot ignore what we really want to create. We should be honest and do it the way we feel it. What we owe to ourselves and everyone around is to examine the reasons of our true intent.” 

Bush would do well to examine his intent in launching a war in Iraq.  The intent of the shoe thrower is obvious and it has touched the spirit, the true feelings of many people and not just in people in Iraq. 

And that’s the way I see it!!