Dec 17 2008
Should Shoe Thrower Be Persecuted - Oops Prosecuted
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!!
You’re a moron. I am amazed at how some people can have such a “simple” view of the world.
The shoe incident was actually an assault, which is a felony (and possibly battery).
Arrest Hussein for war crimes? How would you get him? You are not only a moron, but also extremely naive.
Everyone would like a world with peace, brotherhood, cooperation, … - but that is not reality. The real world is where we live, not in some fantasy land. The real world has people that really hate us (and always will - regardless of what we do, or who is in charge), and really want to harm us. It is the job of our leaders, and our military, to protect ourselves and our country. That allows us to have our way of life, our opportunity and freedom to speak out, to be free and live our lives, without those groups and countries that want to harm us, being able to achieve their threats against us.
You really need to mature (or live in Europe where they have similar views to yours, and where we escaped from 200+ years ago - but who we still save their asses) to create a better way of living. Try to grow up and understand how things work.
- Tom Palmer
- tapalmer99@gmail.com
Yeah, although I’m tired of discussing the shoes, which will surely go down in political glory, I agree with you here. Let the guy go, you’re just making him a martyr by holding him in jail. So the guy threw his shoes… when you compare it to what Bush has caused over there, it really doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. Especially since Bush is acts dense to recognize it as an insult…
*acts too dense
To Mr Palmer - yes life is simple - people complicate issues - and an attitude like you have will definitely keep the ugliness rolling. So you start a war and kill innocent people to get to one man and I’m the moron - take a look at yourself and your views before you call someone else a moron because I for one am disgusted at Mr. Bush, the hate in the world that has intensified and been directed at the USA, the innocent lives lost in this war and the violence that has occurred to capture one man who was living in plan sight of the world.
As far as maturity, I live in America where I can voice my opinions. Your response to my opinion shows who the real moron is.
Peace
I say the guy assaulted Mr. Bush with the shoes. Freedom of expression does not include the right to hit someone with an object. Freedom of speech means just that — SPEECH. It’s not speech to throw something.
That being said, the entire incident is being blown out of proportion to what it is. Give the guy a fine and let him serve 30 days of community service and let it go.
My point exactly eyespi - a fine as opposed to serious jail time and it was an attempt at assault because, unfortunately or fortunately, whichever way you look at it, the shoe never hit its target.
enough said on that subject.