Off the Cuff / My Other Journal

My Country, My President, Your Shoe…

And my two cents: Contrary to public opinion, I feel insulted.

News: Bush Ducks Shoes Thrown in Iraqi Leader’s Office

Shoe thrower: Muntadar al-Zeidi, a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt.

Disclaimer: I never voted for Bush and I do think my president has his big faults.

However, when you threw your shoes at him, you not only insulted me, my country, and my citizens, you also disqualified yourself from being a member of the honorable profession of journalism. Your act shamed you, your country, and your citizens.

I agree you have every right to show your displeasure, but you could do this in a civilized way. If you claim you are a journalist, you should find out how.

Isn’t it a disgrace to insult a guest in your culture, knowingly? I thought you put guests above all harm no matter who they were. I think it even says so in the scriptures, not only in mine but also in yours.

Leaders deserve respect not for themselves but for the peoples they represent. I don’t even like it when our late night hosts pick on other countries’ leaders, however in jest.

In a slightly more serious note, the President handled the whole thing with as much poise and as well as anyone could

As a last note: No, I don’t think it was funny.

So, this is off my chest!