The shoe felt across the world

It was as if the ENTIRE world was watching the same joke in different languages. Versions of what happened were recreated, videos posted, jokes passed around. Protesters riled the streets chanting the victory of a hero.
On the 14th of December, 2008, the President of the United States George W. Bush got not one, but two shoes hurled at him during a press conference in Iraq.

Just as fast as George Dubyah ducked, the world turned into a frenzy of emotions.

From Malaysia's foreign minister calling it the "best show of retaliation so far..that remarkable reporter who gave President bush his final farewell last week" and adding that it was "the best weapon of mass destruction to the leader who coined the phrase 'axis of evil' to denote Iran, Iraq, and North Korea"
... to media sources in North Korea saying he "deserved it" and "likened his demeanor to a cock soaked in the rain" (aligned with a Korean proverb);
.. to a more grassroots reaction of thousands of protesters in countries like Pakistan and Iraq,
...to an Egyptian man even offering his 20-year-old daughter as a wife to the 28-year-old Iraqi journalist known as Muntadhar al-Zeidi, the shoe throw was symbolic.

In the Arab world to reference a shoe as an insult to someone is probably one of the most disrespectful forms of expression. "Adeek bil gazma" literally meaning "I'll give it to you with a shoe," is just what al-Zeidi did to the U.S. Commander in Chief.

The incident ignited such a powerful global reaction, I can't help but feel a little pity towards the man who is now by far the most hated man in the world. The crazy part is, he knows it, too.

An official portrait of the U.S. president was unveiled in the Washington D.C. National Gallery today to which he jokingly remarked: ""I suspected there would be a good-sized crowd, once word got out about my hanging."

He has no idea.

Within hours of the press conference, gamers went to work and now there are several dozens different websites launched where the avid shoe thrower can go and actually try his or her luck at hitting President Bush: http://kroma.no/2008/bushgame, http://www.sockandawe.com, and flash.vg.no/grafikk/bush/kast_sko.html to name a few.

There was also a wide reaction of not-so-pleased audience members who think the shoe throwing incident was disrespectful and unnecessary. Now, I can understand where these feelings come from. You have an official visiting your country, it would be proper to act in a civilized way so as not to create a scene, start a negative chain of events, things of that sort - basic courtesy and common sense - I mean I would never do such a thing. The possibility of spending 15 years in prison? I think I'll pass.

..However...

being responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis, displacing thousands more, creating a surge of fear and constant anxiety across the globe, that beats disrespect. I'm not speaking on behalf of al-Zeidi , but I can imagine that he, along with many many other Iraqis (and other nationalities for that matter) was just fed up, angry, and washed out with the turmoil that his country has been through for the past 4 years. And then seeing you there, Mr. President, standing in front of him claiming "the war is not over, yet" "peace is still to come" - empty words to a man who has probably seen family and friends killed or disappear, it's just not a very common sense or logical moment in time. He just flipped and threw his shoes at your head calling you a dog.

Not very classy and not very tactful and he's probably going to pay the price (if he hasn't already). But I think in order to understand why the shoe left his feet and almost landed on George Bush's face, you must put yourself in al Zeidi's place.

By far on the list of my "Oh my God! 2008 moments" (Coming soon)