This reminds me of when the USS Enterprise stopped in Pataya Beach in Thailand and we were admonished to not show the soles of our shoes to the Thais because it was considered to be gravely insulting:
From the AKI
On Sunday, al-Zaydi threw his first shoe at Bush as he yelled “This is a gift from the Iraqis. This is the farewell kiss, you dog,”
As he threw his second shoe, he said: “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.” As Bush avoided the shoes, al-Zaydi was quickly wrestled to the ground by security guards.
Al-Zaydi was being held on Monday by Iraqi police and was reportedly interrogated about whether he was paid to throw his shoes at Bush. He was also being tested for alcohol and drug use.
In the Arab world, throwing your shoes or exposing the soles of your shoes is one of the worst signs of disrespect.
In a separate incident in the Iraqi city of Najaf, protesters threw their shoes at an American patrol as it passed by.
Where once we were the shining city on the hill to so much of the world, now we are dogs who get shoes thrown at them. Heckuva job, Georgie.
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