Throwing Shoes @ Politicians
Apparently, shoe-throwing has become the latest trend in political protests these days. President Bush barely missed the shoe thrown his way by an angry Iraqi journalist. Now Chinese premier Wen missed a sneaker thrown at him by about a meter from an equally enraged student of Cambridge University where the Premier was giving a speech.
There are some noticeable differences in these two cases, however. Firstly, Premier Wen, as usual, would not take any questions in delivering a speech because Chinese leaders are not accustomed to taking "sensitive" questions in public, including in an academic setting like Cambridge and Harvard; oddly, Western universities such as Harvard and Cambridge would concede to such one-way preachings by Chinese leaders. Secondly, Bush and Wen reacted to the shoe-throwing with visibly different attitudes. Bush joked about the incident in an attempt to minimize the embarrassment while Wen madly called it a "despicable" act that could not undermine the Chinese-English friendship. Further, China Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing also condemned it and demanded an apology. Of course, both the U.K. and Cambridge authorities have timely issued apologies, for the conduct of this Cambridge student whose only audible line heard at the lecture was: "How can the university prostitute itself with this dictator?"
Do you believe more shoes will be flying in the air when unpopular politicians give speeches in the future? Or a more innovative method will be soon devised to replace this shoe-throwing fad? If so, what might they be? Comments are welcome in good faith only. :-)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7865868.stm
There are some noticeable differences in these two cases, however. Firstly, Premier Wen, as usual, would not take any questions in delivering a speech because Chinese leaders are not accustomed to taking "sensitive" questions in public, including in an academic setting like Cambridge and Harvard; oddly, Western universities such as Harvard and Cambridge would concede to such one-way preachings by Chinese leaders. Secondly, Bush and Wen reacted to the shoe-throwing with visibly different attitudes. Bush joked about the incident in an attempt to minimize the embarrassment while Wen madly called it a "despicable" act that could not undermine the Chinese-English friendship. Further, China Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing also condemned it and demanded an apology. Of course, both the U.K. and Cambridge authorities have timely issued apologies, for the conduct of this Cambridge student whose only audible line heard at the lecture was: "How can the university prostitute itself with this dictator?"
Do you believe more shoes will be flying in the air when unpopular politicians give speeches in the future? Or a more innovative method will be soon devised to replace this shoe-throwing fad? If so, what might they be? Comments are welcome in good faith only. :-)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7865868.stm
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Erping Zhang on
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Oddly "Air Nike" hasn't yet jumped on this commercial opportunity. :)
It would be fun to see women of conscience empty their shoe boxes, tossing pointy high heels at the unpopular politicians who might end up with a huge collection of free shoes, including flip-flops, Jimmy Choo, Church, and other brands. Haha...
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Permalink Reply by Stephanie on
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Ruach led my shoes in this direction Some thoughts that come to mind....
"When one cannot intelligently throw their ideas from their brain, the most obvious place to throw intelligent thoughts from, to the brain of the other person, at that point they only have one other possibility and that is to start from the other end: the foot"
(can't remember exactly where that quote is from.....)
Perhaps only people with small feet will be allowed to follow discussions of questionable speakers?
And last but not least, maybe people will have to have their feet measured before entering into conventions of any sort, or leave their shoes at the door and be given soft airplane-type slippers to wear.
I think the image here is a perfect one to throw...tongue out, and military fabric!! It's from my shoe/sculpture collection that can be seen on my website www.stephanieseymour.it
Shoes are much better to throw than a rock. Why not!
15 minutes left to edit your comment.
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Stephanie: That is a delicious shoe to be thrown at an unpopular politician. Shoes are expensive these days... is it cheaper to throw some cake on their faces: both harmless and part of food chain. People seem to resort to such means only when the sensible dialogue is impossible. It would be lovely if folks here can devise some harmless and yet sensible ways to make a statement. :P
Ruach: Would silk stockings count if shoes are saved? After all, many women love their shoes too much to be thrown away... Haha.
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Should the next Olympic Games add a medal sport: shoe-throwing?
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Permalink Reply by John Fisher on
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These attacks with shoes are reprehensible, and shameful action, that should be despised not laughed about. Whether it being Bush, Wen, Kim John Il, Olmert, Netanyahuu, Abu Abbas, or even the leader of any recognized nation, throwing a shoe is unacceptable, and very disrespectful. Then again I find some of the people here making fun of it have no idea what respect is about.
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Permalink Reply by silvana on
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i often attend meditation or yoga sessions, seminaries where shoes are left outside the room as an habit.
sometimes there are hundreds of shoes outside (for example at osho festivals).
there, i like to play little tricks such as dividing pairs and mixing them up. it isn't mere spite: i like to see at the end people looking for their shoes,helping each other, laughing, playing them too.
shoes are lovely personal friendly items. don't use them like this. they don't deserve. i know that spits sometimes are not enough, but don't use shoes please!
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