The Defining Image

[poliphilo]

The defining image of the Bush presidency

Comments

[mummm.livejournal.com]

Is that someone throwing something at him? That person is an idiot. I don't like Bush but that kind of behavior from a spectator is far from adult.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

An Iraqi journalist threw his shoe at him at a press conference in Baghdad. I think that took some courage. And bearing in mind all the stuff Bush has thrown at the Iraqi people I consider it a justifiable tit for tat.

[kutsuwamushi.livejournal.com]

That's definitely one for the history books.

But not American history books, because they're written for Texans.

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the perpertrator is an admirer - it may be a case of the fan hitting the shit!

Perhaps the behaviour is not 'adult' yet neither is "I gotta go grab a burger", mid-interview, 'adult' behaviour. Not forgetting the 'Let's bomb someone because we can't find the culprits' policy!

[mummm.livejournal.com]

He threw both shoes and immediately got taken into custody. I'm holding with my comment that it was a dumb thing to do.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

It only got the shoe thrower taken into custody.

Believe me that it would feel very good to throw things at Bush, but really...

[mazzie.livejournal.com]

Actually, the defining moment is immediately after Bush dodges, wherein, I swear, he smirks.

I think throwing shoes in some cultures is a huge insult. I mean, not that it's a sign of affection in others.

[kutsuwamushi.livejournal.com]

It only got the shoe thrower taken into custody.

And it made a powerful statement at the same time. You may not see it, personally, but many others do.

So it's not accurate that getting taken into custody is the only thing that this journalist accomplished.

He apparently thought that his statement was important enough to get arrested for--he obviously had to expect that going in. The same as many other people who went to jail for things that they did/said while communicating their message.

[seraphimsigrist.livejournal.com]

it may be but
you know my emotional response
is to think what could be a picture
representing the "defining image" of
bishop seraphim's life as chosen
by someone who had contempt for me
I am sure there would be countless such.

and for many others perhaps including
those amused by this, the reflection would
hold that those who held one in contempt
could find an image

[mummm.livejournal.com]

I seem to have started a storm here. Sorry I voiced my opinion. I don't like Bush either!!!

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with voicing your opinion; after all, that's all that the people disagreeing with you are doing.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Given that showing the soles of your feet to an Arab is potentially a rude thing to do, I can only imagine that throwing your shoes at someone is even more so.

[mazzie.livejournal.com]

yes, and I am reminded of images of Iraqis hitting the statue of Sadaam Hussein with their shoes after it was pulled down.

[chochiyo-sama.livejournal.com]

I think Bush is lucky that the man was a decent person who just wanted to make a statement--basically that Bush has fucked Iraq in every orafice and even made some new orafices to fuck it with.

If it were a nasty person with a real 'tude, it could have been knives, bullets, or a grenade.

Too bad the shoes didn't hit the smarmy little bastard right in the mouth. Twice. Smirk with a fat lip, you evil little turd.

[mamarose.livejournal.com]

I am glad someone had the courage to make this sort of statement. It says things that nothing else can. It shares a sentiment that many of us wish we could participate in. I would never want harm to come to anyone. But a shoe thrown at Bush? It seems quite fitting.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Not all of them, surely?

I think we'll be seeing a whole lot more of this image in the years to come.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Oh definitely. It's very significant that of all the things he could have thrown, he chose shoes.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I know our political opinions diverge here, which is fair enough, but as someone who believes the invasion of Iraq was a criminal act, I think the president will have got off very lightly if this is the worst punishment he receives.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

A picture is worth a 1000 words- and this one encapsulates very sweetly the opinion most of the world has of George Bush.

100 years from now it'll be in all the schoolbooks. The shoes will define Bush the way the cherry tree defines Washington.

"What can you tell me about George Bush?"

"Please Miss, he was the one who had the shoes thrown at him.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Images stick. This one is going to follow Bush wherever he goes.

[ideealisme.livejournal.com]

Well I'm very offended at the journalist's behaviour...

...how dare he miss!

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

His aim was excellent. Sadly Bush had faster reflexes than I might have expected, and he managed to duck. :)

Though on balance, it's probably as well for the Iraqi journalist that he didn't actually injure Bush or things could have got quite nasty. As it is, he's made his point, will presumably be charged with some minor offence and I hope that is an end to it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ha.

He did his best.

And given how Arabs get freaked by shoes, I think that image of Bush with the shoe hovering over his head is at least as powerful as a direct hit would have been.

edited

[seraphimsigrist.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it is a matter of something
related to views on politics, it may
be that I am less political in some
way and that this appears as a different
view and of course it may be a different
view(getting tangled in words)
I have never understood contempt
but this may come from being too easy
going.
to finish the thought and leave it balanced
rather than as some sort of accusation
I have the idea that an appearance of harshness
can risk to accompany a higher intensity and an
appearance of indifference and lack of concern
and thought can risk to accompany a lower intensity.

tulsidas, author of a version of the ramayana,says
the gods themselves live by forbearance, perhaps
it is these differences in perception which impel
us also variously all in that direction.

Practice Makes Perfect

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

Bush is really good at ducking. Issues, mainly, but now "missiles" as well. WMD? I think not.
In his cultural context, the reporter was not acting like a child, but rather as an irate citizen hurling an insult.
It's a bit shocking to think that someone could get that close to hitting a president in the head before he is subdued. It could have been worse - an assassin, for example.
However, I think that beating hell out of the reporter was uncalled for. It amounts to torture, to punishment that is way out of line with the offense (I will NOT call it a crime).

[kutsuwamushi.livejournal.com]

Well, it's an exaggeration, but Texas has a lot of influence over what goes into American textbooks because it's so big and its school board conservatives are so vocal. Companies don't want to write textbooks that won't sell in Texas.

It's one of the many, many problems with American education.

Re: edited

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I like that line from Tulsidas.

I don't feel contempt for Bush. Now that his power is ebbing away so is my anger. In a way I feel sorry for him, because I don't think History will judge him kindly.

Re: Practice Makes Perfect

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Polticians today are so insulated from the populations they rule. Bush especially lives in such a tightly sealed bubble- protected from protesters and dissident voices- that I wonder if he has any real idea how unpopular he is. Anyway, I'm glad he finally got to meet one of his critics up close.

[seraphimsigrist.livejournal.com]

well we will see...it is in the end
no matter to you or I or,in the end,
to him...as it was said "to his own
Master he stands or falls."

William Buck in his short but good version of
Ramayana,the only one I have read through
to be honest ,I think may be drawing from
Tulsidas in saying "the world is a jewel of
forgiveness set in infinite love."

[sovay]

I'm only sorry he ducked in time.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't know. The image of him with the shoe suspended over his head will speak volumes through the Arab world.

[sovay]

The image of him with the shoe suspended over his head will speak volumes through the Arab world.

I would have liked something he did to leave him with a bruise. He's not going to be held responsible for any of his crimes; the least the universe could offer is a black eye, however fading fast.

(The American world, too. Even without the cultural weight, there's no dignity in a shoe—you throw them at noisy cats and other annoyances. You can scrape up some image as a martyr if someone tries to shoot you. A pair of shoes? Good luck.)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to let the historians rough him up. The bruises they give him will last a thousand years (at least).