Forget the Shoe, Throw the Book

So an Iraqi journalist hurled the ultimate insult at George W. Bush on his farewell tour to the country formerly known as Iraq in the "Shoe Heard 'Roud the World" incident. I say so, because, really, so? Nothing could hit this President, he's become so adept at dodging things like questions, responsibility, accountability, impeachment, criminal trial...yes, he's dodged must worse than a dirty shoe thrown by a man who had been abducted and terrorized because of this man and his war.

And face it, we've all thrown things at Bush. How many times during one of his inane speeches have you, me, I, us, We, the People, hurled objects at the TV, from obscenities and choice phrases, outrageous laughter, shame, or even the remote, socks, hell, it' s probably not the first shoe thrown at him, just the first in person.

But why did it take a frustrated Iraqi to do what Americans should have done years ago: throw something at George W. Bush; no, not a shoe, but a book. A law book. A book containing the Constitution? Why haven't we thrown our considerable weight as a people (when united) behind a cause to impeach this man, or, if he leaves office prior, bring him and his cabal up on charges at the Hague?

I took off my shoes and threw them across the room the night of the incident in a show of solidarity. You should do it, it feels good. Truly. Right now, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, stand up if you can, grab a shoe, a HURL it in your yard or street or across your office. Don't hit anyone or anything. Just hurl it. Then hurl the other one. Imagine yourself in that press conference as you do it.

Better yet, imagine you're at your dinner table, home desk, dashboard of your car, wherever you plan your finances or go over the late notices. Imagine the frustration you feel this Christmas as you all but skip it because of housing crisis, gas, recession, inflation...while oil companies show record profits. Imagine your child's all but nonexistent college fund, or your copay on health care if you're lucky enough to have it. Imagine your country, once leader in the world, now fourth or fifth under China and Russia. Imagine the over 4000 dead Americans on foreign soil coupled with the $100 billion we now know was wasted (meaning stolen, pocketed) on an effort that was called reconstruction and did nothing but fatten wallets by millions of dollars while a nation starved and went underserved.

Yes, pick any horror of the last eight years and imagine it and then take off those shoes and HURL them across the room. We have just as much right as that journalist in the country formerly known as Iraq. After all, we are living in the country formerly known as great.

Our founders would approve. They would, and they would look to us in our country and say now that! That is the spirit of revolution. Because the "shot heard 'round the world" did more than cause a million press conferences or YouTube downloads, it caused a revolution. What revolution will this cause? Here? None. We're too lazy. In the country formerly known as Iraq they are rioting. The country is split. But they are acting out.

I don't know what it is going to take for our journalists to get this angry. They have been lied to for years under the guise of spin and now just accept it. What will it take of our people to get this frustrated? How much further do we have to sink as a nation before we start looking at this man and saying ENOUGH!

For instance, kick his ass, his administration's ass, ALL of their asses out of BLAIR HOUSE, our HOUSE by January 5th, 2009 so our future hope and President's kids can start school at no more expense to us (secret service, etc). Obama asked, Bush said "no." 70,000 square feet, four connected town homes, across from the White House and they say "no." Well, it's not theirs, it's ours, and we say "YES." Screw protocol. Get out now, we're not spending another dollar on you, and that includes housing for our future president while we've got a perfectly good guest house. Cancel whatever you have planned or move it, the landlord wants it back.

Despots don't get perks. Any of them. ENOUGH!

And no more "apology" interviews. The next interview Bush should do should be in front of jury on the stand.

In the country formerly known as Iraq it is an ultimate insult to hurl a shoe. In our country, for a President, it is the equivalent to spitting in the face. Well, George W. Bush and his cabal have spat on the Constitution, spat on Civil Rights, spat on the Geneva Convention, Kyoto Accord, spat on regulations for financial sectors, real estate moguls...basically spat on We, the People.

It's time we take the lead from that frustrated Iraqi and show our frustration with lawlessness and treason.

It's time we throw not the shoe, but the book, at this man and his friends. And we need to hit him dead on, square between his beady little eyes. We should hit him with laws, with crimes and indictments.

Or is this lone Iraqi braver than the entire legislature of the United States of America and legal tribunals of the world?

Follow Charles Karel Bouley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/talkradiolive

Comments

[mikaillaflorence]

Instead of throwing your shoes or creating mayhem at the White House by mailing your shoes, take a picture, in solidarity with Al Zaidi, take a picture in the name of peace and an end to war,

Upload the picture to this site:
www.thankyouforthrowingyourshoe.com

[BaghdadSerai]

Muntadar al-Zaidi recently threw a couple of shoes at the president of my country. I am embarrassed to have someone throw shoes at the president of my country, but I am proud that my president seemed alert and managed to duck the shoes.

Looking at the pictures, I don’t think Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki would have been able to duck the shoes. It seemed like his mind was somewhere else. Maybe he was feeling sentimental at being there for the last time with his old friend, the president of my country.

Now there is news that they are beating Mantadar al-Zaidi for throwing the shoes and are going to put him in prison for a long time. I think this is a bad idea. I think throwing shoes should be encouraged because it is much better than throwing rocks or bombs or shooting bullets. They should give Mantadar al-Zaidi a big parade with lots of flowers and school children singing songs. They should tell people to be more like Mantadar al-Zaidi and throw shoes when they are angry because there would be a lot less widows and orphans.

And anyway, sending Mantadar al-Zaidi to prison is not very fair. The president of my country dropped bombs on a very big city where thousands of men, women and children were living and he is not going to prison. Not yet anyway, and, as we see, he is very good at ducking.

[JBS]

"Or is this lone Iraqi braver than the entire legislature of the United States of America and legal tribunals of the world?"

Yes.

[RobChattaTN]

yes, there is a massive amount of pent up rage around the world at what BushCo has mangled. It is truly astonishing.

unfortunately, throwing shoes or even 'the book' will NOT un-do the wreckage! much of this is permanent!

no wonder there is so much hope for what Obama will do for the whole world

[davism97]

"unfortunately, throwing shoes or even 'the book' will NOT un-do the wreckage! much of this is permanent! "

That shouldn't be an excuse to not hold criminals accountable for their actions. We can't move forward until we deal with our past.

[joeplum88]

Wow! Where do we sign for Bush to get the F out ??? even if it is waaaayyyyy over due. The least he could do is allow the Obama family to move in...but then again we are talking about Bush.

[gorideabike]

It is fundamentally necessary that criminals who operate at this level never be held accountable. The law exists only to keep little people in check.

[nancytheragingliberal]

How I would love to see the book thrown at Bush and his crooked cronies, but I don't think they will be held accountable. Obama will spew some drivel about forgetting the past and moving to the future. Sadly, no, these thieves and warmongers will be set free.

[redbridge]

Me? I'm just one person.