Send President Bush a Pair of Your Shoes: Non-Violent Protest
Muntandar al-Zaidi is a hero for a lot of reasons. First, he didn't resort to violence in the true sense of the Middle East conflict to express himself. Instead, he tapped a deep-rooted Arab cultural expression of disdain to show his objection and protest of President Bush's failed policies in the Middle East and in Iraq by throwing his shoes at the President.
Immediately, according to some reports, Muntandar was grabbed and beaten by guards. One reportedly said in Arabic, don't kick him in the face, and he was led out covered in some blood. Well, so much for Democracy.
The fact is that Muntandar's action is a move from violence to Democracy, the kind of Democracy Bush needed a long time ago. Instead of resorting to violence, the cameraman for al-Baghdadiya TV protested in the one non-violent way that reflects the deep-seated frustration and pain Bush has brought to Iraq and the rest of the Middle East. Throwing his shoes.
But, Muntandar started a movement that is catching on. People all over the world are mailing a pair of their old shoes to President Bush and I have, too, in a form of protest.
And here is a picture of me throwing my shoes at President Bush -- shoes I purchased while at the Asian American Journalists Association two summers ago in Miami. View the photo by clicking here.
Non-violent protest is the way to go and instead of being beaten, Muntandar al-Zaidi should be praised.
Follow Ray Hanania on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rayhanania
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I'm sending the shoes not the picture. An old pair of gardening shoes....t
How about sending soleless shoes?
Let us keep our shoes on.
As for Bush, I suggest getting a good lawyer
to prepare for all the law suits he will face. How is this as a first?
Americans file a class action suit against the Bush admin.
If this is done, it will set a sequence of events that will let our future leaders know that “we are mad as hell, and we are not going to take this anymore!!!
well said
or send your shoes to your senator and say they can still impeach this sorry sad guy
Bush would only leave a bunch of shoes behind for Obama to clean up, like the rest of his mess. I'm waiting for him to move to that brand new house in Dallas.
Anyone have a take on how many of these shoegrams actually have reached the WH so far?
Buy a homeless person's shoes (or trade them a new pair) and send THOSE shoes to Bush!
Another great idea would be to send him this interesting song along with a pair of shoes:
" My Shoe "
by Doc Jazz (c) 2008
http://sou
(lyrics found at the bottom of the page)
Muntandar did what many of us have wanted to do for a very long time.
Yo, Ray!
ahoy
Another alternative - After the inauguration:
according to this article: (read article thoroughly)
http://www
10141 DARIA PL
DALLAS TX 75229-6630
also, per the above article:
"An adjacent home at 10151 Daria Place is under contract, and neighbors believe that the Bushes plan to buy that property as well, though it's unclear how they would use that house or the land."
Are we mailing them to the White House? His New House? The Crawford Ranch?
Wouldn't it be safer to take a picture of them and mail it? Not to mention, cheaper. You wouldn't want people to start putting things in the shoes.
Send it as a POSTCARD print . . . give the letter carriers a laugh . . . and the staff will "get the message"
Why not?
spoil sport
I'm on it! Sending them out FED EX this week. Great idea and I strongly urge everyone in America to do the same...
How can you claim that throwing your shoes at someone isn't an act of violence? If the Shrub's reflexes weren't good enough to avoid flying shoes aimed at his head and he actually got hit with one, what would you call it then? Believe me, I'm not defending our criminal-in-chief here. I wouldn't mind if his stu.pid grin was wiped away by a nice big bruise or maybe a missing front tooth. Just making a point.
I hope al-Zaidi is released. He's not just a hero to many Iraqis; he's a hero to many of us, too.
"It's always funny until someone gets hurt. Then it's hilarious.
Thanks Muntandar al-Zaida, for all that you do.
According to Merriam-Webster, violence is "exertion of physical force so as to injure or abuse." Whether or not it is a custom is beside the point and doesn't make the behavior non-violent (or necessarily acceptable behavior).
Definitions aside,I only wish he could have thrown a little faster.
Good idea.
BTW: I saw a picture in Time magazine. We need to buy O some new shoes, since his soles has holes.
This is an excellent idea! Thank you for sharing. I'm headed to the post office now.
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