Arab shoe-tossing isn't a gesture of friendly affection
On the heels (gettit?) of the now-notorious incident in which an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at some guy named George Bush, the world press has rushed to tell us that throwing shoes is a really bad thing in the Arab world. Not like here in the west, where it's a gesture of affection.
“In Arab cultures, throwing shoes is a grave show of disrespect.” –Bloomberg.comThose Mysterious Easterners, So Different From You and Me“The act is an Arab symbol of contempt.” –Christian Science Monitor
“Throwing shoes at somebody is a supreme insult in the Middle East.” –Reuters
“In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt.” –Associated Press
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Cory Doctorow
Upcoming appearances
* Feb 9, 2012, DeKalb, IL: Day of Doctorow, NIU
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