George Bush nearly pelted with shoes

[punch]

Of course Bush, ignorant dipstick that he is, cracked some joke about shoe size. Probably he had no concept of the nature of the insult, or it's relevance to the Muslim faith. One would hope that if he did, he wouldn't have joked such.

I think someone trying to bean you with a shoe or any blunt object in any culture has very clear meaning. If Bush didn't joke and started whining and flaring his nostrils like Bill Maurer does on every one of his shows, then you'd be crying about Bush doing that instead.

[CGM]

Of course Bush, ignorant dipstick that he is, cracked some joke about shoe size. Probably he had no concept of the nature of the insult, or it's relevance to the Muslim faith. One would hope that if he did, he wouldn't have joked such.

I think someone trying to bean you with a shoe or any blunt object in any culture has very clear meaning. If Bush didn't joke and started whining and flaring his nostrils like Bill Maurer does on every one of his shows, then you'd be crying about Bush doing that instead.

Huh? Haven't we just been discussing that displaying soles of feet, and throwing shoes, has a very specific implication that is particular to Arabic culture? And my point is that these days it is in nobody's interest for the president to belittle any aspect of Arabic culture. He should be careful about that sort of stuff, wouldn't you say? So as not to offend any more people than he already has?

Although perhaps I was a little insensitive in my portrayal of Bush's cultural insenitivity.

[El Kabong]

I think the "offended" people had better just grab a big old glass of get over it. You live on a fucking gold mine of oil and then go on to be offended at EVERYTHING....when do WE as westerners stop trying to be nice and understanding and just tell them to fuck off


CGM it doesn't matter if we crawled across the desert to kiss their asses they would find fault with our ways and our culture. And while I am all for respecting other people's culture (I truly am, I know many of you might not believe it but it's true) but where do we draw the line because there is a large vocal group of muslims that want us to change OUR culture to better suit their views. I understand trying to get these people to understand and even enjoy Democracy is a big culture shock and giving rights to women is a big culture shock but these are things that NEED to happen in order for these people to climb out of the stone age and become a part of the real world.

[CGM]

fair enough Lyle, in retrospect I realize there is a grain or two of salt involved in this whole affair. And that when things (shoes) happen quickly, people tend to react (crack a joke) quickly. And I think you are saying that is a part (albeit a small part) of the American way. And yeah, it likely is not going to make a big difference to died in the wool haters of the US. I still say making light of the incident, or saying "fuck you if you don't like it", is not the way to go about things, if you are interested in getting the nonhating part of the Arab world onside, but I suppose in retrospect I may be making too much of the situation.

[Kirkland Laing]

I think the "offended" people had better just grab a big old glass of get over it. You live on a fucking gold mine of oil and then go on to be offended at EVERYTHING....when do WE as westerners stop trying to be nice and understanding and just tell them to fuck off


CGM it doesn't matter if we crawled across the desert to kiss their asses they would find fault with our ways and our culture. And while I am all for respecting other people's culture (I truly am, I know many of you might not believe it but it's true) but where do we draw the line because there is a large vocal group of muslims that want us to change OUR culture to better suit their views. I understand trying to get these people to understand and even enjoy Democracy is a big culture shock and giving rights to women is a big culture shock but these are things that NEED to happen in order for these people to climb out of the stone age and become a part of the real world.

There are a big bunch of people in both western and Arab countries who think the other lot should change and be just like them and everything would be much better. What would actually make things much better is if the west got the fuck off the Arabian peninsula and the region in general and stopped interfering with and manipulating their governments and their oil. Because until they do the west, and mainly America, is rightly going to get the blame for said interference and suffer various acts of terrorism because of it.

[El Kabong]

Hey if they want us to go away then just give us all the oil and we'll leave you alone....without oil the Middle East is nothing

[Andre]

Hey if they want us to go away then just give us all the oil and we'll leave you alone....without oil the Middle East is nothing

"achemmm Yes" And the little girl, how much for the little girl?"









Poor women over there,we need to rescue a fair few of them too.

[El Kabong]

Oh but Andre who are WE to tell people how to run their culture If they want to throw acid on girls going to school and stone to death rape victims then who are we too try and keep them from doing so?



Yes OUR culture needs the changing

[Kirkland Laing]

Hey if they want us to go away then just give us all the oil and we'll leave you alone....without oil the Middle East is nothing

Excellent, you're not still trying to claim we're the innocent party here and we're just trying to be nice and understanding.