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.