The bronze shoe

This is actually not that recent of a story, but when I first read about it, i couldn't help but find it rather amusing. Forgive me for finding this story amusing, I know that it has deeper meaning than I'm not allowing it by partially making fun of it.

Anyways. the story follows a pair of shoes. The shoes just happened to be on the feet of a Iraqi journalist by the name of Muntazer al-Zaidi on December 14th, who was present during news conference of former president, George W. Bush on his final trip to Iraq. While the conference was in session, the shoes came off the feet of Muntazer and suddenly found themselves being propelled toward president Bush's head at an alarming rate. The shoes did not hit the desired target as president Bush ducked his head just in the nick of time. Forgive me all of you Bush- supporters, but all I can say is, "HA! serves you right Mr. Former President."

I respect the fact that Mr. Bush was simply making an effort to create a nation that would be safe and comfortable throughout his years in office, but i think he did a crappy job of international relations and promoting peace throughout the world. He called for a "war on terror" which is a amiable desire, but the way he carried through on his "war on terror" was an embarrassment that simply added fuel to the fire. In my opinion,  the shoe throwing instance was something of a inevitability. 

The journalist Muntazer is now facing up to 15 years in prison if he is found guilty of assaulting a foreign leader. His lawyer insists that Muntazer was expression his opinion, not trying to assault anyone. In his honor, people have created the pictured bronze shoe with the inscription, "Muntazer: fasting until the sword breaks its fast with blood; silent until our mouths speak the truth."  Unfortunately the bronze sculpter was dismantled on orders from a provincial governor in Iraq.  I suppose it would not be a wise choice to leave the monument of the bronze shoe up, but it would be a lovely monument.

Most of my information was from articles in either the Saskatoon Starphoenix or the Edmonton Journal.