First came Muntazer al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who hurled his size tens at George W Bush whilst shouting, "This is a farewell kiss, you dog." Then this week - in a slightly less dramatic fashion - came the Cambridge University student in the UK who chucked his shoe at the visiting Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao whilst calling him a dictator.
Whereas Bush laughed off his shoe-throwing near miss (see video below), and very near it was too, the Chinese are furious at the Cambridge incident despite the shoe in question landing a full metre or more - depending on which reports you believe - away from Premier Wen.
The 'heavy grey trainer' - description from The Times newspaper - may have landed on the stage with a barely audible slap but the incident has nonetheless reverberated around the globe, leaving the Chinese foreign ministry fuming about 'despicable behaviour.'
The young man in the UK has now been charged with committing a public order offence and will be forced to appear before magistrates, but you can't help thinking that for any self-respecting protester a day in court after such a high-profile action would be seen as a badge of honour.
A beating and burnt shoes
For the Iraqi journalist things were much worse - he still faces charges and immediately after the incident was detained and beaten. And literally adding insult to injury his shoes were taken away and destroyed by worried security staff terrified they may explode.
But for his efforts Mr al-Zaidi has become a hero in the Arab world - there's even a sofa-sized bronze statue of his shoe in Tikrit, the birthplace of Saddam Hussein. What's more, people presumably impressed by their aerodynamic qualities inundated the factory that made the type of shoes he threw - reports say more staff had to be taken on to cope with the demand.
Let us know
You know you've made it when people want your shoes. So is this act of shoe throwing about to take-off? Puns aside, there's a lot going for it, low cost, always available, dramatic and, with a little shoe-ting practice, high impact.
Wall to wall Internet coverage and an avalanche of media attention have been scored already and there hasn't even been a direct hit - imagine what a bull's eye would bring.
It seems clear a new social protest movement has been born.
What do you think, would you ever remove your shoes in anger and hurl? If so who would be in your firing line? Go to the
Reactions section below and let us know what you think.
Tags:
George W Bush,
Muntazer al-Zaidi,
shoe-throwers,
Tikrit,
Wen Jiabou
ahmad ,
06-02-2009
- Newzealand
Since Bush is out of office, my target would be the Israeli foreign minister Livni or the Egyptian president Hosney Mobarak for me would be prime targets
Panda@War,
05-02-2009
- England
All Chinese leaders-wannabe must receive Jet Li style kungfu training thereafter on (1) use a pair of chopsticks hidden under his sleeves to grab any suspicious Unidentified Flying Object moving towards him, and (2) throw it back to where it comes from within 2 sec, at speed of no less than 50mph, on target!
jan,
04-02-2009
- canada
Hand grenades would be much more satisfying.
George Kay,
04-02-2009
- U.S.A.
I would like to say, beware of all enterprises that require new shoes, and not rather a new wearer of shoes.
sandra,
04-02-2009
- Nederlands
How can he miss that big fat head of George Bush?
jasmin,
04-02-2009
- India
Many of our leaders, worldwide, do deserve this special treatment, for treating the public as dirt and imposing their policies on us. However, I won't hurl a shoe at them. My shoes are worthy of respect than the heads of these leaders.
Alan Young,
04-02-2009
- USA
Once again the protestors are making the footprints of history!
Phil,
04-02-2009
- Netherlands
I like the idea! I would love to throw my shoes at a few people. It has plenty of meaning, but upholds a bit of dignity rather than giving the finger.
TZ,
04-02-2009
- U.S
I would gladly hurl my shoes. If my aim is not half as good as I wish, I can at least console myself with the fact that I tried. My intention is clearly revealed by my ethnic background and the history of my country. But honestly we must give full credit to al-Zaidi who has set the trend for the use of this novel piece of leather aka footwear as a weapon of injury and humiliation.
David Berridge,
04-02-2009
- Canada
Going around with only one shoe on during a Canadian winter is not advisable, as many Europeans are discovering with their winter!!
Vera Gottlieb,
03-02-2009
- Germany
Why should the "pretty" people not be told how we, the ordinary folks, feel? Are these people above the law or above the truth? It certainly beats firing a bullet!
Carlos Borjal,
03-02-2009
- USA
I think we will be seeing a lot more of these shoe-throwing protests in the future. Wait till students in Berkely pick it up, it will become the standard trade mark for student uprisings. Or perhaps the French can throw shoes at each other instead of saying “to the barricades, to the barricades, vive la France!” Or Germany’s neo-Nazis throwing spiked shoes at their migrant Turks. Uh-uh! How about the Dutch? No, sir, no clogs! Those clogs are banned, they are considered deadly weapons!
