Right - what's going on here with Iraqis banging their shoes on everything? And that wacky information minister saying Bush and Blair should be hit with shoes? Where the **** did that all come from? How come we never heard of this before we invaded? And most of the shoes I'm seeing are wimpy little slippers, not combat boots or stilletos or something. Are the Iraqis just faking it?
In ME culture, showing the bottom of your shoes to somebody is considered extremely insulting since they're seen as being dirty (to the point where if you're talking to someone you're not supposed to cross your legs). Hitting someone with the sole of your shoe is the ultimate insult.
Thanks for the info. I was thinking that some of these Iraqis had stepped on camel shit and were trying to use Saddam's statue to clean their shoes.