The Bush shoe: A symbol with sole
Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Extracurriculars, Relationships
It has been just over a week since Iraqi journalist Muntader al-Zaidi hurled his shoes at American President George Bush, but the pieces of flying footwear have already become a powerful symbol for worldwide frustration and anger.In the United States, 236.com had a field day with the incident, setting the clip to classical music and suggesting ways for readers to show their solidarity. Meanwhile, numerous grass-roots groups have developed, some suggesting that mailing shoes to President Bush might be the best way to express dissent with his Presidency.
It's hardly surprising that the symbolic shoes are so powerful to so many people. To a great extent, a political history of the past few decades could simply be a catalog of symbols and sound bites. In the late 1980's, for example, a burger commercial became a cultural phenomenon when a Presidential candidate asked his opponent "Where's the beef?" In the intervening years, ribbons of red, pink, white and yellow have gained massive meaning for huge segments of the population, while wristbands of various colors have become markers of causes ranging from testicular cancer to Goth rights. In the recent election cycle, candidates were accused of being unpatriotic or even treasonous based on their wearing of traditional clothes or eschewing of flag pins. Symbols as disparate as a rainbow flag or the middle name Hussein have, in a very real way, become replacements for convictions and strongly verbalized beliefs.
Over the years, numerous marketers, politicians, and activists have attempted to create images and symbols that capture the public's interest. Usually, they fail; in fact, the best symbols are often the most unintentional. Devoid of pedigree or clear message, they seep into the public consciousness and completely change the tenor of an age. This is definitely the case with the shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist. As al-Zaidi continues to be detained by the government, shoe manufacturers throughout the Middle East are claiming responsiblity for the offending size tens. The current front-runner is Turkish shoe manufacturer Baydan shoes, whose Ducati Model 271, aka the "Bush Shoe" has enjoyed a quadrupling in sales. One of the company's biggest markets, oddly enough, is the United States, where a company has ordered 18,000 pairs.
Regardless of how many shoes Baydan sells or how many get sent to the White House, it's pretty clear that al-Zaidi's protest has offered a way for millions to express their frustrations with the Bush administration. In the process, they have helped support at least one business in a season where so many are hurting. With any luck, President Bush will find a way to deliver his forthcoming shoe bonanza to America's many under-shod citizens. Of course, if that doesn't work, maybe they can build a shoe annex into his Presidential library!
Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. He, unfortunately, doesn't have too many pairs of shoes.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-23-2008 @ 11:16PM
sandy said...
This is just plan dumb! First of all as far as the war, President Bush was acting on what was suppose to be "fact" from the CIA that informs him of "weapons of mass destruction" he didn't just make it up. He has people that provide this info to him. As for everything else, you can blame the Clinton admin. for bills they passed. The housing market is gone due to the banks giving loans to those who could not afford them, and loans where the payments increase after so many years. When all of this took place the Democrats were in control. What does that say? Too many people just don't care. They only go by what they here on the local news. The new's with the exception of CNN at times, only gives the basic bias news. They don't tell the truth or it's a half truth. The news media has given Bush a bad name instead of stating the facts that the depression that we are now in was caused by votes from other administrations. It takes years for an admin. changes to catch up to present time. Bush is a good man that had nothing but good intentions. If I were under President Sodom's rule I would thank God for the American troops. Yes, we have lost alot of great young men, and alot are crippled for life. War has a history from the beginning of time and will continnue until the final war. This is when Jesus comes back for the rapture. God is in control Doesn't matter who's in office now, it's God's means to the end of this earth as we know it. The Bible tells us about what has already happened and what is to come. The number one thing to be concerned about is that you are saved by the grace of God and that everyone you know and meet is saved or you can at least plant a seed that will be watered by God, the Bible tells of our demise. And we are very, very close to the end.
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12-24-2008 @ 2:33AM
Metro said...
Sandy,
Are you a teenager? You sound like one.
One day you'll become an adult. Perhaps then you can arrive at a more accurate accessment of what's really going on in the world. It sounds as though you're the one who just believes what she "heres". (your word)
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12-24-2008 @ 11:07AM
Damocles said...
A little between the lines cynicism like "V for Vendetta"?
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12-24-2008 @ 9:48PM
mm said...
excellent blog entry. i didn't really think of the shoes in this way but i like the analogy. Freedom of speech and expression is one of the very few things that Americans have left- so by golly, let us use it.
sandy, i respect your opinions but also find that they are altruistic and a tad naive. it's refreshing to see that there are people who are still able to bilssfully stick their heads in the sand and blindly follow the propaganda set before them. when no one can no longer innocently follow- THAT is when we should worry. a lil innocence is a good thing. just a little :-)
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12-26-2008 @ 2:45PM
Internet Sales Manager said...
Oh man... let's forget about the whole Bush-Iraq "mistake" already and focus on what we can do about the future already. That's a topic well-beaten, the two sides will never agree, end of story.
About the blog, very funny. I'll throw a shoe at Bush for $10 million!
http://www.ismnewsdaily.com
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