News-Record.com

All the while you'll say nothing editorially about a faction on the city council that makes faces when people try to talk while throwing a continuous barrage of "verbal shoes" at other members of the council when they try to speak.

You guys need to be more consistent on your views on "accountablity" (JR) and "dignity" (Allen)for you to remain credible.

You want an editorial about making faces?

"No matter how you feel about the man, attacking him in that manner was wrong, undignified and even dangerous."

Agreed. However, that doesn't make it out of bounds for editorializing, especially because President Bush declared that throwing shoes seems to be related to giving Iraqis freedom. Somehow, equating "freedom" to "throwing shoes at the POTUS" seems deserving (one might say encouraging) satire, an expression of free speech that is a very big demarcation of freedom, IMO. Your censoring editorial cartoons that pick up where President Bush led us seems to be questionable given that he equated shoe-throwing to freedom.

Was it in good taste for a journalist? Not by Western standards; however, the cultural milieu in which the incident happened has a different set of norms, which I think you're failing to recognize (or refuse to validate). In addition, even though we've spent a ton of money over there and sacrificed countless lives, the Iraqis seem to be very angry (at us) and President Bush is the representation of that rage. How else do you explain the outpouring of support the shoe-throwing journalist seems to be garnering? I think his expression of rage was valid based on Iraqi cultural norms (no less reprehensible) and probably is one more vivid illustration of examples of why we don't "get it" in Iraq.

Allen, maybe you could tie it in to the larger issue like this thread, I don't know. If you think you can get a whole one out of the mimes on the council, fine. Anything to crack the N&R "Omerta" code re; city gvt. is a start towards actually doing the citizens a favor.

I agree with you on the slow response by secret agents. My opinion this jerk should have been shot before the second shoe!

Shooting the guy for assault by shoe probably wouldn't have been a good PR move.

One would imagine these guys went through metal detectors and extensive body searches before being allowed in the press room etc. so they were probably pretty sure there wasn't a deadly weapon present, unless, of course, the guy carried the gun the good ol' Bruce Willis' dad's- style from Pulp Fiction.

Sue said:
"In addition, even though we've spent a ton of money over there and sacrificed countless lives, the Iraqis seem to be very angry (at us) and President Bush is the representation of that rage."

Please don't paint all Iraqis with the same broad brush. A very large majority are happy to have been liberated and show it everyday. Dissenters abound throughout the world, and most often get attention from the mainstream media even though their numbers be small.
You'll also note that a fellow journalist took the shoe-thrower down to the ground.

Sue said:
"In addition, even though we've spent a ton of money over there and sacrificed countless lives, the Iraqis seem to be very angry (at us) and President Bush is the representation of that rage."

Please don't paint all Iraqis with the same broad brush. A very large majority are happy to have been liberated and show it everyday. Dissenters abound throughout the world, and most often get attention from the mainstream media even though their numbers be small.
You'll also note that a fellow journalist took the shoe-thrower down to the ground.

A large majority, jaycee? I don't know the numbers and neither do you. But we do know that the shoe-thrower is something of a hero now.

Anybody hear the shoe thrower is/was a member of the Bathist Party? Any truth to that rumor? Does it make a difference? Kinda does to me (if true). How different is it from leftist pie throwers on university campuses, etc? Jerks all.

Been to Iraq lately Andrew. Do you speak to anyone who is over there? I do.

A MAJORITY of the citizens are happy for the changes and the opportunity to hope for even better. They are concerned with the safety of their families, making a living and raising their children. Most people don't take part in violence or demonstrations unless some specific action directly touchs their lives. Just like here.

You don't need a survey to see that in the community.

Andrew, which part of Iraq are you currently in to make that assessment?
I'm in the Baghdad area right now, but I spent two previous tours in other parts of the country.
Please enlighten us on where in Iraq you currently are, maybe you and I can get together and you can show me the where I'm wrong.
If you aren't in Iraq, or have never been there, and don't interact with Iraqis in Iraq on a daily basis, then I suggest you stick to expressing opinions on something of which you actually have knowledge. Just because your left-wing media portrays the world in a light with which you agree doesn't make it so.

Skeet Club,

I am always amazed at the ridiculous ways you can turn National/International incidents into a way to attack the News & Record. Such non-sensical leaps of faith do not serve to validate your arguments.

We get it, you think the NR is too liberal. Point taken.

I join Allen in congratulating the liberal media for not throwing shoes at U.S. press conferences.

Ax, we're all endowed by our creator with different thresholds for hypocrisy. You have no idea how much I wish mine was higher.