Shoe-ing!!!

It’s been over a year... the Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at George W Bush to show his contempt for the US President... The practice seems to have caught on in India. Shoe has been thrown on the Prime Minister; the Home Minister; L.K. Advani and so on... All those targeted seem to have turned saints and have straight away forgiven the wrongdoer in the true pre-election spirit. But was it right??? Shouldn’t the wrongdoer been punished??? Particularly by the Home Minister... who is our top terrorist hunter. However with the experience gained by the organizers of political functions are either keeping audiences at a safe distance from speakers or are providing net shelter to speakers from being hit by flying shoes. The situation is unlikely to improve unless commendable punishment and penalty is awarded to shoe throwers.

Footwear’s are considered to be unclean, so it’s left outside the religious places (as a mark of respect). To assault with a shoe is therefore an expression of strong dislike for someone. Newspapers in India have often reported under-trials throwing footwear at presiding judges after judgments been delivered.

Case A – A passenger on a flight... traveling in the economy class. He suddenly has an immediate urge to visit the toilet... but finds the aisle blocked by the beverage cart. Unable to hold himself; he runs towards the toilet which is in the first class. There he is restrained by an airhostess . He pushes her aside and uses the toilet in the first class. As per law… he is charged with assault on the flight attendant and could plead guilty as well as bear penalty. Suppose he wants to show his contempt towards the court or to the sentence... he can throw his footwear at the judge... as footwear is usually easy to remove. Of course he would be held in contempt of court and further penalized.

Case B – A law teacher in Australia; showed her contempt - by dropping her pants and baring her backside to the presiding judge. The judge gave her 4 months in jail for disgusting behavior and contempt of court. From the severity of the punishment; I somehow feel the judge could be female... The display of the posterior could perhaps have even been done with it painted with abusive messages... This method has the virtue; that footwear which is relatively expensive, is saved for oneself...

Here is an exception where the court and judeges were partial to a display of body part of an under-trial... In ancient Greece; the most beautiful courtesan Phryne, who had been used as a nude model by famous sculptors and painters; was hauled before the court to face some charges. Just as it seemed she would lose the case and therefore her life... her lawyer ripped open her robe and exposed her breasts to the jury. She was acquitted. We can only guess the extenuating reasons for this verdict ;) Perhaps the jury, which may have been all male had probably felt that she should be spared because of her matchless assets...

Who knows... down the line; dissent or contempt could be expressed not merely by shoe-ing but by more imaginative and entertaining ways... Lets wait and watch ;)

CHEERS!!!