Proper Shoe-Throwing Etiquette for the Beginning Enthusiast

President George Bush was more amused than insulted by the odd gesture originally introduced to audiences worldwide by shoe-throwing Austin Powers villain Random Task. "I was amused," Bush said. "I've seen a lot of weird things in my presidency but this is the weirdest ... If you want the facts, it was a size ten shoe." He later expanded, "I thought it was interesting. I thought it was amusing, I thought it was weird to have a guy throw his shoe at you." Speaking to the media (as reported by the New York Times) aboard Air Force One, Bush said he had a lot of experience ducking trouble from years dodging questions from reporters. "I didn't know what he was saying to me, but I did get a look at his sole." (Later, it was learned that the Al-Zaidi screamed in Arabic, "This is a gift from the Iraqis! This is a farewell kiss, you dog!"). Al-Zaidi, who now faces a two-year jail term and is currently being held under mysterious circumstances, was dragged from the room by Iraqi security officials. Reporters said they could hear him crying in pain. "He was crying like a woman," said Mohammed Taher, a reporter for television station Afaq. But what did it all mean?

First off, it’s widely considered one of the worst insults in the Arab world. “Beyond the Islamic significance, the dirty and degrading implication of the sole of a shoe crosses all religious boundaries in the Middle East.” The BBC breaks down Middle Eastern shoe etiquette, which could one day save your life.

● In Arab culture, it’s considered rude even to display the sole of one’s shoe to a fellow human being.
● Crossing one’s legs ankle-on-knee style should never be done in a public place for fear of offending the person next to you.
● The sensitivity is related to the fact shoes are considered ritually unclean in the Muslim faith.
● In addition to ritual ablutions before prayer, Muslims must take off their shoes to pray, and wearing shoes inside a mosque is forbidden.
● Shoes should either be left at the door of the mosque, or carried (preferably in the left hand with the soles pressed together).

If this primer isn’t enough, and Wikipedia isn’t trustworthy enough, thank God you have the Justice Department suggestions on shoe etiquette.