Throwing shoes is getting to be a habit. It gets publicity, in counties like Iran and Iraq a jail sentence even women proposing marriage. In India you can get a party ticket for Parliament, and moolah, too. This new sport will pick up momentum and it is only a matter of time before more guys looking for their ten seconds of fame chuck shoes. How soon before females join the game? Stilettos can be pretty painful too. Ed COMMENT in MAIL TODAY
Throwing shoes, even at Ministers, is wrong
THE most apt comment on the reporter Jarnail Singh’s act of throwing a shoe at Home Minister P Chidambaram was by the journalist himself when he termed it as “ irresponsible”, hoping that no other person would do what he did on Tuesday.
While the cause of Singh’s aggravation — inaction on the Sikh massacre of 1984 — is understandable, his means are completely unacceptable. Journalists, by definition, are not supposed to take sides while performing their duty, no matter how deeply involved they may be in any issue. Singh has broken this unwritten, yet sacrosanct code of conduct for journalists.
For that alone, his act must be condemned in the strongest words. He also abused the access privilege that journalists get while reporting their beats. In many ways, journalists are citizens’ representatives in a functioning democracy. With their access to world leaders, lawmakers and top bureaucrats, journalists are the vital link between the government and the common man.
Just as the news consuming public trusts reporters to do their job well, the other side, too, depends upon journalists to carry their message to the reader.
Incidents such as this breach that trust.
Having said that, it is imperative that we do not miss the larger issue raised by the incident, unfortunate as it may be. The 1984 Sikh massacre is a blot on India’s history, especially because even after 25 years, justice has not been delivered to the victims.
The clean chit given by the Central Bureau of Investigation to one of the prime accused for engineering the riots, Jagdish Tytler, a Congress party member, has generated great anger in the community and disquiet among others who want a just closure on the issue.
MARTIN JAHNKE
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Profession: Senior pathology research student at the UK’s Cambridge University
Place: Cambridge University, where Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was delivering a lecture to over 500 students and staff
What happened?
On February 2, Jahnke hurled a shoe at Wen as he gave a speech on China’s role in the globalised world. “ This is a scandal,” the 27- year- old shouted, “ How can the university prostitute itself with this dictator here?” he said, before blowing a whistle and hurling a shoe at Wen, which landed about a yard from him.
Status: The man was arrested by the British Police. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial in June.
Why he did it?
Reports say Jahnke did this to protest against the human rights atrocities in China
The shoe:
A non- descript shoe, only described as a “ grey, heavy sports trainer”
MUNTAZER AL-ZAIDI
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Profession: Journalist with an Egyptbased TV channel
Place: Green Zone in Baghdad at a press conference of former US President George Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki on December 14 last year
What happened?
Bush and al- Maliki were preparing to take questions.
Suddenly, al- Zaidi threw one of his shoes at Bush, but he ducked.
Then, he threw the other one, which sailed past Bush’s head. He shouted in Arabic: “ This is a farewell gift, you dog!” After he was dragged away, Bush quipped: “ That was a size 10 shoe he threw at me.”
Status:
He was allegedly tortured in custody. He was sentenced to three years in prison, which was reduced to a year on Tuesday.
Why a shoe?
In Iraqi culture, hurling shoes shows contempt and is considered the gravest insult
The shoe
The shoe is a model 271 brogue, costing $ 28 ( about Rs 1,400). It is made by Baydan Shoe Company
Filed under: Personalities, Political Parties, Security, Views, con
