A Size Twelve Double Standard

The recent copycat shoe-throwing incident at Cambridge University and the subsequent reaction from Chinese authourities has many wondering when the shoe is going to drop on these projectile protests.

A report in the Toronto Star discusses how back in December when it was George Bush doing the dodging it was all fun and games. Now that Chinese Premier Wen Jinbao is the sole victim it is “a despicable act.”

Ultimately one has to ask the question, what would we think as Canadians if someone was to chuck a loafer or two at Stephen Harper? For some reason outrage is not the first word that comes to mind. I would suggest that even hardcore Conservatives could probably see the humour in a Canadian edition of the political shoe-toss (Especially after the recent liberalizing of the budget). In all seriousness however, something needs to be done about the aim-deficiency of these shoe flingers before moving onto such targets as Harper. I’m not suggesting they should actually hit Harper with the shoe (heaven forbid it should disturb his almost sacred coiffure), but the shoe should at least make him dance a little bit. Maybe that would help him loosen up for a change and shake the starch out of his suit.

But I digress…My actual reaction to this incident was more one of *yawn, that’s so 2008.

The truth is that if you want to make a point you shouldn’t steal ideas from others, especially when you have a rubber arm like this guy did. (you can get a first hand look at where the shoe landed in relation to the Premier here:


I guess my intention here is to have a little bit of fun, but there are reasons behind every protest, even the comical ones. China’s human rights record and history of cover-ups and control is no laughing matter. I have no doubt that this protestor was entirely serious in his protest as you can hear him yell out calling the Premier a dictator and subsequently saying “Shame on you!” in response to the Premier saying the same towards him. Unfortunately this particular protest will not likely bring much attention to the issues at hand but instead be seen as a feeble copycat to the Bush event in December.

In any case, I think it can safely be said that the era of shoe-throwing, at least outside of kindergarten classes, should be given the boot.

Will Grassby