The Shoe Guy Maimon Schwarzschild

Mark Bowden, an Atlantic Monthly writer, says Bush ought to ask the Iraqi government to pardon the shoe-thrower.

Magnanimity is a strong prerogative, too seldom used. It is a chance for the man to be as large as the office. No one was better at this than Abraham Lincoln, whose frequent public acts of forgiveness, from promoting his political rivals to commuting the death sentences of Union soldiers, earned him an enduring legacy of kindness and humility. Less remarked upon is Lincoln's shrewdness. He was no softy. He signed many a death warrant for deliberate acts of cruelty or criminality in the ranks, but he understood that sparing a "simple soldier boy" for panicking or for falling asleep would do far more for the army's morale than another execution would do for its discipline.

I think Bowden - no supporter of Bush - is probably right in this case.

Comments

[John Jenkins]

Bush probably should push for leniency for the guy because I suspect the penalty for insulting a foreign leader is fairly harsh. That said, the reporter should be punished in whatever way simple assault would be punished (which should be a small fine), just to demonstrate that unwelcome speech is not punishable, but acts of violence *are*. Even minor violence should be deterred.

As an aside, I wonder why people who refer to Lincoln's magnanimity in promoting rivals don't recognize (or at least, don't highlight) those maneuvers were just as shrewd as those pardons. It's far harder to undermine policies for which you are on the hook than it is to play the loyal opposition when you are *not* in power.

[Jonathan]

I don't know what the Iraqi govt should do with the shoe guy. However, I think it might have been better if Bush's bodyguards had publicly beaten him before turning him over to the Iraqis. It's important that the American president not be seen as weak, and a beating might have compensated for some of the symbolic humiliation that the shoe thrower intended to inflict. It also would have forced the shoe thrower to pay a cost for his hostile act. It might have been even better if Bush had beaten the fellow himself.

Since Bush and his staff are Americans neither of these retaliatory scenarios seems remotely possible, but we might be better off if they were.

[Button]

Easy case. Of course he should ask for a pardon. And the Iraqi government should grant it.

[Thomas Jackson]

Of course the same request would be made had he thrown the shoe at Obama. Fortunately the individual was so repentant that he repeatedly ran into the bars of his cell shattering his ribs and arm. One only hopes he will not hang himself in despair for his odious act.

After all a man who cherishes the memory can't be all bad can he?

[air yeezy]

These shoes look really good. Like this style shoe. They remind me of the way I used to draw shoes on women when I was little. Nevertheless, I'd just say they're ok, but only for the show.