DanaC |
07-28-2004 07:32 PM |
"Yeah, apparently feet have some significance in Iraqi society. If you show someone the soles of your feet it's a grave insult, like giving someone the finger in the US"
It's even more insulting than that. Giving the finger can be insulting or just rude or funny or anywhere along that spectrum. The significance of the feet and the seriousness of the insult and humiliation when hitting someone on the feet or with a shoe is huge in the Arab world. I am trying to think of an equivalence in western society and I cant off hand.
I seem to recall that when Blair met up with Gadaffi, Gadaffi blatantly insulted ( in the eyes of the arab world probably to a humiliating degree) Blair by sitting with his leg crossed in such a way as to direct the sole of his foot at him.
|