Would you suggest that courtesy be shown to ALL and EVERY leader, in ALL and EVERY country, or is just a nationalistic thing with you and America?
Paul.
Not just America and not just leaders.
The Office of the President of the United States is an Institution.
It is the Office that should be respected, not the individual.
That being said, throwing a shoe at an individual that represents that
Office is disrespecting the Office and NOT just the individual.
Hell, I don't respect Bush, but I certainly respect the Office.
I respect the Chinese Office of President, the British Monarchy and PM.
Congress, The Japanese Diet, the New Zealand Parliament,
The Iranian Office of President, all sorts of Institutions and Offices.
I may not respect the individuals though... for example, the Iranian Pres.
To me, it is about maintaining respect for authority to a degree, but more
importantly, it is about keeping the promise of the best possible government
a reality. If we turn the Office of the President into a sideshow, then nobody
will respect a great President when and if one gets elected.