Once again, North American news media has misunderstood and misinterpreted the actions of someone from another culture. If the gentleman who threw his shoes at President Bush had stopped after he let fly with the first shoe, it indeed would have been an act intended to show disrespect. (BTW: Did the guy bring another pair to walk home in or had he not thought it through enough?) However in Iraq, throwing two shoes at someone is a sign of great respect. Only great leaders get two shoes thrown at them.

A Google search of international customs provides a fascinating list of several other surprising signs of respect from other cultures across the globe:
• In Quebec, holding someone firmly around the neck with both hands and squeezing is the preferred greeting for respected political rivals.
• Burying dead animals in a neighbor’s yard in Paraguay will bring you good luck for a year.
• In Germany, pie-ing prominent business leaders means more than investing in the company’s stock.
• Writing rude words on the face of a sleeping fellow train passenger in Italy tells the other riders you are a sensitive individual.

Read more at http://dogsandjeans.blogsopt.com