Most folks by now must have heard about the "shoe throwing" incident in Iraq recently. Apparently, in the middle east, throwing a shoe at someone is the ultimate insult. What I experienced as a result of the incident was the validation of geographic political beliefs based on reactions of the "common man". On my way to the airport today morning, I was chatting with the taxi driver, and his reaction to the "shoe" incident was a typical San Francisco liberal take on the event. Compare this experience with a brief conversation a few hours later with a chef in the cafeteria in right-winged Scottsdale, AZ. I was most seriously informed that at least 5 years in prison for aggravated assault was a reasonable way to reprimand the journalist. Same incident, same country, neighboring states, yet significantly different views...thanks to the freedom of speech!
On a similar topic, I saw the movie "Milk" last night in the historic Castro theater. While the movie was a great tribute to Harvey Milk, what struck me were the polar reactions to the gay community in the 1970s. Seeing the struggles that some people went through to add two now seemingly innocuous "words" to the workplace equality statement, was, indeed, eye-opening.
Makes me realize yet again, how much most of us take our civil rights, democracy, and freedom for granted!
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