There seems to be no end to some people's hypersensitivity to implied insults.

I am quite fully aware that some groups consider it offensive to show one's shoe-bottom to the person you're talking to, but this is a phone conversation, not a face-to-shoe meeting.

Apparently, in Arab countries, it is an even bigger insult to have the sole of the shoe, well, the whole shoe, hurled at you.

Part of me says BS, the picture has nothing to do with Arabs, so get over it. I'm insulted that women in Arab countries are forced to wear hijabs, does that mean they shouldn't be pictured?

The other side of me ask what's the difference between them getting insulted by this and any of the many PC 'offense' claims here in the US, like the use of Native American symbols for high school mascots?

Then I realize I think those claims (particularly when filed by someone NOT in the 'offended' group) are absurd, too.

Obama has done way more than just this bit to insult the Jewish people and has done so deliberately.

Then again he seems to be on a move to insult all our allies, even our closest allies.

We don't see the uproar about this, but then our culture doesn't recognize his stance for anything but relaxing. The worst you could say is he wasn't giving the man his full undivided attention or proper respect.

Still just because we don't see it as an insult doesn't mean others wouldn't. Yes it isn't a face-to-face meeting but how would we react if Netanyahu was seen flipping the bird or making some other gesture/action uniquely insulting to American culture while talking to Obama? We'd be pissed. It might be a gesture that Israelis don't see as insulting. It might be something completely innocent, but some would complain.

Obama did not mean any disrespect by this. That is obvious. But like I said, the reason that some Jewish people are complaining (in other words the ones complaining are part of the 'offended' group) is the feeling by many Jewish people that Obama is anti-Israel or anti-Jewish or at least pro-Palestinian which is seen as anti-Israel.

I would bet that the ones claiming to be insulted aren't really that insulted, they are just using it as an excuse

All of which presumes it's a deliberately calculated image. So you're telling me that he put a lot of thought into his posture while he's focusing on a conversation? And that he's thinking about the perspective of the photographer while, at the same time, paying attention to the representative of another country?

Don't buy it. Sorry.

eh?

No, it isn't a "deliberately calculated image".

Obama was just being casual and relaxed. As I said, in our culture there is no insult in his actions. It would be similar to someone using the okay signal which is a major insult in some countries.

Obama wasn't being insulting here.

Those who are unhappy with his views especially those Israeli citizens who view him as anti-Israeli/pro-Palestinian, are taking advantage of this to give him grief. They are taking advantage of an unintentional insult to strike back for some of the intentional insults he has laid on Israel (at least as some view them)

Agreed.

I wish people weren't so quick to feel insulted. The world needs to sit down, crack a cold one / light one up and relax for a minute together.

*blink blink*

yeah, no.

Wow, looks to me like the guy just has his feet up on a desk relaxing!

The lengths that some people take things to is really sad.

Told ya he knew nothing about foreign policy :P

aren't there already several pictures of obama with his feet propped up on something out there in circulation? as welll with many different presidents ...

why is there suddenly a big fat news-worthy stink over THIS one?

I would give a s**t, had he done it in an Arab country, or while talking to Netanyahu in person.

This "up-in-arms over someone's body position while they were on the phone with you" bulls**t is something I'd expect from a needy high school girlfriend.

Just think how the grounds feels :(

I, personally, am insulted by that whole "Obama being president" thing, but nobody seems to care about that...

Sheck it out


Time.com

f**king wah wah wah.

If you're offended by the bottom of a shoe you live a far too charmed life. Don't they have anything better to get pissed off about?!


They're just pissed off about the whole Muslim thing and the fact that Obama "ignored" them.

They're all a bunch of whiny babies, not just the Israeli's but a whole bunch of people from different nations. Clinging on to ancient bulls**t that should have no bearing on modern life.

If a shoes all it takes to offend them then there's no hope.

Honestly, I'm more bothered by the way they interpretted the rest of the picture than the fact that they used the sole of his shoes as a way to start insulting him.

"his face stern and his fist clenched, as though he were dictating to Netanyahu: "Listen up and write 'Palestinian state' a hundred times. That's right, Palestine, with a P.""

I dont see this in the picture at all and it's a tactic to insite - much like what other world cultures were doing to the Israeli's not too long ago with the Gaza bombings (and still do actually). I mean, that's a whole other story but it looks like they are reciprocating hatefull actions rather than being diplomatic like they expect everyone else to be.

What about the photographer's role in distributing such an insulting message? Shameful.

Dear World: Americans put their feet up, sometimes while wearing shoes. If you happen to see the soles in a photo, it is not directed at you, so get over it. If you see it in person, then the shoe wearer lacks cultural sensitivity, especially if he's representing our country. An issue can be made of it then. Please take note for future reference.

Man I wish we had something normal to argue about. Shoes? Seriously?

Its BS by the way - I know the culture, and bottom of shoes mean nothing to Israelis. Maybe to Arabs. Not to Jews.

We can argue that Obama is going to bankrupt America. We can argue that he feels Israel is obligated to the United States in any way. We can argue that he bought his way to the White House with the most expensive campaign in history. We can argue that his ties to the radical left were swept under the rug. We can argue that he is turning the United States into a socialist country with government involvement in private businesses.

But please - lets not argue about *(&%)* shoes on the desk.