Suzanne’s Blog

This is the latest talk of the town.

It’s a video everyone’s talking about and checking out on YouTube. I read a report saying that Bush’s shoe” video has been seen more than 5.5 million times online, and this just within half a day! It may just be on track to beat the Obama victory speech video in terms of viral reach in a 48-hour period. There’s even a video game on this that was created within a 24-hour window. Hmmm… Our question then, “Is that how Bush will be remembered?”

President George W. Bush was in Iraq over the weekend for a surprise visit and during his press conference in Baghdad, an Iraqi reporter hurled his shoes at Pres. Bush.
The reporter shouted “It is the farewell kiss, you dog” before throwing his shoe.
And then another shout of angry words “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.”
Bush ducked successfully both times and the shoe just whizzed past his head. Lucky duck!

It’s not difficult to see why this is a talking point in any water-cooler conversation. The video of a man throwing his shoes at President George W. Bush is sure to -quote- live on in infamy for many reasons: the sheer brazenness of the act, the incredible lack of adequate security surrounding Mr Bush, and the sad commentary on the US leader’s standing in the world during his waning days in office. What makes this story more sensational is that it’s the President we’re talking about here, the leader of the most influential country in the world.
And adding spice to the story is the fact that in arab culture, showing the sole of your shoe is a great insult. To hit someone with that shoe as the journalist tried with President George W. Bush – is seen as even worse.

The shoe is considered dirty because it is on the ground and associated with the foot, the lowest part of the body. Hitting someone with a shoe shows that the victim is regarded as even lower.

So everyone has an opinion, and everyone seems prepared to share it and many are cracking jokes at it – we see cheeky headlines to wisecracks on air. Well, sometimes poking a little fun at awkward or bizarre situations is OK. But with this, I wonder if it falls into that category.

This act clearly highlights a bigger problem that we face today – it reminds us that the war in Iraq is not finished and there is still a sense of anger among many in that part of the world. The world has a responsibility in bringing back peace and stability to the region. It’s a heavy duty that cannot be laughed at.

But regardless of the above point, a little bit more respect would be decent I feel. President Bush is still the President.

 
Calling anyone a dog for that matter and hurling a shoe at him is bad enough… but to look on and find amusement in assaulting any president… it just aint right…even if you disagree with him.

It was hilarious… The whole morning I was telling Steve “Oh my, we’ve got cats coming into the studio later this morning. I’m not a cat person. I don’t mind dogs but cats… no no. There’s something about them that ain’t so appealing and friendly. Oh dear…”

And who would have thought! The minute our guests from the Feline Fanciers Society came in with their kittens, I was a convert haha. I screamed ” Oh my, sooooo cute!! They’re adorable!”  I was truly surprised at my own reaction! Imagine Steve’s :p

(Will post pictures soon) The kittens were really cute. They literally looked like they were right out of the animation movie Shrek – remember Puss in Boots when he puts on this look with those large round eyes when he wants something?

That was exactly what those kittens in the studio looked like. Except they were real with beautiful fur and really very very well-behaved. I’m referring specifically to the one that I held - Puffin. Our guests tell me they are called the ‘long hair exotic’ breed. There were two of them in the studio that morning. One with silky silverish grey fur, and the other with white and brown fur. They’re actually a cross between the Persian and the domestic short hair cats.

The Exotic Longhair Cat is really very sweet and friendly cat.
Their teddy bear look is truly endearing, and you can’t help but be drawn into those beautiful eyes.

Out with my pre-conception that cats are mysterious, cold and totally aloof. Apparently they’re easy maintenance too… having personality traits of the Persian… gentle, affectionate, and in general very calm.

Anyway, I guess I don’t really dislike them afterall. I’ve never been drawn to them but the uneasiness with cats comes from a lack of exposure and experience more than anything else. It’s also interesting to note how we generally like to make this divide between cats and dogs – there’s an underlying divisiveness of pet preferences.
“Do you like cats?” (or dogs) can be a make-or-break question sometimes. We wonder if cats and dogs can live together? or sometimes often ask “Can hardcore cat people and dog people date? Or should they just be friends?”
What do you think?

A recent study I read online suggest that there is really no such thing as a “cat person” or a “dog person”. Many of us only perceive ourselves as such because we often relate ourselves to the impression these pets give… Well, that’s certainly not the way to choose a pet. If we were planning to get a pet based on stereotyping… that would be a dear mistake. If we are choosing a pet based on their ‘cute’ or ‘adorable’ factor, it’s definitely not advisable as well. We should really be choosing our companion animals not on the basis of species or looks, but on how our individual (human and pet) personalities match up. That’s more important than whether that pet is a cat or dog.

Now, that would ensure a good fit… hence a higher success rate in a happy owner-pet relationship. It really all boils down to responsible pet ownership which is more than just adoring your pet.
It’s a commitment that should be considered carefully for many obvious reasons but sadly overlooked or not taken seriously.

For me, with pets as with people, I’m all about the “can’t we all just get along” theory.
If I do get a pet anytime soon though… I’m willing to step outside of my canine fixation and hang out with kitties too.

Especially after meeting Puffin. I mean, really… Who can resist?