A Decade Ago

Until I read my FOX NEWS FIRST email newsletter, I'd forgotten that it was on this date in 2008 that "an Iraqi journalist hurls his shoes at President George W. Bush during a news conference in Baghdad; Bush ducks the flying footwear as they whiz past his head and land against the wall behind him." (Souce: FOX NEWS FIRST email newsletter, 12/14/18, 4:44 AM). If I recall correctly, this was a big deal at the time because it showed a lack of respect for the President of the United States, which had sent many soldiers to Iraq to be involved in their conflict (the Gulf War). I remember being angry with that Iraqi journalist because I thought about my high school friend Steve, who has three distinctions in my head:

1. When he dubbed White Lion's Pride release onto a cassette tape for me, he put Metallica's cover of "Am I Evil?" and "Blitzkrieg" to fill up the tape, which turned into the first time I had ever heard Metallica.
2. On the day we graduated from high school, I brought my drums to his garage and we jammed. It was the second time I had ever jammed with a guitarist. Trivia: James Waddington was the first guitarist I ever jammed with.
3. After the graduation ceremony, there was a post-graduation party at a long-gone place called Chapman's Fun World. The girl I had chased all through high school and had taken to senior prom was there . . . with another guy. I remember that Steve helped divert my attention from seeing her with someone else. Unfortunately, it didn't stop me from continuing to chase her, but that's the subject for another post... maybe....

Perhaps the most important distinction, though, was that Steve had joined the Army right out of high school (1988) and had then been sent to the Gulf War. I thought by throwing the shoe at President Bush, that Iraqi journalist disrespected three items on a list:

1. Steve
2. All the brave men & women Steve served with
3. (obviously) The Office of President of the United States 

Why we have spent another moment in that country after that blatant disrespect is beyond my comprehension!