How to insult George Bush, wherever you are in the world

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/16/insult-george-bush-iraq-world

* Emine Saner
* The Guardian, Tuesday 16 December 2008

George Bush was on the receiving end of the worst of all Middle Eastern insults at the weekend when an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at the outgoing US president at a press conference in Baghdad. Throwing a shoe at a person's head isn't, of course, considered insulting in only the Islamic world, though it does carry a particularly degrading symbolism (showing the sole of your shoes is considered deeply offensive; when the statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled in Baghdad in 2003, Iraqis beat it with their shoes). Bush steps down in January, but this surely won't be the last offensive gesture he encounters on his travels. Here, then, is our handy guide.

The V sign

In his book Gestures the anthropologist Desmond Morris concluded that we will never know the origin of the two-fingered salute. One theory, though widely discredited, is that the French threatened to cut off the fingers of English archers at the Battle of Agincourt; the English would hold up two fingers as a sign that the French had failed. Not to be mistaken with the victory or peace signs: Churchill often got his fingers facing the wrong way - and on a tour of Australia in 1992, George Bush Sr flicked the Vs to a group of farmers.

The bras d'honneur

Not easily misunderstood - the slap of one hand against the crook of the opposite elbow, the aggressive thrust of the forearm and fist, and the giant phallus it is supposed to resemble. Particularly popular in France (where it is translated as "the arm of honour") and southern European countries. An exaggerated "screw you", if you like.

The thumbs up

In the Middle East, this is possibly the biggest insult you can inflict with your shoes on. A Fonz-style double thumbs up adds insult to insult. The same goes for parts of west Africa and South America. Loosely translates as "sit on this".

The OK sign

Like the thumbs up, the hand gesture that westerners know to mean everything is fine (it comes from the hand signals used by divers) has other meanings elsewhere. Do it to someone in southern Europe, and you'll be telling them they are "nothing" (or "zero"); in Brazil or Turkey an "arsehole".

FULL story at link.

[Turbineguy]

1. There was a Paul Newman movie

where his character said: "Since when has it been possible to insult you?"

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Good article. Thanks. It could come in handy.

[MikeNearMcChord]

3. Hey George I salute you with the moutza!

Check that one out!