Did he wiggle his big toe?

FTDA: H31N0US: Who doesn't know that exposing the soles of your feet is considered an insult in most of the Muslim world?

That, and the article got it wrong. I was told in my deployment briefing it meant you thought the person was lower than the shiat you walk on.

Same here.

/Would see many an Iraqi male cross his legs and point the sole of his sandal at us when we came down the street.
//Had to speak to a couple of my boys, they would flash gang signs back if they thought I wasn't looking.
///"He was dissin' us Jefe!"

meanmutton: Okay, I'm thinking -- what could possibly be similar in our culture? Accidentally using the N-word to refer to President Obama? Using the middle finger to point to the ceiling or something? Talking with food in his mouth? Slapping Secretary Clinton on the ass?

Bleah, then you may as well cut off that hand since it is irreversibly filthed.

ScreamingHangover: heavymetal: Being a troll on FARK.iran must not be challenging at all.

Your mother showed me her ankle.

Infidedl!

The sole of the foot's supposed to be aimed at the guy you're insulting. I think Ahmadinnerjacket hates photographers more than flippant Swedes.

armoredbulldozer: Lots of interesting alleged cultural taboos. Don't give a man from China a clock for a gift either.

Or a green hat.

The fact that Ahmadinejad pointed his foot away when he crossed his leg suggests that he was aware that the Swedish dude didn't know any better and was demonstrating that he didn't take offense. But go ahead and continue with the anti-Iranian, anti-Muslim sentiment.

In any case, the Swedish diplomat really should have known better, showing the bottoms of your feet is insulting in so many places in the world that it's usually better to be safe than sorry and someone who's a professional diplomat should know that. It's just as offensive and insulting in a number of non-Muslim countries, including Thailand, and it's bad form to not be careful about it. That's basic etiquette.

Abuse Liability: Also, your definition of nation building seems to be one I'm unfamiliar with as there doesn't appear to be a prerequisite for being attacked and/or attacking.

Until you're ready to pull the trigger on killing enough of a single generation of a nation, you can't engage in "nation building". You have to go to the extent we did in WWII, up to and including destroying whole cities repeatedly.

Only then can you break a culture enough to do this "nation building" thing.

I once heard it said you had to kill at least ten to fifteen percent of the men between 18 and 30. I would agree.

Keizer_Ghidorah: Of course, it's only insulting if you let it insult you. Maybe humanity could grow up, develop thicker skin, and stop finding things to be offended at.

Is this where we get to gore your sacred cow?

Cyclometh: Abuse Liability: Also, your definition of nation building seems to be one I'm unfamiliar with as there doesn't appear to be a prerequisite for being attacked and/or attacking.

Until you're ready to pull the trigger on killing enough of a single generation of a nation, you can't engage in "nation building". You have to go to the extent we did in WWII, up to and including destroying whole cities repeatedly.

Only then can you break a culture enough to do this "nation building" thing.

I once heard it said you had to kill at least ten to fifteen percent of the men between 18 and 30. I would agree.

And even then, that's no guarantee that you'll be able to pull off nation building. I don't think that the US could have done it successfully in Vietnam without committing full-scale genocide.

BigNumber12: whidbey: BigNumber12: ...aaaaaand "the type" is so afraid of someone out there in the world calling them a bigot that they go to great lengths and practice spectacular mental gymnastics to avoid being seen as even remotely critical of someone else's culture.

You two should go have coffee together and discuss the upcoming nationbuilding.




I really don't know why I bother. Refute something I said. Anything. Until then, later.

Don't bother is right....whidbey is famous for claiming that opposition to Obama's healthcare policy is racist, but he offers no proof. It's very childish.

The Swedish Ambassador folks. Come on. Get with the game.

Keizer_Ghidorah: rynthetyn: The fact that Ahmadinejad pointed his foot away when he crossed his leg suggests that he was aware that the Swedish dude didn't know any better and was demonstrating that he didn't take offense. But go ahead and continue with the anti-Iranian, anti-Muslim sentiment.

In any case, the Swedish diplomat really should have known better, showing the bottoms of your feet is insulting in so many places in the world that it's usually better to be safe than sorry and someone who's a professional diplomat should know that. It's just as offensive and insulting in a number of non-Muslim countries, including Thailand, and it's bad form to not be careful about it. That's basic etiquette.

Of course, it's only insulting if you let it insult you. Maybe humanity could grow up, develop thicker skin, and stop finding things to be offended at.

Because you never ever get offended by people doing things that are considered rude in America.