Shoe-Thrower, A Hero? (Jakarta Post, INDONESIA)

After a number of disconcerting facts regarding the downfall of media institutions which were affected by the global financial crisis, international journalism ended spectacularly this year by the shoe incident during a recent press conference in Iraq.

Iraqi TV journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi's action has ignited debate and controversy among media practitioners and consumers. Some people dubbed al-Zaidi "a patriotic hero", while others simply labeled him "unprofessional". Can we call him the "unprofessional hero" of our time?

Indeed, throwing shoes at your source, regardless of who he or she is and his or her position, is rude. But as a writer on a mailing list sarcastically commented: "Indeed, civilized people do not throw shoes. They drop bombs."

"Al-Zaidi's anger is widely accepted. Journalists are human beings. They have emotions, too," the writer penned.

There are other emotions that journalists have expressed this past year: Smiling and laughing at funny news while presenting news, crying at tragedy and disaster while reporting. So, what's the difference? If a journalist is allowed to look happy or to be sad, why can't he be angry?

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