The Art of Going Shoeless

Submitted by Larry Snider (United States), Jul 5, 2007 at 18:53

It's not easy to hit a moving target and it's not easy to define exactly how much deference to pay to a host that you are honoring. If the question is should a US President follow form and show up at the Islamic Center or duck the invitation? I'd say, I applaud his choice because I believe you gain by engagement.

If a US President showed up a my synagogue I'd hope that he would choose to wear a yamulka. So, in attending a service at the Islamic Center I'd hope he'd follow the custom and remove his shoes. I believe that it is narrow of Dr. Pipes to mock the custom. As for Mr. Bush's statements, again it is like hitting a moving target. Was his purpose to encourage moderate Muslims or to berate radical Islam? I think Dr. Pipes managed to fill a column with bile instead of choosing to use his knowledge to inform readers and maybe even US Middle East Policy.

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