12th Apr 2003
Shoe Beating, Chest Beating, Thumbs Up and Other Iraqi Gestures of Freedom
Interesting piece that Jeff Jarvis points out from the BBC on how to interpret the various gestures Iraqis have been making in response to their liberation.
My favorite excerpt:
Much has already been made of the thumbs-up gesture that British and American soldiers have received from “welcoming” Iraqis. Unlike in many western cultures, in the Middle East the thumbs-up can be an insult, roughly translating as “up yours”. But the US Army’s Defense Language Institute says that after the first Gulf War, the gesture was adopted by some Iraqis, along with the ok sign, as a “symbol of co-operation and freedom”.
Reminds me of the joke of the cowboy who rides up to an Indian standing arms folded. Then the Indian silently raises one fist and give the India the middle finger and then turns his hand sideways. The cowboy says “What was the second one for?” The Indian gives him the finger again and says, “This was for you.” Turning his finger sideways, he adds, “This one was for your horse.”
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