From the New York Times:

One brave Iraqi journalist threw a shoe at George W. Bush at a press conference Sunday, perhaps the gravest insult in many cultures on the Asian continent.... "It means the person is as low as the dirt underneath the sole of a shoe."

Muntader al-Zaidi's actions represented a largely non-violent way of expressing opposition to American policy in Iraq, and therefore, was a step forward towards democracy in Iraq.

“Muntader’s action is the top of heroism,” said Farhan Khalaf, a teacher, “He represents all Iraqis’ tragedies and sadness, but he has not become a suicide bomber, nor planted an I.E.D., nor beheaded anyone. He practiced the democracy which was brought by the Americans. He has to be released at once. He is in all peoples' hearts in Iraq and in the whole world."

Haider Quraishi, a 40-year-old journalist, said: “The action was a frank objection by a member of the educated class in Iraq to the [security] agreement. And the government has to release Muntader immediately. I do not think Bush is upset, but Maliki is really upset.”

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(It is yet to be seen whether or not Iraqi President Maliki will practice the democracy he preaches or if Muntader al-Zaidi will be locked away, tortured and never heard from again...the world should be watching to see ...either way, let's not forget this journalist...instead let's use Muntader al-Zaidi's example to reach out to others and educate them)