Not your usual eBay auction

The bidding started high and fast after Muntadhar al-Zeidi was arrested in Iraq after he hurled his black size 10s at Bush in a defiant act of protest. Technical director of the Iraqi football team Adnan Hamad offered $100,000 for the shoes. But he wasn’t the only one willing to show his support for the man who openly insulted the U.S. President.

As word spread of the incident, one businessman said he’d pay any price for the pair of shoes. But the award for highest bidder currently rests with the Iraqi entrepreneur who offered $10 million for just one shoe. As of today, the location of the highly desired shoes is unknown.

Why all the fuss?

So, why would someone spend $10 million on a single shoe? The football team director who started this trend of offering large sums of money for the shoes said al-Zeidi’s act reflected the attitude of all Iraqis. It seems many people in the nation are coming together to support the symbolic gesture that swiftly summed up their feelings toward Bush.

Al-Zeidi says his actions were the result of years of filming suffering Iraqis. After covering the effects of the war in Iraq on the country’s citizens, Al-Zeidi couldn’t hold in his rage any longer.

The other shoe drops

Back home, citizens in the country Bush has led for eight years are showing support for the shoe thrower. In New York, copycat protesters have started hurling their shoes into trees to show solidarity and express their own frustration toward the president.

“We know a good symbolic act when we see one,” said a shoe thrower in New York City’s Union Square Park. It seems New Yorkers have been searching for a method to display their frustration about the war. Al-Zeidi’s method seems to be hitting home with the president’s critics.

Civil disobedience

Frustrated New Yorkers aren’t the only American citizens having a field day with the incident. Late-night comics including Jay Leno and David Letterman aren’t passing up the opportunity to spin comedic gold. The funny men wasted no time before cracking jokes about the President’s newfound ability to lean to the left.

Amateur YouTube artists got in on the action, making spoof videos and finding creative ways to re-enact what U.S. headlines have called “shoe-icide.” Shoe-icide? I’d think twice before taking out a cash advance to buy a copyright for that one.

Hailed as a hero

After Al-Zeidi was handed over to the Iraqi military and carted off to jail, cries for his release began immediately. Thousands of protesters demonstrated in the streets of Iraq, waving shoes and demanding the release of the man they now consider a national hero.

Iraqis, Americans and at least one ridiculously rich Saudi businessman aren’t the only ones engaging in hero worship. A Lybian charity group has given Al-Zeidi a bravery award. The group also has joined the throng clamoring for his release.

Where are they now?

So who will be the recipient of the millions that have been offered for the shoes? It is speculated that the shoes are either in the custody of Iraqi security service agents or an employee for the Bush administration. It’s reported that if Al-Zeidi is found not guilty he will have the right to claim his shoes.

One thing is for sure, whoever is deemed the rightful owner of the shoes heard ’round the world won’t need a cash advance to end up with some serious extra cash.

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