While the British press simply deadpaned the news the Chinese blogs erupted. You can read some of the Chinese reactions >>HERE<< if it pleases you.
Although we shouldn't condone this, part of me does feel a little twinge of British pride.
For a while now (certainly throughout my lifetime) Britain has come across as a bit of a brown-noser when it comes to the international scene. Whether it be Tony following George into Iraq like his little lap dog or Gordon refusing to see the Dalai Lama for fear of upsetting the Chinese.
Good old Gordon is always droning on about 'Britishness' and what it means to be a citizen of this country, and if this is how we portray ourselves internationally then no wonder half the country is turning to drink. We might as well be a nation without a back bone.
I don't know if the guy who threw the shoe was British or not. Regardless, it is us who are the focus of the incident and more specifically the reputation of Cambridge in China. And from what I have heard from people I have talked to this about... we don't really care.
The people aren't worried about what China will think, which kind of gives me some hope, that we as British people are more than our politicians. We are above this search for Britishness and above the pathetic incapability of our leaders to make their own decisions.
We are British, and quite frankly, we don't give a shit.
*hugs*
Jaz
