Nothing happened yesterday that you wouldn’t see on certain American college campuses, she notes, but there’s something different about the reaction. Namely, shame:

Saeed Naji al-Ibadi, a 49-year-old pharmacist, said: “There’s a reaction against this journalist and his improper behavior as he represents the journalists and educated people in our society. Because he should have rejected the American president with his pen or by embarrassing him with his smart questions, not with his shoes. I totally reject this behavior because it will damage the rights of individuals.”

Nasir Mahmood al-Bahadli, 52, an academic said: “We are Arabs and we have a good reputation in hospitality with enemies before friends. The American president also was accompanying the man who represents the Iraqi government and this made it worse because this journalist also abused the prime minister with his behavior.”…

“I spent five years in Saddam’s jails,” said Saman Qadir, a 51-year-old mechanic. “This journalist has to throw flowers on Bush, not a shoe, because Bush saved the Iraqi people from a bloody regime. Malaki has to raise a case against this journalist.”

Bush insisted afterwards that he’s not insulted, and judging by the grin on his face even while the shoes were being tossed, he might just mean it. Or maybe he was just still aglow from the way U.S. troops in Baghdad greeted him. Exit question: Where was the Secret Service?