Anything seem strange? Maybe the fact that there are at least four media types, at least two of whom are westerners, around two smiling (and not very angry appearing) fundamentalists burning the President in effigy? How much of this type of behavior exists solely for the benefit of Western media, and to the extent that it is driven by the presence of media/prospect of media coverage, does the presence of the media exacerbate anti-Western feelings? How much of this behavior existed in the Middle East before the modern media age?
Part two–how come we only use the word “effigy” when someone is burned in effigy?
Effigy. To burnorhang one in effigy. To burn or hang the dummy or representation of someone in order to show dislike or contempt. From earliest times it has been believed that magic was worked by treating an effigy as one would fain treat the original. In France the public executioner used to hang the criminal in effigy when the criminal himself could not be found.
Source: Brewer.
However:
effigyn.1. a portrait of a person, esp. as a monument or architectural decoration.
Source: OED.
So part two of the question is not quite correct.
In response to part one I can only say that according to John Simpson, foreign affairs editor for the BBC, many people in Iran are fond of shouting Death to America.
Apparently, this doesn’t mean a great deal. Simpson would be greeted by an interviewee who would shout this slogan, give a perfectly reasonable and friendly interview, and repeat the slogan on Simpson’s departure.
‘Death to America’ is the Iranian equivalent of ‘Up the Arsenal’ or ‘Come on United’ at an English football match. It is not to be taken seriously.
Perhaps the burning of effigies is a similar friendly gesture in Iranian society.
