Why do people see their feet (soles) embarrassing?
Once upon a time, shoes were seen as a sign of prosperity. They were a bit of a luxury item in a way; people could do without them if necessary but did not like to be seen as being unable to afford them. It was once a common practice for people walking some little distance to church, for instance, to carry their shoes most of the way and put them on just before arriving, in order to preserve the precious status symbols as long as possible. Variations of such things certainly lasted through the Great Depression of the 1930’s, as suggested by the television series The Waltons, set in that era and running through into World War II. In the early seasons the Walton children and most others in similar circumstances rarely wore shoes when weather permitted bare feet; this gradually diminished during the run of the series as times improved, eventually disappearing by the time Jim-Bob and Elizabeth reached the age John-Boy had been in the beginning. A leader of a country of borderline status on
