I'm sorry - but is this for real?

I'm watching the 11 o'clock news and seeing footage of Amercan's dumping French wine out in the streets and restuarnts renaming "French Fries" "Freedom Fries" on their menus? PUH-LEEEZZZZ So either this was one small protest that made headlines up here cause it's a slow news day or something, or else this is a serious movement? How can that possibly help anything? And one man on the street type interview actually quoted the man as saying the French "owe" it to the Americans to vote on their side because America liberated France in WWII. Do people really feel that way? I think the world ought to side with France, since they make Camembert and Beaujolis Hey - it's about as logical a position to take....

Love,
Terri

PS - But seriously - this is why I am getting stressed about "sides" - it's pitting average citizens of the world against other average citizens of the world, and starting to use name calling, blame laying tactics etc. Pretty soon there's going to be a whole world of prejudice and racist remarks and attitudes. So while the cheeky part of me can have a field day with "Freedom Fries", there's a deeper part that is saddened beyond words at this whole mess.

I heard about this yesterday Terri...the same with "french" toast. I believe the name change first occured in some government cafeteria...go figure..

Yeah Aries is right. I read about it in the paper yesterday as well. It did start in the government cafeteria. I think it's ridiculous. Not only is Bush creating a wedge between the U.S. and it's allies he is creating a wedge between the people of the country and the world as you said Terri. Next thing I expect them to do is stop importing and exporting with France and Germany. The way things are going it would not surprise me.

Love, Connie

Hello Connie!

I don't agree with your opinion that President Bush is creating a wedge between the US and the allies, many people in Europe think that Chirac is trying to prove himself as the new European leader by suddenly turning against America. Wow, what a guy!

For God sake, French goverment said that they're going to veto any kind of resolution or any kind of a new proposal before even seeing it, do you call that a fair play????

El

Hey El

Funny seeing the French trying to play the bullies, huh? Chirac tried to threaten the former Soviet satellite nations with being banned from entry into the EU for signing up with the US led coalition to disarm Saddam.

Usually, the French content themselves with learning enough of the language of whichever nation is attacking them to say "Don't shoot, I am a friend" Last century that was German.

Freedom Fries, Freedom Toast anyone? Read all about it here, including the fact this movement originated in various restaurants around the country and was picked up by the House of Representatives----and that Eeeeeeeevil Bush was nowhere involved.

http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://story.news.yahoo.com/news%3Ftmpl=story2%26amp%3Bcid=512%26amp%3Bncid=703%26amp%3Be=8%26amp%3Bu=/ap/20030311/ap%5Fon%5Fgo%5Fco/freedom%5Ffries

jwhop

Terri's point is well taken ... and it's worth reiterating that this has really NOTHING to do with who is right or wrong about the Iraq war, it's about polarizing and demonizing PEOPLE in the name of simplistic us-and-them propaganda. Even if Chirac is DEAD WRONG to be opposing the resolution to attack Iraq, that is no reason to demonize the French PEOPLE and CULTURE, for God's sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A French political leader, right or wrong, takes a position against the agenda of an American leader ... so now Americans are supposed to boycott everything French, and now it's fair game to make ethnic jokes against the French and talk down the French character and portray Frenchmen historically as cowards??? COME ON PEOPLE! Can't you see what is happening here? The world is being DIVIDED by this stupid us-and-them propaganda, folks are learning to think in national, racial and religious "package-deal" terms, it's becoming politically correct to ridicule, attack and put down whole groups of people and nations because their leaders disagree with our leaders' policies ... ???

We are quickly learning to be a bigoted, intolerant, name-calling world again. Can anybody tell me how dividing the world up into the good guys who favor war and the bad guys who oppose it ... and making the bad guys fair game for racist and national slurs and discrimination ... can remotely possibly be a step toward world peace and international understanding and cooperation and human unity???

Is the world going truly MAD???

Love,
Greg

Well, speaking of renaming food in order to increase sales... this is just sad...

McDonald's Launches McArabia
JEDDAH, 5 March 2003 — In a bid to salvage its business interest in the Middle East, McDonald's has introduced a new sandwich for the Arab consumer: McArabia.

The new sandwich, which continues MacDonald's tradition of catering to local markets, is made of Arab bread, grilled chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and Arab sauce.

In a year which, according to a McDonald's representative who spoke to Arab News, saw a sharp fall in the company's profits and the laying off of workers including many Saudis, the once undisputed fast food king is working hard on catering to a market that is looking for alternatives to US products in the current international political climate.

In 2002, Al-Watan newspaper reported that the sale of US food and consumer products was down a staggering 25 percent.

Ironically, the main ingredients that make up the new McArabia are of international origin. The Arab bread for the sandwich is imported from Britain. The chicken is currently being imported from Malaysia.

In 2002 McDonald's Corp. announced the first quarterly net loss in its history.

Yes, it's front page news here too. And there was also something about Rumsfeld saying that the US could do without UK. This was in the morning. In the afternoon there was a stunned reaction from UK and in the evening Rumsfeld says he didn't really mean it.

I feel like I'm watching a comedy film with an impossible plot.

Blas, I'm not so surprised. Frankly, I think McDonalds food is overpriced. I can get decent burgers elsewhere at half the price. They are also bigger and extremely tasty as compared to the ones at McDonalds. I never really liked their burgers. And going by the kind of food Indians like (read spicy or most kinds of extreme tastes), I feel the only reason McDonalds can survive in India is because of the brand image and their willingness to try and cater to local tastes. They aren't doing a great job in that respect yet, IMHO. I guess that's true elsewhere too. That is why the losses. They're trying all kinds of tricks now. They've even launched something called a Chinese burger around here

Man o man. What a thread! There's more here than meets the I. The needle that broke the camels back for sure, the re-naming of foods to taunt and provoke other's Patriotism??? (A concept I could never really understand to begin with...having so much pride in one's place of Origin that we forget where we ALL end up.)
Once again, the power of WORDS conjures emotions in all of us, no matter how feudal.
I bet this silly prank posed by some ignorant cafeteria worker caused more outrage than most of the bills passed in the last 12 months.....showing us, ONCE AGAIN, we are truly tribal animals forever caught in our race, creed and religion...holding allegiance to our flags, money and sovereigns...fighting one another over natural resources and power of control. It seems the World is in a state of confusion now that the USA is looking for friends to back it's agendas....realizing for the first time we are all connected by the same web. (and not the Internet) Now that lines are being drawn, our true selves will come out in menial ways on all levels....from Leftist Extremists to Freedom Fries...get ready.
It's gonna get worse before it gets better.

All we are saying.......

I guess this gives a whole new meaning to "food fights."

Actually it all started in the government when Perle came out and said, "The French are no longer our allies." Then the next thing you know they are calling for boycotts on French made products. Now it is a food re-naming campaign. All ludicrous and as Greg pointed out just another us against them ideology.

The truth is that France is the number one exporter to Iraq. That is the reason they do not want this war. It's self-interest. What a novel idea! So how is France protecting the self-interest of their nation any different from the U.S. protecting it's self-interest or any other country? All governments do that? The U.S. would not be going to war with Iraq if not for their own self-interest, neither would the UK.

It's like Chahles said, we may all live in different parts of the world but we are going to end up in the same place. We may as well try to get along with each other in the here and now.

This re-naming food, Perle saying in effect, "If France won't play the game the way we want them to they aren't our friend anymore," it's all childish, adolescent behavior. I have 6 and 7 year old grand kids who act more adult than that.

Love, Connie

Hi Everyone,

Well, I had to find out where the word french fries came from and what is funny, they say it is a Belgian food.

Q. They weren't invented in France, so why does everybody call them "French fries?"
A. It's true, the French fry wasn't invented in France. (Its origin is probably Belgian.)
But the "French" in French fries doesn't refer to its country of origin. It refers to the way in which this side dish is prepared.
Food that is cut into strips is said to be "Frenched." Since French fries are strips of potato that have been fried, they became known as French fried potatoes, or "French fries."

http://www.geocities.com/santoshkumar66/amazing/fq5.html

Donna

It was suggested on CNN earlier today..something to do with boycotting "french kissing".

I bet whoever started all this doesnt go for that one!

This all reminds me of a silly question people were calling in about on the radio the other day. The host asked the women listening, "If you were anti-war and your husband was pro-war, would you withhold sex until he changed his mind?", and then to the men, "Would you change your mind?" And I thought the whole point of the peace-movement was "Make Love, not War". That's how is works around here anyway...

But really, let's focus on what this is really about - the lowest form of "divide and conquor". And the thing is that people don't see the inherent racisim in these types of activities. I mean it's white people putting down white people, right? And it's funny to boot.

But it is backwards. I always hated the idea of "political correctness", but I think that honest diaouge that liessomewhere between total conformity to rigid models of self-expression and mocking the ordinary citizens of nations who aren't towing your party line is the only way to get us through this.
Besides - I have been doing some research - more on this tomorrow, but as a preliminary thought: In UN history, the USSR / Russia has used their veto the most, some 121 times. Do you know who was second? The USA - around 80 times. Does that mean I ought to stop eating Philly Steak Sandwiches and Old Milwaulkee beer? (not that I honestly touh either, but you catch my drift?) Of course not - this is silly, sad, and separating the very gouep of people who ought to be uniting - the average citizens of all nations.

Love,
Terri

Hi Greg

This isn't just about French trading interests. If that were all it was, no one would be upset and France wouldn't be attempting to block military action against Iraq. Every nation has a right to protect it's interests and some accommodation would be made for France.

However, France has been rearming Iraq and the US government has known that since at least 1998. It's coming out into the open now and in view of the UN embargo forbidding the export of weapons to Iraq, let alone technology and materials to build chemical and biological weapons or missile technology, components, etc., the main concern of France is that they are going to be found. And they will be found. To make matters worse, it appears it's been happening very recently right under the noses of Hans Blix and his inspectors. The latest outrage concerns rocket propellants for the Scud missiles Saddam says he doesn't have.

http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2003/3/13/112516

So it isn't about French fries or pouring some French wine into the sewer system for the sewer rats, it's about France deliberately violating the UN embargo and secretly rearming Iraq, which isn't a secret any more.

Besides, a French diplomat at the UN Mission claims French fries aren't French at all, they're a Belgium creation.

jwhop

Hey Jwhop

Who said anything about French trading interests? I'm talking about a culture permissive of a sort of "grassroots" racisim. I mean who really think the local greasy spoon is importing their fries directly from France (or Beligium, as the case may be).

I certainly don't think the French are "blameless" in any of this, as I said on another thread, I actually think France and Russia are playing serious political games with the US and Britian. There are lots of reasons why, and the one you gave is quite plausible. Another reason is one my sister'r professor postulted to her class a few weeks back, and it relates to the currency the oil is traded in, and a push by the French and Iraqis to have it traded in Euros, as opposed to US dollars. I don't know much about this type of economics, so I keep meaning to get her to send me more details of this lecture, and why he would say that. The way she explained it me it also sounded plausible.

But none of that is central to my overriding concern here - average citizens of the world re-learning how to be pricks to each other out of a sense of nationalistic fervor. You seem like a logical and decent person, I'm surprised that you don't see the futility and childishness in grown-ups behaving this way. Certainly you have been quick to point out what you perceive as anti-Americanism directly to Americans by citizens of other countries. Why is that wrong, but Americans acting silly about Frech fries and French toast is ok?

Love,
Terri

Hi Terry

The issue of currency and the support of doing business denominated in Euros is certainly an issue the EU is hot to change. However plausible that may be for the current French actions, I don't believe France would go to the mat with the US over that issue.

On the other hand, when those French materials and invoices are found, run down, investigated and found to be embargoed by the UN, France is going to have a gigantic black eye in the International Community. It isn't that it isn't already suspected or even known but when it's brought before the UN Security Counsel and the case against France laid out with the undeniable proof, France may lose their seat on the UN Security Counsel.

You mean you don't get your spuds directly from France?

I guess it depends on your point of view Terry. People are angry that France has been selling weapons systems, technology and components to Iraq, even in the face of what France knows is going to be war with Iraq. Most Americans are pissed knowing those weapons are both embargoed, may be used against American and coalition forces and could be handed off to terrorists to strike targets in America.

On the one hand, we have a conscious illegal act by France and on the other, people are free to exercise their right to freedom of speech and call strip cut potatoes anything they want to.

So, if you don't see anything wrong with assorted collectivists, drug dealers and terrorists marching in American streets, knowing communists ultimate goal is the overthrow of the American system of government, how could you see anything wrong in changing the name of a food item.
Both are protected activities and should be. My problem isn't that they're marching it's that lots of people who don't share they goals are having anything to do with them. People here and in other nations too, including Canada.
If those people are sending the people of America a message, then just consider that some Americans are sending the French a message too. Viewed in that light, I don't consider it silly, at all.

jwhop

A deeper question here might be "do we allow anyone to tell us what to think?"

I LOL over the whole thing when I heard it......it's all in how you take it.

I would never call them freedom fries.....because thats a stupid name.
And I never called them french fries either....I just call 'em 'Fries'

And I don't drink....so if they want to pour french wine down the gutter....well, don't complain about your income them....besides a nice California White Zin does the trick just fine.

Everybody has an angle.....our Gov. would love to have us rise up against the French...so they have good footage to manipulate them with....boycotts and all that...

And the French turned down the newest resolution before Iraq did...why? because thats where they get their oil....everyone has an angle.

Terri....many of the WW2 vets are quite offended...and feel that the French do not have a right to protest this war....they never really felt that the French did much to save their own country...and left it up to us to free them from German occupation.

My father had a huge respect for British forces......but he curled his nose over the French.

He never said why...but his attitude was clear.

I would not say that the anger at the french is nationwide tho'...it's just getting coverage like it was.

I think many in our generation realize the world is just too small to hang onto old debts and balances from a war that was 60 years ago.

Pity we could not hang onto the lessons tho'......

So who's up for onion rings?

Dani

"So who's up for onion rings?"

As long as we don't have to do any french kissing .

Sabra

There was something that came to my mind lately concerning those who are changing food names and buying into that " France is no longer our ally" attitude. Many are citing that we went in and liberated France from the Germans in WWll. We shouldn't forget that it was France who also helped to liberate us. We forget that it was France who helped us win our freedom from tyranny during the Revolutionary War. France fought with the patriots against Great Britain. Not only that it was France who gave us the Statue of Liberty as a gift.

France Allied with American Colonies
February 6, 1778

Friends, and in French, amis! On February 6, 1778, Benjamin Franklin was in France signing the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce recognized the U.S. as an independent nation and promoted trade between France and America. The second agreement, the Treaty of Alliance, made the fledgling United States and France allies against Great Britain in the Revolutionary War. The French decided to back the U.S. in its military efforts until the U.S. had full independence from Great Britain. After that, the treaty required France and the U.S. to work together on any peace agreement. Did you know the French helped the U.S. to win the Revolutionary War?

France Allied with American Colonies
February 6, 1778

France had been secretly aiding the American Colonies since 1775, because France was angry at Britain over the loss of Colonial territory in the French and Indian War. In 1776, the Continental Congress sent diplomat Benjamin Franklin, along with Silas Deane and Arthur Lee, to France to secure a formal alliance. When Franklin came to the signing ceremony, he wore, as a symbol, the same brown velvet suit he had worn when he appeared before Britain's Privy Council in 1774. At the time, he was accused of theft for having brought to light British documents that showed the British were purposefully repressing the Colonies.

France Allied with American Colonies
February 6, 1778

France aided the colonists by providing military armaments and loans. France's support deepened after the Americans beat the British in the October 1777 Battle of Saratoga, proving themselves committed to independence and worthy of a formal alliance. King Louis XVI approved financial assistance to the American colonists only four days after Franklin and his comrades requested it.
During the Revolution, France sent an estimated 12,000 soldiers and 32,000 sailors to the American war effort, the most famous of whom was the Marquis of Lafayette. He became a good friend (ami) with American commander in chief George Washington in the process.

Regarding the Statue of Libery:

The giant statue titled "Liberty Enlightening the World" is a majestic copper sculpture the stands on Liberty Island in Upper New York Harbor. This famous figure of a robed woman holding a torch is one of the largest statues ever built. It was given to the people of the United States by the people of France in 1884 as an expression of friendship and the ideal of liberty shared by both peoples. Commemorating the alliance of the 2 nations during the American Revolution...

Edouard de Laboulaye, a French historian, proposed in 1865 that his country present a suitable memorial to the U.S. on the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Viva La France!
Love, Connie