"Freedom Fries"

**Tommy Boomfiger** · 02-18-2003, 01:45 PM

French Fries Are Out, Freedom Fries Are In

BEAUFORT, N.C. -- You can get fries with your order at Cubbie's, but just don't ask for french fries.

"Because of Cubbie's support for our troops, we no longer serve french fries. We now serve freedom fries,'' says a sign in the restaurant's window.

Owner Neal Rowland said the switch from french fries to freedom fries came to mind after a conversation about World War I days when anti-German sentiment prompted Americans to rename familiar German foods like sauerkraut and frankfurter to liberty cabbage and hot dog.

Rowland said his decision to change the name of french fries reflects a political sentiment that comes as Americans watch France backs away from support for war in Iraq.

"Everyone wants to have their freedom fries. They're going right along with it,'' said waitress Amy Foster, who cleared tables after the first lunch crowd to hear about the menu revision.

But Rowland said his intent is not to slight the French people, but to take a patriotic stance to show his support for the United States and the actions of President Bush.

"It's our way of showing our patriotic pride,'' he said, noting that his business has a lot of local military troops stop by as customers. "A lot of them stop here on their way back to Cherry Point.''

ok everyone, lets support our war effort by renaming all our foods with patriotic names

**TofuNinja** · 02-18-2003, 01:54 PM

I'd like the Democgreasy Burger hold the UN.

**Cubsfan** · 02-18-2003, 01:56 PM

I like the idea!

In fact, tommorrow I'm going to have some "Freedom Toast", and "Freedom Kiss" my girlfriend

**whitak24** · 02-18-2003, 02:17 PM

Originally posted by Tommy Boomfiger
ok everyone, lets support our war effort by renaming all our foods with patriotic names

uh, yeah.

whether we agree with them or not, the french have a right to take a stand. and just because they happen to disagree with them doesn't mean we should try to expunge all references to them from our culture.

this is a typical example of rah-rah patriotism getting crazy once again

**jujubees** · 02-18-2003, 02:32 PM

So I guess now's not the best time to tell "Cubbie" that the "French" in French fries refers to the cut of the potatoes and not the food's national origins.

**LPMiller** · 02-18-2003, 02:46 PM

A nation mourns as sales of the crousanwich dwindle down to nothing.

**CornMonkey** · 02-18-2003, 07:16 PM

don't forget about cafe lattes.

**xsiled2** · 02-18-2003, 07:22 PM

ill take a liberty burger hold the independence onions, with anti-terror taders and a large sovereignty soda.

**Sir_Froggy** · 02-18-2003, 07:38 PM

lol

trying to use nationalism

**xsiled2** · 02-18-2003, 07:47 PM

nationalism nachos...

i r

**Speedfreak** · 02-18-2003, 10:04 PM

I need a Freedom shake, Miranda strips, and a Patriot burger. All from Liberty Bell.

**LPMiller** · 02-19-2003, 05:58 AM

Could be worse...they could have changed the name to Frog Fries.

**attgig** · 02-19-2003, 06:03 AM

Originally posted by LPMiller
Could be worse...they could have changed the name to Frog Fries.

and the patriotic reference is where????

and yeah...they wanna do something 'patriotic'...who cares....let them.
It's not like the government is saying no more french fries, or the french people are going to internment camps....not mandated by law....
who cares.

**sbp** · 03-11-2003, 05:24 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/...ies/index.html

The cafeteria menus in the three House office buildings changed the name of "french fries" to "freedom fries," in a culinary rebuke of France stemming from anger over the country's refusal to support the U.S. position on Iraq.

Ditto for "french toast," which will be known as "freedom toast."

-------------
So french toast is now toast.

Take that you french pastries er pansies!

**~~Cantacuzene~~** · 03-11-2003, 05:42 PM

I'm sure the french are sooooooooo insulted.

**nickel** · 03-11-2003, 05:49 PM

oui, nous pouvons espérer seulement

**Butch** · 03-11-2003, 08:34 PM

Honestly, when I heard that the House of Representatives pulled this stunt, it was the first time I actually felt ashamed to be an American . . . I'm just glad these representatives don't come from my district and do not directly represent me. It's one thing for some random hick restaurant to do this . . . or for all the people who don't actually bother to understand history, international relations, or anything beyond their local news to go off on an anti-French rant because it's popular and they think they'll all of a sudden be witty and topical . . . but for the US Government to do this . . . it's embarassing.

They are giving in to popular lunacy to a greater extent than the French are . . . at least the French are making a stand based on something more than ridicule. The US Government is ridiculing the decision of another democratic nation solely to suit the lowest common denominator of its populace.

It is not a well thought out act . . . and can only hurt the international stature of the US. While many people may think it's a minor footnote in the diplomatic conversation, you have to understand that diplomatic speak is always muted . . . so any purposeful jab by one government to another echoes pretty loudly.

It's not as if the French are our enemies in this . . . they just disagree.

**sbp** · 03-12-2003, 12:13 AM

**topane** · 03-12-2003, 05:02 AM

Originally posted by Butch
The US Government is ridiculing the decision of another democratic nation solely to suit the lowest common denominator of its populace.

Great. Our government is catering to the people who watch "Jerry Springer" every day. This is ****ing stupid. I can't believe my taxes are wasted on **** like this. If they spent less time grandstanding and more time working...

**blueindian** · 03-12-2003, 05:06 AM

yeah, this is completly freakin' lame. i heard a blip about it on cnn, and i thought they were just late reporting on the a$$hole from NC.

i'm embaresed.

**whitak24** · 03-12-2003, 09:30 AM

Originally posted by blueindian
i'm embaresed.

with spelling like that, you should be

sorry man, i just had to go there, because your posts are usually very well-written

anyway, on the topic:

as i have stated in other threads, one of my main problems with the french stand is that it seems to be, in my opinion, that they are more interested in taking a stand against the U.S. than in pursuing a foreign policy strategy based on principles, utility, or any other "good" reasons for a particular foreign policy course.

while it's one thing to mindlessly oppose mcdonald's, hollywood blockbusters, and other american cultural exports for the simple reason that it comes from america, foreign policy should be about more than just opposing a country you don't particularly like.

so for this reason, i find the french stand to be somewhat poorly justified, but it is of course their right to do so.

however, with this new effort which seems to be designed to turn any reference to the word "french" or "france" into an unpatriotic slur, the u.s. has stooped to the level of the french, and quite possibly gone below it. along with constant suggestions that americans not travel to france, it seems just further emphasizes the idea that if a country doesn't fall in line with our master plan of the moment, we should scorn and reject them.

it's this style of scorched-earth, relentlessly partisan politics that bush pledged to eliminate when he was on the campaign trail. obviously, that was a lot of bull****.

**zenbooty** · 03-12-2003, 09:54 AM

Originally posted by whitak24
it's this style of scorched-earth, relentlessly partisan politics that bush pledged to eliminate when he was on the campaign trail. obviously, that was a lot of bull****.

Remember his famous quote back then?

"I'm a uniter, not a divider."

I'm don't know whether to laugh or cry...

**Grimm** · 03-12-2003, 10:07 AM

Originally posted by zenbooty
Remember his famous quote back then?

"I'm a uniter, not a divider."

I'm don't know whether to laugh or cry...

Hey, he is keeping his promise!
He is uniting the entire world, against us.

Cry would be the appropriate action.

**whitak24** · 03-12-2003, 10:07 AM

Originally posted by zenbooty
Remember his famous quote back then?

"I'm a uniter, not a divider."

he never said what he was going to unite.

i think it could be argued that he's united a wide variety of industry groups who have come together to support a whole range of his proposals that will put money directly into their pockets.

what more could you ask for?

**Butch** · 03-12-2003, 11:38 AM

Originally posted by whitak24

. . . as i have stated in other threads, one of my main problems with the french stand is that it seems to be, in my opinion, that they are more interested in taking a stand against the U.S. than in pursuing a foreign policy strategy based on principles, utility, or any other "good" reasons for a particular foreign policy course.

while it's one thing to mindlessly oppose mcdonald's, hollywood blockbusters, and other american cultural exports for the simple reason that it comes from america, foreign policy should be about more than just opposing a country you don't particularly like. . . .

What frustrates me about that comment is that I know you are a smart and discerning person . . . and if you believe that, then millions of others believe it (Which is quite clear). But, to believe that the French position is based mostly . . . or even largely . . . upon a desire to oppose the US, is an oversimplification not unlike saying that Bush wants to go to war "for the oil" or "because Saddam tried to kill his daddy."

**whitak24** · 03-12-2003, 12:08 PM

Originally posted by Butch

What frustrates me about that comment is that I know you are a smart and discerning person . . . and if you believe that, then millions of others believe it (Which is quite clear). But, to believe that the French position is based mostly . . . or even largely . . . upon a desire to oppose the US, is an oversimplification not unlike saying that Bush wants to go to war "for the oil" or "because Saddam tried to kill his daddy."

perhaps i am accepting an oversimplification of the situation in my statements. i would also suppose you are right that my statements are at least somewhat equivalent to the idea that "bush wants to carry on his family dispute with Saddam" or the like.

but it seems to me that the French seem to be making their best effort to take the opposite of the U.S. position, no matter what.

on the same token, however, i do recognize that the U.S. has done an extremely poor job of trying to bring them into the fold.

what do you think are some of the more pertinent reasons (rather than a simple opposition to u.s. policy) why france is opposing the war?

**zenbooty** · 03-12-2003, 12:15 PM

Originally posted by whitak24
what do you think are some of the more pertinent reasons (rather than a simple opposition to u.s. policy) why france is opposing the war?

Here's some:

France has much closer relations with Iraq, and Arab states in general, than the U.S.

France (and Germany as well) has a very large and growing minority population of Arabs, including those with extremist views. Any escalation of our war with Iraq into a general, "West vs. Islam" war would make daily life much stickier for the French.

The French are one of only a few nations allowed to purchase oil from Iraq through the UN's "oil for food" program. They're getting a sweetheart deal.

Many French military industry companies (and US too, unfortunately) have their fingerprints all over Iraq's military supply. The discovery of just how much equipment can be traced back to France could be embarrassing.

France has signed lucrative oil contracts with Saddam that will go into effect immediately once sanctions are withdrawn. These contracts will probably go right out the window once Saddam is deposed.

That's all for now.

**NuTs62** · 03-12-2003, 12:16 PM

Originally posted by Cantacuzene
I'm sure the french are sooooooooo insulted.

i thought i'd never say this but..

**whitak24** · 03-12-2003, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by zenbooty
Here's some:

France (and Germany as well) has a very large and growing minority population of Arabs, including those with extremist views. Any escalation of our war with Iraq into a general, "West vs. Islam" war would make daily life much stickier for the French.

Many French military industry companies (and US too, unfortunately) have their fingerprints all over Iraq's military supply. The discovery of just how much equipment can be traced back to France could be embarrassing.

interesting. thanks

i found the two excerpted above to be especially interesting, particularly the first.