Freedom Fries, anyone?

[Guest JMA]

Once again... ugh. What a bunch of dumbasses.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Once again... ugh. What a bunch of dumbasses.

I couldn't say it better myself.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Well, in my neck of the woods I just read a sign for some Bar and Grill that said, "There's no French wine at this American Grill."

 

Oh well, it's not like the Grill's owners tore apart some pseudo-hippie anti-war memorial...

[Guest Midnight Express83]

changing the name of foods does nothing. And to stop serving French wine is just retarded. Maybe these people should realize that the name changing just makes them look stupid. And should maybe look at the last 100 years to see why France doesn't want to go to War. Could have something to do with 20 to 40 million French men dying in two world wars?

 

BTW: Past the FRENCH toast please.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Could have something to do with 20 to 40 million French men dying in two world wars?

Didn't realize it was so many? Great Britian had alot of men die in WWI and WII. They still are supporting the U.S. and are participating militarily in the war.

[Zorin Industries 0]

I think the French mindset is different because both wars were fought on their soil, while the U.K has never been directly invaded any time in the past century. WW1 tore Northern France apart, and decimated a generation of Frenchmen, that has to do something to a countries national identity.

[Guest Anglesault]

I don't really have a problem with "Freedom Fries" to tell you the truth. I'm not going on a crusade against "French Fries" though.

 

I'll settle for dumping the wine and refusing to buy it.

 

And should maybe look at the last 100 years to see why France doesn't want to go to War.

 

Longer than that. France has been utterly humiliated in every move they've made since the War of Spanish Succession.

 

By the way, did you hear the one about the French Rifle for sale? Brand new, never been fired, only dropped once...

[Guest starvenger]

They actually did this during both World Wars, if I'm not mistaken.

Yep. I think I read this in an Uncle John's Bathroom Reader...

 

Victory Cabbage = Sauerkraut

Salisbury Steak = hamburger steak

Alastian (sp) = German Shepherd (UK only)

 

I think they also tried to rename hamburger to liberty burger...

[Guest wwF1587]

way to hit the french where it hurts... rename "french" fries to "freedom fries" that will make them change their minds about war

::rolls eyes:: we start renaming french fries to freedom fries here.. i will never eat another french fry again...

[Guest JMA]

This whole thing is so fucking trivial. We're about to go into war and people are changing the names of foods and boycotting items. It makes America look bad as whole.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

This whole thing is so fucking trivial. We're about to go into war and people are changing the names of foods and boycotting items. It makes America look bad as whole.

You're right about it being trivial. It's means nothing. Plus most people I know just call them fries.

 

This makes us look bad to the rest of the world. I already thought that was the case.

[Guest bob_barron]

Midnight Express-

 

That'a Freedom Toast to you!

 

Can I have some freedom onion soup?

[Guest teke184]

I think the French mindset is different because both wars were fought on their soil, while the U.K has never been directly invaded any time in the past century. WW1 tore Northern France apart, and decimated a generation of Frenchmen, that has to do something to a countries national identity.

1. The FIRST World War was fought on their soil almost exclusively for 1914 to 1918... the second one was fought there for about two weeks in 1939 and and about 8 months between June 1944 and the end of the war in 1945.

 

2. You're right about WWI decimating the French population. As a history professor of mine once put it "The War decimated the flower of French manhood... leaving us with what we've got left today."

[Guest Ozymandias]

Sadly, this is no less childish and petty than the impending War itself.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Disagree with you on that Ozy, but that's not the reason I'm typing. This is -- I found this and figured it'd fit in here:

 

http://www.adn.com/24hour/opinions/story/8...p-5727792c.html

 

Angry Americans fed up with French pacifism have banned french fries and french toast from restaurant menus.

 

But we still have french kisses, french poodles, french cuffs, french horns, french rolls, french doors and french dressing.

 

Here's something to consider lest anyone get the idea to rid America of all things associated with France: None of those popular commodities go by "french" names in France.

 

A french fry by any other name may still be a greasy spud. But walk into a restaurant in Paris and ask for french fries and the dumbfounded waiter will probably look at you and sniff, "Pardon?"

 

In La France, french fries are known simply as fried potatoes ("pommes frites," often shortened to just "frites").

 

Just try ordering french toast at a French bistro. The French call the breakfast dish "lost bread," or "pain perdu," a perfectly appropriate label considering that it's usually made out of stale bread.

 

Want to french kiss? Not in France, where a passionate osculatory embrace is called a "deep" or "soul kiss."

 

A french poodle is a "caniche," or duck dog, a french horn is a "harmony horn" and french cuffs are "musketeer cuffs."

 

The French may be a bit prickly and protective when it comes to their language and culture. But they are a bit blase about the American tendency to slap a French label onto anything that is popular or considered refined.

 

"It's very flattering," said Marie Therese Casseus of New York City's Alliance Francaise, which promotes the French culture and language. "It's good for their ego and nationality."

 

Besides, the joke's often on us.

 

The French Embassy in Washington had a good laugh when Congress decreed this week that french fries and french toast in the House cafeteria would be renamed "freedom fries" and "freedom toast."

 

An embassy spokesman pointed out that french fries don't come from France.

 

Crispy fried spuds originated in Belgium, but by the 1830s they were a sensation in France as well. Legend has it that Thomas Jefferson served the dish at Monticello under the name "potatoes, fried in the French manner." Their popularity soared in this country after American soldiers developed a fondness for them during World War I.

 

In England, they're known as "chips." And in Holland, where they are served with mayonnaise, they are simply called "patat."

 

Americans have a fondness for what we call french rolls. In France they are known simply as "little bread." By the same token, french dressing in France is "la vinaigrette."

 

The French may pretend to disdain American culture, but they have made certain American words and phrase their own over the years.

 

The French now speak often of la country musique, le week-end, le blue-jean, le bestseller, le fast-food, le kidnapping, le self-service, le sex-appeal and le name-dropping, to name just a few.

 

If a Frenchman says you have "an American eye," look at him and say "merci." It means he thinks you have a sharp mind.

 

In music, a supporting act in France is sometimes called "an American star." The French often refer to the United States as "le pays des Amerloques," or Yankee-land, and Americans as "Ricans" or Yankees - a term of endearment or disdain, depending on the context.

 

The next time you feel insulted or snubbed by the French, just be thankful we're not the Brits. The French contempt for the English is legendary, and has led to some colorful phrases in the French language.

 

When someone takes off unauthorized time in France, it's said that he is "going quickly English." England is often derided as "mad-cow country," a reference to the disease.

 

And a Frenchwoman who has just begun her menstrual period has been known to scream out in pain, "Les anglais debarquent!" Translation: "The English have landed!"

[Guest The Hamburglar]

Hello, sportsfans. Do you any of you find this antagonism between France and America odd considering the massively close relationship between the American Revolution and the French Revolution, and also the similarity between their two constitutions? I don't know why you Americans feel the need to insult the French. You don't live right next to them. There are other targets far more worthy of derision, like the Welsh.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

One big difference the French Revolution failed. Napoleon was emperor 10 years after the Revolution.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

It still accomplished loads in terms of equal rights for all French men. (not women, but that's the effect of the times)

[Guest JMA]

Heh. It would be funny if a non-French poster had the flag of France as his/her avatar. He/she could also have "VIVA LA FRANCE~!" as his/her custom title. Hm. That gives me an idea...

[Guest Ozymandias]

Go for it. I just tried to make it my avatar, but the board is having issues at the moment.

[Guest Ozymandias]

Er, never mind.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

I don't feel like plodding through all five pages of "Yet Another French Topic", so I'll just post this here. Lookie what I got in my Junk Mail folder today!

 

From:   

Right Choice <[email protected]> 

Reply-To:   

[email protected] 

To:   

[email protected] 

Subject:   

Boycott France   

Date:   

Sat, 15 Mar 2003 08:06:00 -0800 

 

Join the "Boycott France" Campaign.

 

Please review this list of major French companies that

Americans should boycott.

 

Millions of Americans are joining the Boycott France

campaign led by NewsMax.com

 

Please forward this email to as many friends and

family as possible.

 

If everyone who gets this list from NewsMax would send it to

just two friends, within 10 days more than 100 million people

will be contacted!

 

Again, please review the email below, print it out, copy it,

and share it with your friends and family.

 

NewsMax.com, America's news page, is taking the lead. NewsMax

unabashedly stands for America and American values.

 

Check out NewsMax's recent ad urging a boycott and join our

campaign, click here now:

 

http://www.newsmaxstore.com/a/france150

 

http://www.newsmaxstore.com/a/france150">

AOL Users Click Here

 

NewsMax.com is leading the Boycott France campaign because

American lives and security is at stake.

 

France has every right to disagree with America. But

France has moved from simple dissent to active hostility

toward America.

 

French President Chirac warned East European nations that

if they side with America, France will oppose their

membership in the European Union.

 

This week, William Safire reported in the New York Times

that France has been secretly helping to arm Iraq -- and

has been helping Iraq build long range missiles. These

same missiles may soon be used against American soldiers.

 

Just as France is exercising its right to disagree,

Americans can exercise their right to boycott -- and avoid

helping companies and countries that do no stand with America.

 

French Products and Companies to Boycott

 

The following companies are subject to boycott:

 

* Air France. Air Liquide. Airbus. Alcatel. Allegra (allergy

medication). Aqualung (including: Spirotechnique, Technisub,

US Divers, and SeaQuest). AXA Advisors

 

* Bank of the West (owned by BNP Paribas). Beneteau (boats).

BF Goodrich (owned by Michelin). BIC (razors, pens and lighters).

Biotherm (cosmetics). Black Bush. Bollinger (champagne).

 

* Car & Driver Magazine. Cartier. Chanel. Chivas Regal (scotch).

Christian Dior. Club Med (vacations). Culligan (owned by Vivendi).

 

* Dannon (yogurt and dairy foods). DKNY. Dom Perignon.

Durand Crystal

 

* Elle Magazine. Essilor Optical Products. Evian.

 

* Fina gas stations and Fina Oil (billions invested in

Iraqi oil fields). First Hawaiian Bank.

 

* George Magazine. Givenchy. Glenlivet (scotch).

 

* Hennessy. Houghton Mifflin (books). Jacobs Creek (owned by

Pernod Ricard since 1989). Jameson (whiskey).

Jerry Springer (talk show)

 

* Krups (coffee and cappuccino makers).

 

* Lancome. Le Creuset (cookware). L'Oreal (health and beauty

products). Louis Vuitton.

 

* Marie Claire. Martel Cognac. Maybelline. Méphisto (shoes

and clothes). Michelin (tires and auto parts). Mikasa (crystal

and glass). Moet (champagne). Motel 6. Motown Records. MP3.com.

Mumms (champagne).

 

* Nissan (cars; majority owned by Renault). Nivea.

Normany Butter.

 

* Parents Magazine. Peugeot (automobiles). Pierre Cardin.

Playstation Magazine. ProScan (owned by Thomson Electronics,

France). Publicis Group (including Saatchi & Saatchi

Advertising).

 

* RCA (televisions and electronics; owned by Thomson Electronics).

Red Magazine. Red Roof Inns (owned by Accor group in France).

Renault (automobiles). Road & Track Magazine. Roquefort cheese

(all Roquefort cheese is made in France). Rowenta (toasters,

irons, coffee makers, etc.). Royal Canadian.

 

* Salomon (skis). Sierra Software and Computer Games. Smart &

Final. Sofitel (hotels, owned by Accor). Sparkletts (water,

owned by Danone). Spencer Gifts. Sundance Channel.

 

* Taylor Made (golf). Technicolor. T-Fal (kitchenware). Total

gas stations.

 

* UbiSoft (computer games). Uniroyal. Universal Studios (music,

movies and amusement parks; owned by Vivendi-Universal). USFilter.

 

* Veritas Group. Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Vittel. Vivendi.

 

* Wild Turkey (bourbon). Woman's Day Magazine.

 

* Yoplait (The French company Sodiaal owns a 50 percent stake).

Yves Saint Laurent.

 

* Zodiac Inflatable Boats.

 

P.S.: Thanks to GOP lawmakers, cafeterias in the U.S. House

of Representatives will today start offering "freedom fries"

instead of you know what.

 

Please email this to as many friends and family as you can.

Send a message to France that will not be forgotten!

 

Also, join NewsMax's Boycott France campaign. Check out our

national ad campaign and help us inform

America, click here now:

 

http://www.newsmaxstore.com/a/france150

 

http://www.newsmaxstore.com/a/france150">

AOL Users Click Here

 

 

Note:

All third party products and services promoted in this email are offered

exclusively by third party advertisers. The HSM Network makes no

representations or warranties with respect to these offers and all

claims for injury and damages related to such offers are the sole

responsibility of the advertiser.

 

Anyone else get this case of "freedom spam"? God bless America. And somebody REALLY needs to tell these people "French fries" are Belgian.

[Guest areacode212]

Dannon (yogurt and dairy foods). DKNY. Dom Perignon.

Durand Crystal

 

I'm pretty sure Donna Karan is American.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Dannon (yogurt and dairy foods). DKNY. Dom Perignon.

Durand Crystal

 

I'm pretty sure Donna Karan is American.

I wouldn't doubt that several of those companies on that list aren't French, but I don't really know where one would go to look that up. Also, even if these companies are all French-owned, they have so many branches in America that actually boycotting every single one of them would be more detrimental to us then to the French. It reminds me of a couple years ago when Egyptians were encouraged to boycott Coca-Cola, and as sales dropped in that country, the only people who were hurt were the 10,000 Egyptians employed at Coca-Cola plants there. Same thing goes for last year, when there was talk of another Coca-Cola boycott in the Middle East. The Snopes put it best:

Moreover, since Ramallah is home to a Coca-Cola bottling facility that employs about 400 local residents (and indirectly creates employment for hundreds more), and Coca-Cola industries throughout the Middle East are operated as local businesses, any boycott of Coca-Cola in Middle Eastern countries is likely to cause more monetary harm to Arabs and Palestinians than it is to Americans or Israelis.

 

What I'm really confused about is how some conservative news site got me on their mailing list... damn spam.

[Guest Crazy Dan]

I have more daunting tasks at hand, then to worrying about some boycott. I don't agree with what France is doing, but at the same time, I am not too happy about us going to war. And mind you, China and Russia were also going to veto the vote as well. So are we going to put a list of those products too made in those countries as well. And since there is a boycott of French goods, why is there no call for the US selling goods to France. Why do I hear of only one way boycott (if I a have heard wrongly, please correct me). Also, if we boycott these products, won't that end up hurting the workers in America, who work at the stores that sell the products? One other thing is, didn't Dick Chaney's company, Halleburton, do business with Iraq at one point. If that is the case, then shouldn't we boycott that company, on the grounds of hypocracy?

 

If the American public trully wants to go through with this boycott, more power to ya. But I think there are more important issues to focus on, like March Madness and Spring training, baby.