Freedom’s On The Menu
How clearly do you remember 2003? A year that marked a resurgence in militant nationalism. Iraq becoming the deer in America’s highlights, the vehicle through which a nation would heal and bring justice to the world.
But not everyone felt like being a cog in the war. Countries such as France voiced their skepticism at America’s course of action (and of course, many Americans did as well). “Old Europe”, hailed as betraying their allies, frustrating a nation bent on war.
It was this resentment that led an enterprising restaurant owned in North Carolina to rename his French Fries to Freedom Fries. Rather than being met with a solid wave of ridicule, the idea was trumpeted by many pro-war advocates, and also by the House of Representatives.
Republicans Robert W. Ney and Walter B. Jones, Jr. declared that all notions of the term “French”– namely french fries and french toast — should be removed from the House cafeteria. The ludicrous and comic action was carried out in a congressional vote. It’s satisfying to see the positions given to the representatives America’s elect put into good use. It is also interesting to note that Robert W. Ney would subsequently be arrested for bribery in the Abramoff trials.
America soon became De-Frenched. Pressure mounted and anyone or anything that mentioned France was forced to justify its “Patriotism” by renouncing any connection with France.
“Reckitt Benckiser, makers of French’s mustard, was sufficiently concerned to clarify that their brand name was derived from a family name, and to issue a press release affirming its patriotism.” source.
Franco-phobia endures in many, but rising resentment towards the war has taken the barb off the “France” arrow. Anger turning from the exterior to the interior.
By July 2006, the House had quietly changed the name of the food in all of its restaurants back to “French fries” and “French toast”. source.
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