Several years ago, when the United States was seeking support for the invasion of Iraq, France suggested that the effort was misguided and that they would not allow fly-overs of French territories for U.S. military aircraft.
The response from the Republicans and the Bush administration was so eloquently symbolized by “freedom fries,” the brainchild (and I use the term loosely) of the congressional cafeteria. “We’re not going to serve French fries any more – they’re going to be freedom fries.”
Two stories, well actually maybe just one and then a whine.
My wife Eileen and I were on Navy Pier shortly after that debacle and went into a restaurant – got a table and looked at the menu. When I saw “freedom fries,” we got up and left – but not after letting the server know that we didn’t want to eat in any establishment selling freedom fries.
A few days ago I believe John Kerry suggested that America’s oldest allies did not include the English. That’s true, of course. (it did include the French, without whose aid we might never have liberated ourselves from British rule). In a sense it is to this administration’s credit, despite that pointed snub of all things British, that English muffins have not been dubbed “freedom muffins.” In a sense, the Obama administration's recent deliberative circumspection is even more to their credit.
When you are driven to bash your long-time friends because they don’t support your actions, maybe the proper course is to re-evaluate those actions and stop bashing old friends.
But then, France-bashing is de rigueur for the conservative right. (I think they don’t even have a word for de rigueur)
The response from the Republicans and the Bush administration was so eloquently symbolized by “freedom fries,” the brainchild (and I use the term loosely) of the congressional cafeteria. “We’re not going to serve French fries any more – they’re going to be freedom fries.”
Two stories, well actually maybe just one and then a whine.
My wife Eileen and I were on Navy Pier shortly after that debacle and went into a restaurant – got a table and looked at the menu. When I saw “freedom fries,” we got up and left – but not after letting the server know that we didn’t want to eat in any establishment selling freedom fries.
A few days ago I believe John Kerry suggested that America’s oldest allies did not include the English. That’s true, of course. (it did include the French, without whose aid we might never have liberated ourselves from British rule). In a sense it is to this administration’s credit, despite that pointed snub of all things British, that English muffins have not been dubbed “freedom muffins.” In a sense, the Obama administration's recent deliberative circumspection is even more to their credit.
When you are driven to bash your long-time friends because they don’t support your actions, maybe the proper course is to re-evaluate those actions and stop bashing old friends.
But then, France-bashing is de rigueur for the conservative right. (I think they don’t even have a word for de rigueur)
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