# "Freedom Fries" for the Fatherland **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 20, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274 "2003-02-20T05:19:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/21 "2003-02-20T06:41:46Z")
Work makes Fries? It does if you work in Mac Ds. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/22 "2003-02-20T06:44:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Apos \* > \*\*I’ll say it once. It’s flat out racist. There’s simply no other description for it. The people hurt by economic dropoff may or may not have any opinion on the war at all, or any control over their government’s position. To not buy products based on a scattershot association of nationality and ethnicity with a particular position by the government is ridiculous. \*\* Good. Maybe they’ll vote for less of an asshat then Chirac next time around. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/23 "2003-02-20T06:45:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 2trew \* > \*\*Sigh. Where’s the craftsmanship? Where’s the historical perspective? Where’s the love of the grotesque and the feeling of superiority, combined with a pop culture reference? > > I suggest an alternate header. It’s offensive, it’s on point, it’s stolen from National Lampoon: “Arbies Macht Fries”. \*\* Well it’s certainly shorter and rolls off the tongue better than "Cheese-Eating-Surrender-Monkey Fries. " ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/24 "2003-02-20T06:45:44Z")
**samarm** , one of us is whooshing the other. I’d just like to clarify that issue. Please tell me I’m overreacting. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/25 "2003-02-20T06:52:28Z")
No whoosh, I was making a poor joke on your Arbeit Macht Frei parody. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/26 "2003-02-20T06:59:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*Good. Maybe they’ll vote for less of an asshat then Chirac next time around. \*\* You’re kidding, right? All Americans are asshats because of Bush, too, right? ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/27 "2003-02-20T07:01:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \* > \*\*You’re kidding, right? All Americans are asshats because of Bush, too, right? \*\* You have passed up a good opportunity to remain quiet, and it shows poor upbringing. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/28 "2003-02-20T07:53:43Z")
from [CBC](http://cbc.ca/storyview/CBC/2003/02/15/france_iraq030215): > [@](#): > > Some U.S. commentators have suggested Americans should boycott French wines, fashions or cheeses until the country changes its position on Iraq. > > Guillaume Parmentier, the head of the French Centre on the United States, said he doesn’t take the threat very seriously. > > “Well if they prefer to eat American food, it is entirely their problem,” he said. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/29 "2003-02-20T08:11:56Z")
Ah, **matt\_mcl** , but let one American show up with his AR-15, his Colt Peacemaker, his willingness to shoot anybody who crosses him and his sincere belief that anyone who claims not to speak 'Murrican is just being a smartass and the French will fall down at his feet and offer him their finest wines and cheeses, if there isn’t an armed German around they could be sucking up to instead. Heh. I just got to be deliberately offensive to at least three different groups, all off a single post. God bless the French. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/30 "2003-02-20T08:18:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*You have passed up a good opportunity to remain quiet, and it shows poor upbringing. \*\* Sorry for the misunderstanding. I’ll give it another go. All Americans _used to be_ asshats because of Clinton, but now they’re okay 'cause they all voted for Bush. Did I get it right this time? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/31 "2003-02-20T08:46:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SweetLucy \* > **…I guess next thing we’re going to be ordered to eat the Freedom Fries for the Fatherland! Heil Bush!..** Godwinised from the OP down; well I’ll be jiggered, aint never seen nuttin like that 'afore. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/32 "2003-02-20T10:43:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Apos \* > \*\*I’ll say it once. It’s flat out racist. There’s simply no other description for it. The people hurt by economic dropoff may or may not have any opinion on the war at all, or any control over their government’s position. To not buy products based on a scattershot association of nationality and ethnicity with a particular position by the government is ridiculous. \*\* Racist? You’re darn tootin’ it’s racist! How’d you like to be a potato from Idaho, chopped up into pieces and then called, “French”? Of course, we could do what the British do and call them chips instead and avoid the whole problem. But being a Canadian I can tell you what a problem the French really are. Every box of cereal is manufactured in such a way that when you pick it up you automatically get the French side and have to flip the damn box over to read it. Now that is really annoying. Not some minor thing like a disagreement over some war, or another. Seriously, the guy can call his fries “CESM Fries”, or whatever he wants to. You don’t have to buy them if you don’t like it. The same thing goes for products from France. If you support what the French are doing then go and buy their products to make up for those who don’t. Sheesh!:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/33 "2003-02-20T11:28:00Z")
> [@](#): > > What a bunch of right wing fascist crap! I have to agree with the previous posters who have pointed out that this doesn’t really qualify as “fascist.” The word you want is “jingoistic.” Jingoists are just as distasteful, but they don’t dress as well. It’s still fun to take [cheap shots at the french](http://216.232.71.251/~larry/miscpics/surrender.jpg), though. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/34 "2003-02-20T11:33:09Z")
Just curious, if I were to eat at this individual’s restaurant and he found out about my ancestry, could I expect to find any “extra ingredients” in my food? ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/35 "2003-02-20T12:25:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \* > \*\*Sorry for the misunderstanding. I’ll give it another go. > > All Americans _used to be_ asshats because of Clinton, but now they’re okay 'cause they all voted for Bush. Did I get it right this time? \*\* Two things here: 1. You’ve just been whooshed. **Brutus** was paraphrasing Chirac’s comments towards Eastern European states who supported the US. 2. Your analogy doesn’t even make sense. **Brutus** didn’t call all the French asshats for electing Chirac. He didn’t call them asshats for any reason, for that matter. He called Chirac an asshat. Please try again. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/36 "2003-02-20T12:34:19Z")
And the award to the most idiotic OP goes to **SweatLucy** who apparently can’t tell the difference between the systematic murder of 12 million people and um…renaming a snack food. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/37 "2003-02-20T12:45:16Z")
1. I doubt Desmostylus was whooshed, **Neurotik**. 2. The analogy “didn’t make sense” because you didn’t understand it. I expect Desmostylus thinks Brutus thinks Chirac is an asshat _because_ that’s the line Bush’s supporters are taking. It couldn’t because he’s upset as a matter of high principle at Chirac’s patronising meddling in the affairs of other countries, because he said > [@](#): > > _Brutus_Good. Maybe they’ll vote for less of an asshat then Chirac next time around. And yeah, the behaviour described in the OP might be populist foolishness slod to morons by scoundrals, but let’s not hyperventilate folks. Or I’ll set me Alsation on yer. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/38 "2003-02-20T13:16:10Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by hawthorne \* > \*\*Or I’ll set me Alsati_a\*n on yer. \*\* That’s a good example, **Hawthorne** of the name-phobia. The German Shepherd was temporarily re-named Alsatian during WWII, because of anti-German feelings. Not to say that people were wrong to oppose the German war, but to get upset about _dogs_ that had the word _German_ in their name was pretty silly. Same with the _French_ fries that come from Idaho. As for **Brutus** , I just got the impression that he was saying the French deserved whatever they got simply because of who they voted for. I did a simple tit-for-tat and labelled Americans because of who they voted for. It’s ridiculous either way. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/39 "2003-02-20T13:19:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \* > **Not to say that people were wrong to oppose the German war** That’s ambiguous. Read it as “Not to say that people were wrong to oppose the _war started by Germany_” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274/40 "2003-02-20T13:38:29Z")
Yeah, pretty silly stuff. Next thing you know, the French will be protesting and boycotting American foods, and then…wait a minute. Never mind. One thing I balk at is the renaming of French toast. “Chirac is Toast” just doesn’t make it for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-for-the-fatherland/156274.md?page=3)