# "Freedom Fries?" Give me a fucking break! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 11, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644 "2003-03-11T20:18:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/81 "2003-03-12T21:49:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*Damn, I wish I still had my Freedom-to-English dictionary, but the government confiscated it… \*\* The great part is, that one works whether it’s the old meaning of freedom or the new one! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/82 "2003-03-12T22:01:59Z")
Isn’t this also how we came to call Frankfurters “hot dogs?” _Sigh_ History repeats itself… It’s REALLY hard to be patriotic when the leaders of your country consistantly act like a bunch of immature children. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/83 "2003-03-12T22:02:24Z")
Officer, I wish to report a near-whooshing. I actually clicked on the “Your Reply” window to help **Ukulele Ike** out with his translation “problem”. Man, you get involved in two threads in GQ and all of a sudden you can’t play pit anymore. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/84 "2003-03-12T22:56:20Z")
No, “choix” means choice. Cabbage is “chou” (pl. “choux”). ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/85 "2003-03-12T23:37:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DoctorJ \* > \*\*It seems New Guinea has elected to support us in the war effort. > > This is comforting, as I just couldn’t deal with Freedom Pigs. > > Dr. J \*\* Maybe you mean Guinea (Africa), which is on the UN Security Council? Certainly not New Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Guyana, or any of those other G- places? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/86 "2003-03-13T00:32:16Z")
Look what happens when I de-french-ify the classic kids punchline, to the new American one. Incorrect: \*Look at the S Car Go. \* Correct: \* Look at the snail go. \* Things are gonna get real ugly folks. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/87 "2003-03-13T01:02:18Z")
The weird thing is, for better or for worse (though, current politics aside, I happen to disagree with one particular French way of doing things I’m about to describe) - calling them “Freedom Fries” is a _very, very_ French way of doing things. With their “academy”, or whatever it is, the French have a long history of attempting to control their language. A Frenchman wants to use the term “Le weekend?” “Non!” Not allowed. Not on your life. So the US is actually adopting a French method here! ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/88 "2003-03-13T01:15:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe you mean Guinea (Africa), which is on the UN Security Council? Certainly not New Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Guyana, or any of those other G- places? Of course that’s what I meant. \ Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/89 "2003-03-13T01:33:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lezlers \* > \*\*Isn’t this also how we came to call Frankfurters “hot dogs?” > > _Sigh_ History repeats itself… > > It’s REALLY hard to be patriotic when the leaders of your country consistantly act like a bunch of immature children. \*\* Ya. Patriotism hinges on your perception of your leader. ---
**Author:** ![SweetLucy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@SweetLucy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetLucy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/90 "2003-03-13T01:52:37Z")
If this whole thing was purely a joke now and then, it could be funny. But these jokers seem to really take this whole Francophobia thing quite seriously, and it’s really getting on my nerves. It seems the French and rednecks are the two groups that it’s still open season to hate, stereotype and make fun of. And these rightwing jerks are probably the very same ones who go apeshit at any suspected inkling of “political correctness” in the media, academia, etc. Hypocrites! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![ctr22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@ctr22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctr22)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/91 "2003-03-13T01:56:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muffin \* > \*\*Someone elected these people, yet a very high percentage of the population did not bother to vote. I’ll be interested to see if the voter turnout at the next federal election increases,and which way the vote goes. One can only go so far in excusing away this sort of nonsense as not being reflective of the nation. My concern is that it may indeed reflective. \*\* Yes Muffin all Americans are completely in lock step with their government and all the stories you read on the internet and in newspapers about Americans are not just about one or two Americans but all 280 million of them. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/92 "2003-03-13T02:18:29Z")
This all reminds me of when I announced to the family that I didn’t want an Iranian rug in our house because of the American hostages being held in Iran (this was in 1980). My mom sat me down and explained how what governments do and say, what individual people do and say, and what things made by those people represent are all different, and to lump them all together as the same thing is childish and rude. I don’t know whether I should feel proud or depressed that I had gained a better understanding of international relations at age 8 than our elected officials have today. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/93 "2003-03-13T02:22:19Z")
A point made in the Slate article, which is a good one, is that when we called sauerkraut “liberty cabbage” _we were at war with Germany._ Now, I’ll bash the French with the best of them, but they are still technically our ally. This is moronic. This is so stupid that President Bush ought to reverse it, and apologize to all of the French, and the Americans too. Unfortunately, the damage has already been done. Interesting how a fairly big “policy” decision has been made by congressmen you hardly ever heard of, at the level of menu items in the House cafeteria. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I really hope this comes back and bites these guys next time they’re up for reelection. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/94 "2003-03-13T02:22:30Z")
So, **Sublight** did your boycott work? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/95 "2003-03-13T02:25:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Isn’t this also how we came to call Frankfurters “hot dogs?” Er, uh, NO. The term “hot dog” was coined in the 1890’s by college students at Yale. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/96 "2003-03-13T02:59:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Munch \* > \*\*You missed the best line of the article: > > > [@](#): > > > > The French Embassy in Washington had no immediate comment, except to say that french fries actually come from Belgium. > > Stupid Dutch. \*\* Except the Dutch is what people from Holland, aka The Netherlands, are called. The inhabitants of Belgium are called Belgians. Better hope **Coldfire** doesn’t see this! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/97 "2003-03-13T03:08:05Z")
Belgium, the Netherlands…same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/98 "2003-03-13T03:09:26Z")
Belgium, the Netherlands…same thing. They both wear wooden shoes and eat mussels and go tilting at windmills. ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/99 "2003-03-13T03:45:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Avalonian \* > \*\*Very fashionable, **sleestak**. I knew someone would come in here and thrash the French, just for the halibut. It _is_ all the rage these days, you know! :rolleyes: And for good reason. I’m against the war, but I sure wouldn’t mind seeing us stick it to the French, Franc-ly 😉 > [@](#): > > So, you think that government officials renaming their food and covering it in a press conference is a good use of their time, then? \*\* Well, it isn’t like they had to legislate it. Some guy just happened to have the power to do it, so he did it. Having a press conference about it is a little silly, but unlike most of what they do up on Capitol Hill, this particular bit of silliness didn’t end up costing anybody millions of dollars. Although if anybody could find a way to budget a million dollars to reprint a few dozen menus, it’s the US government. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644/100 "2003-03-13T03:53:56Z")
I’m horrified to find images like[these](http://www.postcardstop.com/showitem.cfm?id=17248): , on the web. It shows how the French have been devious in their means since our colonial days, and only want to make a mockery of Democracy by sending an easily manipulated symbol as a gift. Tears , my ass. We should send that that crappy old Trojan horse statue back, pronto; she’s much more trouble than it’s worth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-fries-give-me-a-fucking-break/160644.md?page=6)