Depending on which news source you go to, this thing of boycotting French goods is either out of hand or really no big deal. It does seem a big deal to me, however, that members of Congress wasted time passing a resolution to change French toast to “Freedom toast” and French fries to “Freedom fries” in congressional lunch rooms.
As I heard the story, french toast became french toast in the first place because some equally small-minded people decided its original name, “German toast,” was inappropriate for Americans to use after WWI. There were even some pea-brains who went around kicking dacshunds.
According to USA Today the boycott urged in some chain emails going around hasn’t done well.
Well and good, but this article suggests that at least some of the persons who should have a sense of responsibility and a mentality reflective of something beyond kindergarten have taken it all too seriously.
The article names two congressmen without stating their party. I’d hazzard a guess, but it really isn’t relevant. Whatever their party, they are certifiable asshats who should be removed as soon as it is constitutionally possible.
Local news in the Los Angeles area seems to disagree with USA today (in this case, I hope McPaper is right). According to either KABC or KNBC (I honestly don’t remember which one I was watching–they both claim to be the “most watched” source), stores are removing French products from shelves at the insistance of customers, as well as products that just sound French. Evian water (“from the French alps”) for example, is actually bottled by the Coca Cola Company, and French’s mustard has always been made by and for Americans. The story suggested that American workers could actually lose jobs over this petty nonsense.
Then there’s this:
Last I heard, UPI was a pretty reliable source. Putting French people out of work because you don’t like the policies of their government is just stupid – and wrong. Of course, I also heard there was a move in Europe to boycott American goods. Equally stupid and wrong. American workers are no more responsible for the actions of George W. Bush than French ones are for the actions of Jacques Chirac.
And from the buyfrenchnow.com link cited above comes this beauty:
There could be damage being done here that will take a generation to undo – if anyone takes seriously this silly congresswoman from…oh…Florida…never mind.
There have been cases reported of vandalizm against Americans with French names.
So I ask you, what’s a patriotic American to do? Should I throw away my Michelin tires, buy some “freedom fries” and kick a poodle?
