# So what's next? Kicking poodles? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2003, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194 "2003-03-30T08:20:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/1 "2003-03-30T08:20:43Z")
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](http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2003-03-14-boycott_x.htm) the boycott urged in some chain emails going around hasn’t done well. > [@](#): > > The great “Boycott France!” campaign of late appears, at best, to have met with limited success. For weeks, Americans have been ranting against the French, who won’t back the United States in its standoff with Iraq. But relatively few Americans seem willing to change their wine, food or restaurant habits to protest France’s foreign policy. Well and good, but [this article](http://www.buyfrenchnow.com/news.html) 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. > [@](#): > > In an announcement worthy of the satirical newspaper, THE ONION, last week two American congressman, Bob Ney of Ohio and Walter Jones of North Carolina, upset with France’s stand on U.S. policy toward Iraq, began a campaign to remove “French fries” from the menus of restaurants at the U.S. House of Representatives. Henceforth, French fries are to be called “freedom fries.” 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: > [@](#): > > PARIS, March 24 (UPI) – These are worrying days for [fromages.com](http://fromages.com). Until recently, the French Internet cheese exporter was turning over brisk sales from its primarily U.S.-based lientele. Today, e-mail messages are still flooding in – not with orders, however, but with angry letters from former American customers. 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](http://buyfrenchnow.com) link cited above comes this beauty: > [@](#): > > Are you ready? Here is the latest. Rep. Ginny Brown- Waite, R-Fla., a first-term Florida congresswoman introduced a bill Thursday to allow families to bring home to the United States the remains of fallen World War II soldiers buried in France and Belgium. 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? ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/2 "2003-03-30T08:39:37Z")
Kicking poor innocent poodles? Goodness no! (Unless they’re miniatures.) Insulting them and making sure they get really poor restaurant service? You betcha! ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/3 "2003-03-30T08:45:42Z")
😃 ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/4 "2003-03-30T09:06:58Z")
I’d rather teach poodles to fly. _Throws one out the window. A Splat is heard_ Well, sometimes they don’t get it on the first try. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/5 "2003-03-30T16:29:02Z")
The idea of boycotting French products is asinine at its core. First of all, 33 percent of the French are _for_ the war, so a good third of the French hurt by the boycott **actually agree with the people boycotting them**. Not to mention that the boycott also hurts the **Americans** who make a living through importing goods. You know, the people this war is allegedly supposed to protect, by removing the Iraqi threat? Idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/6 "2003-03-30T17:13:37Z")
I plan to boycott French truffles. I hate them. Yuck. They cost too much anyway. To hell with 'em. Ish. They taste like moldy stuff. Ick. Why would anyone eat them? They’re horrible. Bleah. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/7 "2003-03-30T18:27:34Z")
Anyone who wishes to boycott French wine, cheese, or other tasty treats may email me. I will ensure they are properly disposed of. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/8 "2003-03-30T19:14:51Z")
I will not boycott French anything. Especially their perfume! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/9 "2003-03-30T19:32:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DesertGeezer \* > **…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”…** You were under the impression that they would otherwise have been engaged in something more productive? What were you thinking? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/10 "2003-03-30T19:49:52Z")
I would imagine that kicking a full size poodle, especially one that has been trained to carry out its primary purpose, might be rather hazardous. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/11 "2003-03-30T22:21:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > \*\*(Unless they’re miniatures.) \*\* Damn right. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/12 "2003-03-31T01:58:35Z")
Turkey wouldn’t let the U.S. stage troops so… This is now called a “[Freedom Bird](http://echotourism.com/birding/turkey2.htm)” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/13 "2003-03-31T02:06:26Z")
Benjamin Franklin wanted out national bird to be the Wild Turkey. Which brings up whiskey… ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/14 "2003-03-31T11:11:26Z")
_If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me…_ Whooo! Skynyrd! Whoooooo! ---
**Author:** ![brainfizz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/da6949/32.png) [@brainfizz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainfizz)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/15 "2003-03-31T11:17:06Z")
Well, I won’t be boycotting “Freedom Kisses” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mazirian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@mazirian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazirian)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/16 "2003-03-31T11:31:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \* > Benjamin Franklin wanted out national bird to be the Wild Turkey. > Which brings up whiskey… Wild Turkey is produced by Nichols Distilling Co., which is an affiliate of Pernod Ricard, a French company… So it’s Wild Freedom Bird Corn Whiskey. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-next-kicking-poodles/165194/17 "2003-03-31T15:30:24Z")
“Freedom Bird” sounds like something invented by crafty restaurant owners to cover up the fact that they’re not serving real turkey… Hey, wait just a minute…