Freedom fries

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Menu from a Congressional cafeteria featuring freedom fries

Freedom fries was a politically motivated renaming of french fries in the United States. The term was created in February 2003 in a North Carolina restaurant, and was widely publicized a month later when the then Republican Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, Bob Ney, renamed the menu item in three Congressional cafeterias. The political renaming occurred in context of France's opposition to the proposed invasion of Iraq. Although some restaurants around the nation adopted the renaming, the term became unpopular, in part due to decreasing popularity of the Iraq War. After Ney's resignation as Chairman in 2006, the change of name in congressional cafeterias was reverted.

Background

French opposition to the Iraq war

After the

French Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin made it clear France would neither support nor participate in the invasion, and that it would veto any resolution that mandates an invasion of Iraq.[1] Though Russia and China also opposed the invasion, they had not threatened to use their veto power on the Security Council; as such, France was perceived as the main barrier to the American and British effort to secure a UN mandate for invasion. This caused some Americans to accuse France of betrayal, reigniting prior anti-French sentiment in the United States.[2]

Initial renaming

Renaming was initiated in February 2003 by Beaufort, North Carolina, "Cubbie's" restaurant owner Neal Rowland, who said he was motivated by similar actions against Germany in World War I, when "sauerkraut was called liberty cabbage, and frankfurters were renamed hot dogs." (The term hot dog was in use well before the outbreak of World War I. In fact, sauerkraut was renamed victory cabbage and Frankfurters were renamed liberty dogs.) [3][4] In an interview about the name change, Rowland commented, "since the French are backing down [from the war], French fries and French everything needs to be banned."[5] In March 2007, Rowland obtained a trademark registration for the term "freedom fries", which was cancelled in November 2013.[6]

U.S. House adoption

Cubbie's, which was in Jones's district, is where the renaming originated.

On March 11, 2003,

Capitol Hill have with our so-called ally, France."[8] When asked about his view on the change, Jones said it was a "lighthearted gesture."[9] This also came to apply to dining halls for the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Multi-National Force – Iraq during the U.S. occupation of Iraq.[10]

Reactions

In response to the change, French Embassy spokeswoman Nathalie Loiseau commented "It's exactly a non-issue ... we focus on the serious issues"[11] and noted that fries originated in Belgium.[12] She then remarked that France's position on the change was that they were "in a very serious moment dealing with very serious issues, and we are not focusing on the name [Americans] give to potatoes."[13] After the name reversal, an embassy spokeswoman said: "our relations are definitely much more important than potatoes ... and our relations are back on track."[4]

In a 2005 opinion poll by

Reckitt Benckiser, maker of French's mustard, were sufficiently concerned about the movement to publicly clarify that its brand derived from a family name.[18]

A snack bar sign advertising "American" fries at Knott's Berry Farm. The sign previously read "French".

Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Barney Frank noted that the change made "Congress look even sillier than it sometimes looks,"[19] New York Democratic Congressman José Serrano characterized the renaming as "petty grandstanding," and urged fellow legislators to concentrate on more pressing issues.[20]

The

Strange Sensation released the album Mighty ReArranger, which contains the track '"Freedom Fries," an anti-war song whose lyrics contains the words "Freedom fries and burns and scars, the liberator goes too far."[22]

Policy reversal

On August 2, 2006, the House cafeteria menus were changed back without any announcement.

Walter B. Jones responded, "I wish it had never happened."[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ "France and Germany unite against Iraq war". The Guardian. January 22, 2003. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  2. ^ Max Fisher (April 23, 2012). "Beyond Freedom Fries: The Roots of American Francophobia". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  3. ^ "French fries back on House menu". BBC News. August 2, 2006. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d Christina Bellantoni (August 2, 2006). "Hill fries free to be French again". The Washington Times. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  5. Fox News Channel. February 19, 2003. Archived from the original
    on 2013-05-14. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  6. ^ "Latest Status Info, TM Reg. 3220999". United States Patent and Trademark Office. March 11, 2003. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Sean Loughlin (March 12, 2003). "House cafeterias change names for 'french' fries and 'french' toast". CNN. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
  8. ^ "House Now Serving 'Freedom Fries'". Fox News. March 11, 2003. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  9. ^ Sheryl Gay Stolberg (March 12, 2003). "An Order of Fries, Please, but Do Hold the French". The New York Times. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  10. ISBN 978-0-307-27883-8
    .
  11. Gannett News Service. Archived from the original
    on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  12. ISBN 978-141-653-2491
    .
  13. ^ "Freedom toast, French Fries and French Freedom Fries". CNN. March 11, 2003. Retrieved September 13, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  14. ISBN 978-074-255-2586
    .
  15. ^ "French fries get new name in House". USA Today. March 11, 2003. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  16. ^ "Why are these American restaurants still serving "freedom fries"?". The Face. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  17. ^ Dan White (September 7, 2003). "Santa Cruz Makes Its Mark On The World". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Cannabis News. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  18. ^ "French's mustard denies French connection". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 27, 2003. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  19. ^ Alexandra Silver (March 28, 2011). "French Fries to "Freedom" Fries". Time. Archived from the original on April 18, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  20. ^ "US Congress opts for "freedom fries"". BBC. March 12, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  21. ^ "About Freedom Fry". Freedom Fry. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  22. ^ "Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation Freedom Fries Lyrics". Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  23. ^ Michael Viqueira (August 2, 2006). "Fries are French again on Capitol Hill". NBC News. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  24. ^ Jamie Wilson (May 25, 2005). "French fries protester regrets war jibe". The Guardian. Washington, D.C. Retrieved September 11, 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Freedom fries.
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