Freedom fries is a political euphemism for French fries in the United States. The term came to prominence in 2003 when the Republican-controlled Congress officially renamed the menu item in Congressional cafeterias in response to France's opposition to the proposed invasion of Iraq. The renaming quickly gained notoriety as part of a greater wave of political and popular anti-French sentiment in the United States. Although originally supported by Americans with several restaurants changing their menus as well, following declining support for the Iraq War, the term became irrelevant. Following Ney's resignation from the Committee which oversaw the renaming, it was quietly reverted.
Initial renaming
The renaming movement began in February 2003, with Beaufort, North Carolina "Cubbie's" restaurant owner Neal Rowland, who was motivated from similar actions against Germany in World War I, when sauerkraut was called "liberty cabbage," and frankfurters were renamed "hot dogs".[1][2] In March 2007, Rowland obtained a U.S. trademark registration for the mark "freedom fries".[3]
U.S. House adoption
On March 11, 2003 Republican U.S. Representatives Bob Ney and Walter B. Jones directed all three House cafeterias to change all references to French fries and French toast on menus, and replace them with Freedom fries and Freedom toast, respectively. With the restaurant in his district, Jones chose to follow its example by circulating a letter to his colleagues advocating their renaming because, he said, "the French were 'sitting on the sidelines.'"[4][2] As Ney was Chairman of the United States House Committee on House Administration, the action did not require a congressional vote, as the committee has authority over the House cafeterias. According to a statement released by Ney, the renaming was intended to express displeasure with France's "continued refusal to stand with their U.S. allies". The statement further read: "This action today is a small but symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure many on Capitol Hill have with our so-called ally, France."[5]
Policy reversal
On August 2, 2006 the House cafeteria menus were silently changed, reflecting the foods earlier names.[6] The changes came about by new House Administration Committee Chairman, Democrat Vern Ehlers. When asked about the change, Ehlers responded, "It's no big deal... It's not news."[7] When asked about his opinion on the "freedom fries" episode, Jones responded, "I wish it had never happened."[8]
Reactions
In regards to the change, French Embassy spokeswoman Nathalie Loisau noted that fries originated from Belgium. She then remaked 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 [America] give to potatoes."[9] After the name reversal, an Embassy spokeswoman said: "our relations are definitely much more important than potatoes... and our relations are back on track.”[2]
Several restaurants followed the Houses' change,[4][10] and the name is still used by some, including Geno's Steaks[11] and the chain restaurant, Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill.[12] Opposed to the name change, The Saturn Cafe in Santa Cruz, California, changed their fries names to "Impeach George W. Bush fries."[13] Reckitt Benckiser, maker of French's mustard, sufficiently concerned over the movement, publicly clarify that its brand name was derived from a family name.[14]
Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank noted the change "Mak[es] Congress look even sillier than it sometimes looks".[15]
In popular culture
- In the March 15, 2003 episode of Saturday Night Live, Tina Fey reported this on the satirical Weekend Update: "In a related story, in France, American cheese is now referred to as 'idiot cheese'."[16]
- In the comic strip Doonesbury, the characters Mark Slackmeyer and Zonker Harris criticized the name change in French. Slackmeyer said that, translated, the U.S. liberated France in World War II; and that many French newspapers headline after 9/11 was "We are all American". At the end, he states that the anti-French were "jingoistic, self-regarding conquer-monkeys!"[17]
- In 2005, Robert Plant and his band Strange Sensation released Mighty ReArranger, which contianed the track "Freedom Fries". An anti-war song, it contained the lyrics: "Freedom fries and burns and scars, the liberator goes too far."[18]
- The French-American indie band Freedom Fry chose their name based on the Freedom Fries phenomenon.[19]
Further information
- Freedom Fries (Fantagraphics Books, 2004) ISBN 1-560-97593-8; a satire comic novel on American politics written by Steve Brodner and Lewis H. Lapham
- Freedom Fries: And Other Stupidity We'll Have to Explain to Our Grandchildren; a 2006 documentary film directed by Carl Christman
See also
References
- ^ "French fries back on House menu". BBC News. August 2, 2006. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ^ a b c Christina Bellantoni (August 2, 2006). "Hill fries free to be French again". The Washington Times. Washington D.C. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
The term "freedom fries" actually originated at Cubbies, a restaurant in Beaufort, N.C., which caters to U.S. troops stationed at three nearby military bases.
- ^ "Latest Status Info, TM Reg. 3220999". United States Patent and Trademark Office. March 11, 2003. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
- ^ a b Sean Loughlin (March 12, 2003). "House cafeterias change names for 'french' fries and 'french' toast". CNN. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
Jones said he was following the example of a local restaurant owner in his North Carolina district...
- ^ "House Now Serving 'Freedom Fries'". Fox News. March 11, 2003. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ^ Christina Bellantoni (August 2, 2006). "Hill fries free to be French again". The Washington Times. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
- ^ Michael Viqueira (August 2, 2006). "Fries are French again on Capitol Hill". NBC News. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ^ Jamie Wilson (May 25, 2005). "French fries protester regrets war jibe". The Guardian. Washington D.C. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
- ^ "What Are Freedom Fries". wiseGEEK. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
- ^ "French fries get new name in House". USA Today. March 11, 2003. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
- ^ "Geno's Steaks - Since 1966". Geno's Steaks. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ "Menu - Sides". Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ^ Dan White (September 7, 2003). "Santa Cruz Makes Its Mark On The World". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Cannabis News. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
- ^ "French's mustard denies French connection". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 27, 2003. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ Alexandra Silver (March 28, 2011). "French Fries to "Freedom" Fries". Time (magazine). Retrieved February 8, 2013.
- ^ "Weekend Update with Jimmy Fallon & Tina Fey". March 15, 2003. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
- ^ G.B. Trudeau (March 4, 2003). "Doonesbury Comic Strip, May 04, 2003 on GoComics.com". GoComics.com. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
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(help) - ^ "Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation Freedom Fries Lyrics". Retrieved February 8, 2013.
- ^ "About Freedom Fry". Freedom Fry. Retrieved February 5, 2013.