The cost of 'freedom fries' for a French man
Montesquiou
MIKE ARGENTO
Thursday, August 5, 2004
http://ydr.com/story/mike/35997/
In his 13 years in the United States, Christian Potier never felt
uncomfortable here.
Until a little more than a year ago.
But still, he says, "I love this country."
And he does. He loves a lot of things about it; some, as you'll see, not so
much.
He's 44 and from northeastern France, near Strasbourg, by the German border.
He served in the French Army, reaching the rank of sergeant before retiring
from the service. His wife was working on her doctorate in art history and
when she finished her work, the couple moved to the States so she could find
work at an American university.
They wound up in York when his wife got a teaching gig at York College.
Christian opened up an antiques store on West Market Street, selling French
furniture and furnishings.
He called his store - what else? - French Antiques.
For a long time, everything was fine. People liked French antiques; they
have their own European kind of style.
Then, as the United States rushed into the Iraq war, he noticed something.
It was kind of subtle - "kind of a funny feeling," he said.
Sure, he was aware that his native country was not going along with his
adopted home in America's excellent adventure in Iraq. And he was aware that
the governments of the two countries weren't exactly getting along. But he
didn't think it had any bearing on his life here in York, Pa.
Certainly, he thought, people would see past the disagreement and still get
along.
They didn't.
He noticed an anti-French feeling sweeping the country. Republican
Congressmen and women worked to make their cafeteria safe for democracy by
de-Francophiling it, renaming French fries with the Orwellian moniker
"freedom fries" and French toast "Freedom toast." Conservative pundits
called for boycotts of all things French, apparently in an attempt to rid
the United States of the scourge of Renault Le Cars.
None of that affected Christian's life. He didn't notice anything - until
one day last year.
A couple entered his store and started browsing. The woman mentioned to her
husband that all of the stuff in the shop was French. The man said, "I'm
outta here" and left.
Christian had never encountered anything like that.
He didn't think it was that big a deal. Still, it bothered him.
He'd always gotten along with Americans and never had any problems. If there
was friction between our governments, people would certainly understand that
was between the governments and not the people.
Americans and the French have a long history together. Free French
garrisons - rebelling against the Vichy government that collaborated with
the Nazis - fought alongside American troops in World War II. A quarter of a
million French soldiers died in World War II. The French played a pivotal
role in the founding of this nation. If it weren't for the French, we'd all
be speaking English today.
And while it's true that people in France don't like President Bush,
Christian said a lot of French people have equal disdain for French
President Jacques Chirac.
"It's not the first time there was friction between the French and the
Americans," he said.
During World War II, the Vichy government was vilified. But most French
people - including Christian's parents - welcomed American soldiers and
supported them.
It's a complicated relationship, to say the least.
So a lot of the French bashing that's occurred during the past couple of
years really bothered Christian.
"I really took it personally," he said. "I've been here so long; my best
friends are Americans. I love this country."
He loves a lot about this country, the culture and music and people. One
thing that bothers him, though, is litter. He can't understand people who
litter. And he can't understand people who spit out their car windows. "I
never saw that in France," he said. "I had to come to America to see that."
With the friction between the two countries, he felt compelled to change the
name of his business.
French Antiques became Renaissance Antiques. He still sells mostly French
antiques, but he said the name has permitted him to also sell other European
pieces. At least he didn't change the name to Freedom Antiques.
He still has a large poster of the Eiffel Tower in front window, homage to
his French roots.
He thinks the French-bashing in American is starting to blow over.
"It'll get better," he said. "It's happened before and it'll happen again.
It always gets better."
Montesquiou
kcc
Cultural cheauvanism is ignorance personified,the French are rather
famous for it also,so whats your point except to showcase your own
bias?You,ve been known for your rather"snobbish" attitudes concerning
Americans for years,trust me it won't kill you to take it once in a
while!!
Katherine
John of Aix
> Cultural cheauvanism is ignorance personified,the French are rather
> famous for it also,so whats your point except to showcase your own
> bias?
Chauvinism is one thing mass abuse on the part of your fellow citizens
is another. During the Iraq affair the more mistakes you made and the
more you were proved wrong the more the hate was spouted, and the more
reactions unworthy of a six year old there were, such as Freedom Fries.
If you don't like our attitude towards your country write to your
congressaman and ask him to urge your President to apologise humbly,
frankly and publicly to the entire world he has treated with contempt
and to the thousands of Iraqi families whose members he has had murdered
to fill his pockets and those of his cronies. Until then I see not the
slightest reason to give you any quarter. You are the ones in the wrong,
no one else.
kcc
Thank you for proving my point!
fzer0^
news:d425ba75.0408...@posting.google.com...
> Cultural cheauvanism is ignorance personified,the French are rather
> famous for it also,so whats your point except to showcase your own
> bias?You,ve been known for your rather"snobbish" attitudes concerning
> Americans for years,trust me it won't kill you to take it once in a
> while!!
Quelle conne cette Katherine... Encore une qui n'a rien compris à
l'histoire...
Quelqu'un ce souvient de l'histoire du Libanais qui vivait au Etats-Unis et
qui avait un magasin. Tranquille le bonhomme... Après le 11 Septembre, il
s'en été aussi pris plein la geule..... Il me font vraiment chié ces
paysans...
Cyrano de B.
> Cultural cheauvanism is ignorance personified,the French are rather
> famous for it also,
You didn't see any french comedians, reporters, politicians, making stupid
jokes or ignorant comments about warmonging gun-loving americans in
2003-2004... No "FucktheUSA" websites, no french congressman renaming
anything "american" to something else (remember freedom fries?) or shouting
"boycott France" etc just because we disagreed with americans... So don't
tell us about chauvinism. We don't hold the candle for you in that field.
> so whats your point except to showcase your own
> bias?You,ve been known for your rather"snobbish" attitudes concerning
> Americans for years,
See, that's one of your misconceptions that you ppl seem unable to go
beyond. You find that "snobbery" thing about the french used by comedians,
politicians and you see it in some movies too (the french waiter in a
restaurant is invariably a snobbish prick, as many french characters, played
by americans actors with a phoney french accent). Come to France and meet
normal every day ppl who hate snobs as much as you do. And beware of
misconceptions and prejudice.
Andre Majorel
KKC wrote:
>> so whats your point except to showcase your own
>> bias?You,ve been known for your rather"snobbish" attitudes concerning
>> Americans for years,
>
> See, that's one of your misconceptions that you ppl seem unable to go
> beyond.
"You people" is a bit of a generalisation. Fortunately, not all
USians have that jingoistic mindset. Even if it may seem that
way sometimes because those who do make so much noise.
--
André Majorel <URL:http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/>
"See daddy ? All the keys are in alphabetical order now."
Cyrano de B.
"Andre Majorel" <amaj...@teezer.fr> a écrit dans le message de
news:slrncierl1....@atc5.vermine.org...
> On 2004-08-21, Cyrano de B. <Quel...@quelquepart.com> wrote:
> KKC wrote:
>
> >> so whats your point except to showcase your own
> >> bias?You,ve been known for your rather"snobbish" attitudes concerning
> >> Americans for years,
> >
> > See, that's one of your misconceptions that you ppl seem unable to go
> > beyond.
>
> "You people" is a bit of a generalisation.
I meant "you people who always come to this NG with those misconceptions",
of course.
> Fortunately, not all
> USians have that jingoistic mindset. Even if it may seem that
> way sometimes because those who do make so much noise.
I will gladly agree with you, although you do see the most popular late
night TV comedians use that jingoism on a regular basis to the great joy of
the audience, and I suppose, the viewers.
Andre Majorel
> Cultural cheauvanism is ignorance personified,the French are rather
> famous for it
Chauvinism exists in all societies to some degree but I'd like
to know what makes you single out the French in this matter.
Especially compared to the USians.
It's possible that the French are particularly chauvinistic, but
I'd like to know what makes you think so. (I'm interested in
facts, not in stereotypes).
John of Aix
> Thank you for proving my point!
You are a troll.
kcc
I was in Fance and Germany earlier this year,had a lovely time as a matter of fact.
Katherine
Cyrano de B.
"kcc" <kca...@twcny.rr.com> a écrit dans le message de
news:d425ba75.04082...@posting.google.com...
See, why didn't you say so.............
kcc
> On 2004-08-21, kcc <kca...@twcny.rr.com> wrote:
>
> > Cultural cheauvanism is ignorance personified,the French are rather
> > famous for it
>
> Chauvinism exists in all societies to some degree but I'd like
> to know what makes you single out the French in this matter.
> Especially compared to the USians.
>
> It's possible that the French are particularly chauvinistic, but
> I'd like to know what makes you think so. (I'm interested in
> facts, not in stereotypes).
Quick point about the name of this thread.If I were to go into any
restaurant and ask for "freedom fries" ,they would think I was a nut!
Katherine
kcc
> kcc wrote:
>
> > Thank you for proving my point!
>
> You are a troll.
Tough,at least I have some French blood in my veins !
Katherine
kcc
> "John of Aix" <j.mu...@nospamlibertysurf.fr> wrote in message news:<cg6u9o$vu8$7...@news-reader1.wanadoo.fr>...
> > kcc wrote:
> > > Cultural cheauvanism is ignorance personified,the French are rather
> > > famous for it also,so whats your point except to showcase your own
> > > bias?
> >
> > Chauvinism is one thing mass abuse on the part of your fellow citizens
> > is another. During the Iraq affair the more mistakes you made and the
> > more you were proved wrong the more the hate was spouted, and the more
> > reactions unworthy of a six year old there were, such as Freedom Fries.
Ahem,the mistakes *I* made,you've moved from chauvinism to
bigotry!This might come as a shock to you but I don't know of a single
restaurant that serves "freedom" fries.Get a *clue* before you start
pontificating,on things American!
Good night I'm going to bed .
Katherine
domi
news:d425ba75.04082...@posting.google.com:
> Ahem,the mistakes *I* made,you've moved from chauvinism to
> bigotry!This might come as a shock to you but I don't know of a single
> restaurant that serves "freedom" fries.
The restaurant of the american congress .
domi
Skysurfer
Miss kcc doesn't seem to be aware of what happens on her own
congress ...
--
"The French Were Right" (The National Journal)
http://nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/stories/2003/1107nj1.htm
Toto CUTUGNO
I agree with John. Make a bit of honnest thinking on the way you
behave and maybe you'll realise
Email:gbgb.p...@gvfpnyv.vg
ROT13 to read
pat o'beur
Only if you tell them you're a Bob Ney's friend. Then being nut will be
obvious :)
kcc
> domi nous disait :
>
> > kca...@twcny.rr.com (kcc) wrote in
> > news:d425ba75.04082...@posting.google.com:
> >
> >> Ahem,the mistakes *I* made,you've moved from chauvinism to
> >> bigotry!This might come as a shock to you but I don't know of a
> >> single restaurant that serves "freedom" fries.
> >
> > The restaurant of the american congress .
>
> Miss kcc doesn't seem to be aware of what happens on her own
> congress ...
I meant a real restaurant,one not controlled by republicans.they don't exist
Katherine
Kelley Dennis
pat o'beur
"Kelley Dennis" <marti...@webtv.net> a écrit dans le message de
news:1164-412...@storefull-3233.bay.webtv.net...
> one fact is wrong french fought behind allied soldiers
>
Both have got the same figures. Its ice-box temperature and your IQ level.
Locke
google is your friend
http://www.poe-news.com/stories.php?poeurlid=18293
French fries off the menu at North Carolina restaurant
No more french fries at Cubbie's restaurant in Beaufort, North Carolina.
The restaurant says it now only serves "freedom fries."
Owner Neal Rowland says he cooked up the name change after a
conversation about World War One days -- when anti-German sentiment
prompted Americans to rename familiar German foods.
Locke
and this one too : http://www.charlieandbarneys.com/pages/nitemenu.html
and that one : http://www.stonecreekgolf.com/rest.html
another : http://www.cottonclubandsteakhouse.com/menu.html
another : http://www.rosesspot.com/381740.html
kcc
You are talking about an extremely small amount of places.Cooking is
not exactly a passion of mine so I eat out regularly and have never
come across a restaurant that serves "freedom fries".
Katherine
kcc
Honest thinking,have you ever considered that perhaps people were
genuinely hurt,felt personaly betrayed or abandoned,you have to
realize France was one of only perhaps two countries in the world that
the average American felt a real affection or kinship toward.Take
Germany for example,no anger,people did not take it personaly.I am not
saying it was right but when emotions are involved tempers flare,
contrary to what many outsiders believe Americans are a very emotional
people.Just to let you know I was not one of the people who were on
this group bashing,so you're a bit off base.
Katherine
kcc
> one fact is wrong french fought behind allied soldiers
what are you talking about?I am not being bitchy,ww11 history is not my *thing*.
Katherine
JX Bardant
>
> No more french fries at Cubbie's restaurant in Beaufort, North Carolina.
> The restaurant says it now only serves "freedom fries."
They should rename "Beaufort" too... Something like "Groscon" would be
more appropriate.
Locke
the problem is that the congress is not a bunch of rednecks.
if someone says "french are cowardly cheese-eating surrender monkeys"
he speaks in his own name and only that. when elected people say "french
are cowardly cheese-eating surrender monkeys", they speak in the name of
every single people that elected them.
kcc
Funny(or not so)thing is Beaufort is a tourist town,you'd think they'd
want Europeans to feel welcome.Oh well....
Katherine
waggg
you're a troll.
kcc
with something different please.For your information I have never had
a problem in the looks depatment.resorting to personal
attacks,especially someone's appearance makes you look like an
idiot,not the person whom you are dirrecting the remarks t!!
Katherine
Nicolas Lucas
"kcc" <kca...@twcny.rr.com> wrote in message
news:d425ba75.0408...@posting.google.com...
The french have a very limited vocabulary. Most of their modern language
derives from the US vocabulary engine. You must learn to excuse the french
for having to re-re-use American terms. Sometimes, they will make-up a
french equivilant, only to later forget about it as the rest of the world
will just laugh at them and not understand what they are talking about. I
pity the french, what a sad nation.
Skysurfer
> The french have a very limited vocabulary. Most of their modern
> language derives from the US vocabulary engine.
BWARF !!!!
You're as dumb as Dubya !!
"The problem with the French is that they don't have a word for
entrepreneur." — George W. Bush
kcc
I apologize for this,I said it out of anger.I am not as perfect as
some of the other poster's on this NG seem to think they are.
Katherine
waggg
>wa...@ggg.aw (waggg)
>> On 21 Aug 2004 21:34:11 -0700, kca...@twcny.rr.com (kcc) wrote:
>>
>> >"John of Aix" <j.mu...@nospamlibertysurf.fr>
>> >> kcc wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Thank you for proving my point!
>> >>
>> >> You are a troll.
>> >
>> >Tough,at least I have some French blood in my veins !
>> >Katherine
>>
>> you're a troll.
>You are ,I think,the fourth person who has called me a troll,come up
Wonder why ^_^
>with something different please.For your information I have never had
different ... I'm not fabricating what you're saying ... act different, I'll
say things different, kate.
>a problem in the looks depatment.resorting to personal
>attacks,especially someone's appearance makes you look like an
>idiot,not the person whom you are dirrecting the remarks t!!
So why did you use it ... weird ....
>Katherine
waggg
>The french have a very limited vocabulary. Most of their modern language
>derives from the US vocabulary engine. You must learn to excuse the french
LOL ... coming from a people whose language is composee at about 60 % of old
french and that use a lot of modern french words and phrases that's pretty
funny to say the least :-)
Anyway all this do have an air of "déją vu" ...
>for having to re-re-use American terms. Sometimes, they will make-up a
>french equivilant, only to later forget about it as the rest of the world
>will just laugh at them and not understand what they are talking about. I
don't mistake the USA and the rest of "the rest of world", that's a quite
common mistake by the US people of your kind (not that jingoistic
ethnocentrism is in anyway surprising, but ....)
>pity the french, what a sad nation.
I pity yours too, actually ... for more than a year you've shown so much
vileness ... My spontaneous respect and simpathy is vanishing.
dominique.contant
"Nicolas Lucas" <go...@lycos.com> a écrit dans le message de
news:cgt3js$k3b$2...@news-reader3.wanadoo.fr...
The french have a very limited (From the French Limiter) vocabulary (From
the French Vocable, vocabulaire). Most of their modern (From the French
moderne) language (From the French Language) derives (From the French
dériver) from the US vocabulary (From the French Vocable, vocabulaire)
engine (From the French Génie, who gives Ingeenering, engine etc).
You must learn to excuse (From the French excuses-Excusez-moi LOL) the
french (From Franc, France) for having to re-re-use ( From the French 'user
'who gave utilisation) American terms (From the French terme). Sometimes,
they will make-up a french equivilant (From the French Equivalent), only to
later forget about it as the rest (From the French reste) of the world will
just (From the French Juste) laugh at them and not understand what they are
talking about. I pity (From the French pitié) the french, what a sad nation
(From the French Nation).
Congratulation (From the French congratulation)
LOL
dominique.contant
"kcc" <kca...@twcny.rr.com> a écrit dans le message de
news:d425ba75.0408...@posting.google.com...
> kca...@twcny.rr.com (kcc) wrote in message
news:<d425ba75.04082...@posting.google.com>...
> > "John of Aix" <j.mu...@nospamlibertysurf.fr> wrote in message
news:<cg88g8$79u$1...@news-reader1.wanadoo.fr>...
> > > kcc wrote:
> > >
> > > > Thank you for proving my point!
> > >
> > > You are a troll.
> >
> > Tough,at least I have some French blood in my veins !
> > Katherine
>
> I apologize for this,I said it out of anger.
I know, it sometime happen with me too.
I am not as perfect as
> some of the other poster's on this NG seem to think they are.
> Katherine
No one is perfect.
BTW : Give a look at soc.culture.usa and tell me how many French are
insulting the USA.
Now tell me how many US troll we have here in this NG.
So, one suggestion : keep your son out of this NG and take care with
(sometime) friendly fire.
waggg
wrote:
>Your French is better than you can imagine :
>
>The french have a very limited (From the French Limiter) vocabulary (From
>the French Vocable, vocabulaire). Most of their modern (From the French
>moderne) language (From the French Language) derives (From the French
>dériver) from the US vocabulary (From the French Vocable, vocabulaire)
>engine (From the French Génie, who gives Ingeenering, engine etc).
>You must learn to excuse (From the French excuses-Excusez-moi LOL) the
>french (From Franc, France) for having to re-re-use ( From the French 'user
>'who gave utilisation) American terms (From the French terme). Sometimes,
>they will make-up a french equivilant (From the French Equivalent), only to
>later forget about it as the rest (From the French reste) of the world will
>just (From the French Juste) laugh at them and not understand what they are
>talking about. I pity (From the French pitié) the french, what a sad nation
>(From the French Nation).
>
>
>Congratulation (From the French congratulation)
>
>LOL
Very amusing !
'very' from the old french word 'veray' that gave 'vrai' in french
'amusing' from the french verb 'amuser'. ^^
LOL
Touché ! (from the french, huh ... 'touché') ... Le mot juste (duhhh !).
Montesquiou
"waggg" <wa...@ggg.aw> a écrit dans le message de
news:4132fbc1...@news.free.fr...
The Nicolas message (From the French message) is a non-sens ( From the
French.......)
Viva (From the Mexican-Bu$h Viva) la France !
Ce pauvre Kon de Nicolas est comme Mr Jourdain, il parle français sans le
savoir.....
Bon, mais là c'est peut être un peu trop pour lui......
John of Aix
language (From the French Language)
Petit typo, 'langage' en français.
John of Aix
> The Nicolas message (From the French message) is a non-sens ( From the
> French.......)
'Nonsense' en anglais.
Et on ne dit pas 'a nonsense ' mais simplement 'nonsense', "Nicholas'
(ou Nicholas's) message is nonsense"
Nicolas Lucas
go to the john for two things - guess where your name came from!
Globern
news:cgt3js$k3b$2...@news-reader3.wanadoo.fr:
Qu'en sais-tu, toi le drôle qui prétend que le français est une langue
limitée ?
Que connais-tu de la réalité française - et par extension - de la réalité
européenne dans sa diversité ?
N'oublies pas, chère tanche, que les USA n'existe que grâce à l'Europe et
aussi, dans une certaine mesure, à la France.
--
Globern
"Un jour le courage frappe a la porte de la peur et demande :
Qui est la ? La peur répond : La peur. Le courage entre, et il n'y a
personne." Marianne Muguet
Sam
ancefray uckssay ;)
Sam
"dominique.contant" <doco...@wanadoo.fr> wrote in message news:<cguti3$qdj$1...@news-reader1.wanadoo.fr>...