Some silly things are happening in our country. Changing the name of French fries and French toast is one of them. What the heck is “freedom fries”? Do I get “civil liberties sauce” with it as well? The action by the North Carolina restaurant was understandable. It was a brilliant marketing gimmick resulting in free publicity. But the Congress cafeteria? Is Rep. Ney nuts?
French fries in the House of Representatives’ cafeterias will now be known as “freedom fries” as part of a Republican protest at France’s opposition to a war on Iraq. Republican representative Bob Ney, whose committee is in charge of the eateries, said the action was “a small but symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure of many on Capitol Hill with the actions of our so-called ally, France”.
French toast from now on will be known as “freedom toast”.
The move —- echoing following the lead of a North Carolina restaurant —- reflects the anti-French sentiment among some lawmakers who feel President Jacques Chirac is betraying the US by opposing its policy on disarming Iraq.
That is not all. There is a resolution in the Pennsylvania state legislature to ban French wine.
Hoping to hit French President Jacques Chirac in his Louis Vuitton purse, Frallicciardi’s well-known Clinton Avenue restaurant, Lorenzo’s Cafe, located across from the Trenton [New Jersey] Train Station, is boycotting French wine and Grey Goose vodka, its most popular vodka and highest-profile French product.
Frallicciardi says the move was designed to protest what he sees as France’s diplomatic efforts to thwart American foreign policy in general – not necessarily because of French opposition to a U.S.-led war against Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi regime.
Frallicciardi said the memory of Sept. 11 also contributed to his decision.
“I personally witnessed people get off the train and walk across the street to the restaurant with white dust on them, in what basically appeared to be a catatonic state,” he said.
“I have not had one negative word personally said to me” about the boycott, he said. “There’s mostly praise and accolades.”
[…]Discord between the two countries over the Iraqi issue has prompted some Americans to call for boycotting all things French.
A group of Pennsylvania lawmakers, for example, introduced a resolution just last week to prohibit all state-owned liquor stores from buying French wine.
[…]Laurent Chapuis, the French-born owner of the Corkscrew wine shop on Hulfish Street, says talk about boycotting French products is largely much ado about nothing.
“I don’t think any guys in America will boycott french kisses,” Chapuis said.
Frallicciardi seems to have problems with facts. What do the French have to do with the September 11 attacks? Laurent Chapuis is right; only losers will boycott french kisses!
And finally there is this great guy from San Francisco.
France staunchly opposes a war with Iraq.
Anti-French sentiment spawns calls to boycott French goods.
How do Bay Area residents respond?
“I will deliberately go out of my way to buy French wine, and lots of other French stuff, just to piss off the Republicans,” says Ted Loewenberg of San Francisco.
Way to go, man! I might also decide to buy French wine exclusively from now on.
While I am on the topic of French wine, here is something for my fellow Muslim readers, who think alcohol is not allowed (haraam) under any condition, to chew on. It is a reply from Moiz Amjad:
Question: I was wondering if eating food that was cooked with wine is forbidden. The reason I would think the answer is not so straightforward is that just about all of the alcohol added to the food, which is a tiny amount, dissolves. There is no way it could induce intoxication. But would it be more prudent for a Muslim to avoid eating such food because of the principle of avoiding alcohol?
Answer: As I had stated in a few of my earlier responses on the topic, it is not alcohol, but, in fact, intoxicating liquor, which the Shari`ah prohibits the Muslims to drink. Thus, when the intoxicating feature of liquor is removed from it through the process of cooking, then the food so prepared, would not come under the ambit of the prohibitions of the Shari`ah.
Yes. A person may, however, take to refraining from consuming such food, of his personal choice. Nevertheless, under the stated circumstances, the food should not be termed as Haraam.
Enjoy your veal scallopini cooked in French wine.
Maybe people are engaging in all this anti-France silliness because we don’t eat Iraqi fries or German toast. They want to do something stupid like this, and France is an easy target while Iraq is not.
Hi Zack – About your veal in wine sauce, I am not an alim, but you should be aware that the ruling you cite is not universally accepted and is probably in the minority, for this reason: Alcoholic beverages are considered najis, or filth. So when the wine is mixed with the other ingredients, they also become filth. The subsequent evaporation of the alcohol does not render the sauce pure. You could look here for a discussion of the topic. The article does mention that some Hanafi scholars have taken the position you cite so don’t let me spoil your feast…
Thanks, Bin Gregory. I am aware that this is a minority opinion. I am not actually advocating it, rather just bringing an interesting opinion to light for my readers to think about.
There is also a question of whether it is permissible to deliberately chage wine into another form (for instance vinegar) or only if it changes naturally.
My general policy is that when there’s a grey area like this it’s better to play it safe and avoid what’s doubtful unless there’s some compelling reason for it.
French fries, anyone?
You mean pomme frites?
Maybe I’ll have some French Vanilla ice cream.
Maybe people are engaging in all this anti-France silliness because we don’t eat Iraqi fries or German toast.
We’ll have to rename German measles, though. “Liberty Measles?”
I think I read somewhere that German measles were renamed Liberty measles or some such thing during World War I or II. Not sure though.
At one time I had no reason to dislike the French,until I took an overseas position which required that I spend one day a month in Paris while waiting for a connecting flight. I now have developed an overwhelming aversion to anything that is French.This did not happen because of Iraq ,but because of the arrogance and rudeness displayed by the French toward both British and Americans .I still do not understand why they believe they are superior to all other human beings ,but I do boycott French products whenever possible and I will continue to do so.The french also seem to have very short memories when it comes to friendship.
Ron: You are stereotyping.