Freedom fries facts for kids
Freedom fries was a special name given to French fries in the United States. This happened for political reasons. The name change started in February 2003 at a restaurant in North Carolina. It became well-known a month later. That's when Bob Ney, a Republican leader in the U.S. House, changed the name on menus in three cafeterias there. This renaming happened because France did not agree with the United States about going to war in Iraq in 2003. Even though some other restaurants also used "freedom fries," the name didn't stay popular. This was partly because fewer people supported the Iraq War over time. When Bob Ney left his job in 2006, the name in the Congressional cafeterias went back to "French fries."
Contents
Why the Name Change Happened
France's View on the Iraq War
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, President George W. Bush started a "War on Terror." As part of this, the U.S. planned to invade Iraq in 2003. Countries discussed this plan at the United Nations Security Council. France's Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin, clearly stated that France would not support or join the invasion. France even said it would use its veto power to stop any resolution that allowed the invasion.
While Russia and China also disagreed with the war, they didn't threaten to use their veto. So, many people saw France as the main reason the U.S. and Britain couldn't get UN approval for the war. This made some Americans feel that France was betraying them. It also brought back old feelings of dislike towards France in the U.S.
How the Renaming Started
The idea to rename "French fries" began in February 2003. Neal Rowland, who owned "Cubbie's" restaurant in Beaufort, North Carolina, started it. He said he was inspired by similar changes during World War I. Back then, "sauerkraut" was called "liberty cabbage." Rowland explained that since France was "backing down" from the war, "French fries and French everything needs to be banned." In 2007, Rowland even got a special legal right to use the name "freedom fries."
U.S. House of Representatives Adopts the Name
On March 11, 2003, two Republican members of the U.S. House, Bob Ney and Walter B. Jones, made a change. They told the three cafeterias in the House to change "French fries" and "French toast" on their menus. The new names became Freedom fries and Freedom toast.
Jones decided to follow the example of Cubbie's restaurant. He sent a letter to other lawmakers, suggesting the name change. He said it was because the French were "sitting on the sidelines." Since Ney was in charge of the committee that ran the House cafeterias, no vote was needed for this change.
Ney released a statement saying the renaming showed how unhappy many people on Capitol Hill were with France. He called France a "so-called ally." Jones said the change was a "lighthearted gesture." This name change also spread to dining halls for U.S. forces during the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
What People Thought About It
A spokeswoman for the French Embassy, Nathalie Loiseau, said the name change was "exactly a non-issue." She pointed out that fries actually came from Belgium, not France. She added that France was focused on "very serious issues" and not "the name [Americans] give to potatoes." Later, after the name went back to "French fries," she said that relations between the two countries were "much more important than potatoes."
The TV show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations showed "freedom fries" as an example of the difficult relationship between the U.S. and France at the time.
In a 2005 survey, people were asked if renaming French fries was "a silly idea or a sincere expression of patriotism." Most people, 66%, thought it was silly. Only 33% thought it was patriotic.
Some restaurants did follow the House's change. For example, Army Navy in the Philippines still uses the name "freedom fries" today. On the other hand, The Saturn Cafe in Santa Cruz, California, changed their menu to "Impeach George W. Bush fries." The company Reckitt Benckiser, which makes French's mustard, even had to explain that their brand name came from a family name, not from France.
Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Barney Frank said the change made "Congress look even sillier." New York Democratic Congressman José E. Serrano called it "petty grandstanding." He urged lawmakers to focus on more important things.
A 2006 documentary film called Freedom Fries: And Other Stupidity We'll Have to Explain to Our Grandchildren looked at the topic in a funny way. The TV show American Dad! also made a joke about it. In the comic strip Doonesbury, characters criticized the name change. They reminded readers that the U.S. helped free France in World War II. They also noted that many French newspapers showed support for the U.S. after 9/11. The French American band Freedom Fry chose their name because of the "Freedom Fries" event. In 2005, musician Robert Plant released a song called "Freedom Fries," which was against the war.
Name Change Reversed
On August 2, 2006, the House cafeteria menus quietly changed back. The new House Administration Committee Chairman, Vern Ehlers, made the change. He took over after Bob Ney resigned due to a scandal. When asked about his decision, Ehlers said, "It's no big deal." In 2005, Walter B. Jones said he wished the "freedom fries" event had "never happened."
