For most of us, eating French fries is not a special occasion. As long as the day ends in -y, Americans will eat French fries.
Though, some conservatives stopped eating French fries in 2003, choosing to eat "Freedom fries" instead. Amazingly, "Freedom fries" had as many calories, cholesterol, etc. as French fries.
One of the laughable ramifications on the insanity that followed the 9/11 attacks came from a move by two Congressional Republicans, Bob Ney (R-OH) and Walter B. Jones, Jr. (R-NC) to remove the word "French" from French toast and French fries from menus of the snack bars and restaurants in the House of Representatives.
France's "sin"? France didn't support the war in Iraq in 2003. Canada didn't support the war either, but somehow Canadian bacon survived.
Sure, foodies know French fries are Belgian in nature, but why let facts get in the way of insanity?
To give honor to that insanity in 2003, I thought it appropriate to eat French fries. In what would satisfy the "freedom fries" folks, I used Idaho potatoes fried in peanut oil (peanuts being truly American) cooked by American gas.
The "freedom" really lies in eating what you wish, without political pressure to change the name for short-sighted reasons.
Jones later regretted his vote for the war in Iraq AND his move to rename French fries, saying "I wish it had never happened."
As for Ney, well, Ney ended up in prison for his role in the various Jack Abramoff scandals. Ney served 30 months in prison. Karma can be ugly.
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