The Stupid Freedom Fries Flap

[jducoeur]

Y'know, on the one hand this silly nonsense about the House of Representatives changing the names in its cafeteria is a complete tempest in a teapot, less than inconsequential.

And yet, the whole thing disturbs me on a surprising number of levels. On the one hand, there's the slightly Orwellian touch of intentionally manipulating language for political ends. On the other, there's the intent of the symbolism, trying to say that anyone who doesn't agree with the US is somehow bad and evil, and we should be mocking them at every turn. (As if the US has been a consistent supporter of France's policies in the past.) And then there's the sheer pointlessness of the maneuver, which simply proves to the rest of the world (and, indeed, to many Americans) that the US legislature has finally lost its collective wits -- the governmental equivalent of running around with underwear on your head.

I'm curious: anyone know if there's a convenient way to get the roll call on recent votes? I'm rather curious about whether my rep supported this foolishness -- it's at least worth an email complaint if so...

Comments

[meranthi.livejournal.com]

Roll Call has a fair amount of Congressional information, if you want to try it.

[mr-teem.livejournal.com]

This was apparently done as an administrative directive and wasn't even a committee vote. Per the CNN story (http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/03/11/sprj.irq.fries/index.html):

The name changes were spearheaded by two Republican lawmakers who held a news conference Tuesday to make the name changes official on the menus.

...

"This action today is a small, but symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure of many on Capitol Hill with the actions of our so-called ally, France," said Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, the chairman of the Committee on House Administration (http://www.house.gov/cha/nmembers1.htm). [Link added - TAL]

Ney, whose committee has authority over the House cafeterias, directed the change, after colleague Walter Jones, R-North Carolina, circulated a letter suggesting such a move. Jones said he was following the example of a local restaurant owner in his North Carolina district.

...

[mr-teem.livejournal.com]

Ah, on the Congressman's official web site (http://www.house.gov/ney/), the second (as of this writing) press release refers to this action.

[bleemoo.livejournal.com]

If I lived closer to DC, I'd go to the cafeteria and pointedly order French fries and French toast. Heh. Every day. Hmm... is the cafeteria public? It would be kind of funny if I got a whole bunch of people together to go there.