Please Leave My French Fries Alone

The Appeal Democrat ^ | Jul-26-03 | Erika Maas

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

SHAKERZ TEEN ESSAY

Please leave my french fries alone

By Erika Maas For the Appeal-Democrat

Why is everybody mad at France? Yes, the French opposed the United States-led war in Iraq. They lobbied against us. So what? The French are entitled to their own views.

A sign of real maturity is when we allow others to have their own opinions. The best discussion is where one person can disagree with another, without being ridiculed or bullied. The same goes for disagreeing countries.

Iraq had a problem. The United States tried to solve it. France simply had a different view and people began to come up with such sayings as "Freedom Fries" and "I Hate the French Vanilla ice cream." Just last week, the French foreign minister Dominique de Villepin accused the American media of mounting a campaign of lies against France. Our country is acting like a spoiled brat: Do what we do, say what we say, and think what we think. The U.S. government must not turn off its ears when hearing the other side. It may be the right thing, it may be the wrong thing, but at least we should show them some respect.

Americans believe in the freedom of speech; it's written in our Bill of Rights. Our government should live up to its own ideals, and be a good role model for young people both inside and outside this country. France helped us win independence in the American Revolution. This same country gave us our freedom symbol, the Statue of Liberty. The French have a long history of being our friends and allies. So why are we treating them this way? Now we're hearing that consequences are in store for France because of their beliefs. Punishment is not an acceptable way to deal with friends who disagree with us on a certain topic. Retribution will only damage our friendship with this nation.

There is a parallel between our government's handling of the Iraq situation and the Waco massacre 10 years ago. In both cases the United States government heard some bad things were going on. In Waco it was the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and this time it was President Bush who pushed for an immediate, aggressive solution. Seventy-four innocent people died in the Waco massacre. You would think the government would've learned some patience, and not to rush in with a violent solution before the facts are all in. Give peace a chance.

Wisdom and patience are learned by thinking about past mistakes. We have plenty to choose from. Let us not make that same error.

Now go out and buy some real french fries without feeling guilty.

To submit an essay for publication, please limit submissions to 600 words. Essays for the Shakerz section can be mailed to the Appeal-Democrat, P.O. Box 431 Marysville, CA 95901; or e-mail to appeal@syix. com.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I woke up this morning to read this essay in our local paper done by an area teen. I would answer her, but it is for teens only. We need an ARTICULATE knowledgeable teen to respond to this brainwashed child. Does anyone know of a young adult up to the challenge?

I actually felt extremely saddened when I read how mis-informed and mis-guided this young woman is. As I read her article I saw all the graveyards in France and realized she just didn't have a clue of the thousands and thousands of graves that are over there. Or how had other countries like France helped us in Iraq, our troops wouldn't be dying in the quantities that they are over there. The poor French.. I think NOT!!

Please pass this on and see if you know of anyone who would like to respond to this young woman's essay.

From her picture she looks to be anywhere from 13 to 16. So lets see if we can get a counter opinion published.

I'd really apprecaite any help at all with this!!

Thanks, Vets

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Could you guys please take a look at this. Then please ping your lists? We need to see if we can counter our misguided youth, and the misinformation they are being taught. I would love to see something intelligent being sent in by some thoughtful teen out there somewhere.

Thanks.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

please read the above thread, Thanks!! Please PING your lists for knowledge!!

[TrebleRebel]

I'm sure my son would love to reply, but unfortunately that would involve showing his backside.

[Straight Vermonter]

Check this out.

[sgtbono2002]

Well its pretty obvious this is a child that isnt informed. The French have been attacking the US since WW2 ended . It started with De Gaulle and never ended. We bailed them out of WW2 and then Vietnam and they still ridicule us. The French treat our citizens badly when they are spending tourist dollars, The French refused to allow American planes to fly over when we bombed Kaddafy. No it isnt that the French disagreed with us in Iraq , its that the French are trying to destroy our economy , they want our sovereignty and they are arrogant to the point of rudeness.Americans have had a bellyfull of France over the years it didnt start yesterday.

[BulletBobCo]

I would answer her, but it is for teens only. We need an ARTICULATE knowledgeable teen to respond to this brainwashed child.

The way kids are taught these days I'm pretty sure that this one had a ghost writer helping her out.

[facedown]

You could try to get Kyle Williams to respond. He's at WorldNetDaily and here on the board but I don't remember his nick.

[facedown]

[PurVirgo]

I hate to say it, but she has a point. True civilization is when we can allow others to be wrong without beration and ridicule.

I agree, her facts are skewed, but her heart is in the right place.

Perhaps a counter op-ed that reveals the truth about France is in order...

Unfortunately, finding a youth who knows of these truths is a hard find, indeed.

[JRandomFreeper]

The Revolutionary War was long ago. The folks involved are long dead. The snotty barstids going by the name of "french" today are a sad and pale shadow of their ancestors. And I still won't buy french anything. No french wine, no french cheese. Nothing. And I've been able to show other chefs really good replacements for french products that are actually cheaper and better.

Francophiles be darned. The french are hoist on their own "little explosion".

/john

[JRandomFreeper]

True civilization is when we can allow others to be wrong without beration and ridicule.

Wrong. True civilization is when basic stupidity is berated and ridiculed out of existance. It's called "appropriate shame". We've lacked that for a while, what with all the PC crap. But those of us that remember are willing to give lessons.

/john

[RDangerfield]

Since the French are weak imitations of their ancestors, cannot be trusted and tried to stop our plans for Iraq, why exactly are Bush and Blair now insisting that French intelligence backs up the yellow cake story? Why are they liars on one hand and brilliant intelligence gatherers on the other? Doesn't compute.
--Raoul

[Thinkin' Gal]

We need an ARTICULATE knowledgeable teen to respond to this brainwashed child. Does anyone know of a young adult up to the challenge?

Does Neil Cavuto have any kids?

[AndyJackson]

The French have been attacking the US since WW2 ended . It started with De Gaulle and never ended. We bailed them out of WW2 and then Vietnam and they still ridicule us. The French treat our citizens badly when they are spending tourist dollars

You seem to have a real fixation. Unless I am wrong I am unaware of a single attack by the French against the U.S. Sure some disagreements, but an attack! come on. We did not bail them out of Vietnam. In case you forgot we lost. While some was because of a defective conduct of operations some of it was because we were on the wrong side of a colonial war.

Personally I have never been treated badly by the French. I have been corrected when I have pronounced their language badly, such as not sharply pronouncing the letter "t" at the end of a word - but it is their language and if they want to preserve the purity of it, well, I am glad that someone takes some pride in maintaining linguistic standards.

[RJL]

In Waco it was the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and this time it was President Bush who pushed for an immediate, aggressive solution. Seventy-four innocent people died in the Waco massacre. You would think the government would've learned some patience, and not to rush in with a violent solution before the facts are all in. Give peace a chance.

I am sure Erika had a lot of “help” writing this, if she wrote it at all.

President Bush is at fault for Iraq, but at Waco, she blames the faceless BATF. Where were President Clinton and Janet Reno during Waco? Janet publicly took the blame, and I am sure Clinton had his fingers in to too.

We have been at odds with Saddam Hussein for 12 years, according to Erika; we “rush(ed) in with a violent solution”.

This is nothing more than leftists using their children for an emotional appeal.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

:o)

I know, pretty aggravating article. Makes me wish I was 16 again!!

Thanks for bumping this though!! Maybe someone with an intelligent young one will see it!!

Thanks!

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Thanks for pinging someone on this!!

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

OH Believe me, as Vietnam Vets, we both remembered the LOUD sucking noise of Vietnam, after all it was the FRENCH who SUCKED us into it.

This little girl has been BRAINwashed. I just hope someone will counter her article with something HISTORICALLY accurate. I have a file with photos on my e-mail of all the graveyards in France, but I don't know how to get those pictures out of that e-mail to post them on a website. I wish I could send them to her.

Thanks for feeling like we do. I wish her parents had a clue.