Damned to Repeat History Department

Okay, as the old saw goes, those who forget history are damned to repeat it, and sometimes look just as stupid as people did the first time.

Here's a historical tidbit from WWI, of interest to wordsmiths:

Once the U.S. entered the war, an onslaught of anti-German propaganda caused German-Americans to come under increasing scrutiny as uncivilized Huns and possible traitors. Acts of vigilantism occurred against German-Americans thought to be insufficiently loyal.[11] As the war went on, German composers and musicians were boycotted, German towns changed their names, and common German words were replaced with more patriotic alternatives, turning ‘hamburger’ into ‘liberty steak,’ ‘sauerkraut’ into ‘liberty cabbage,’ and ‘dachsund’ into ‘liberty pup.’

http://www.stevesachs.com/papers/paper_98a.html

Now we have this just in from CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/03/11/sprj.irq.fries

House cafeterias change names for 'french fries' and 'french toast'
Move reflects anger over France's stance on Iraq
By Sean Loughlin
CNN Washington Bureau
Tuesday, March 11, 2003 Posted: 3:51 PM EST (2051 GMT)



Reps. Walter Jones, left, and Bob Ney announce the name changes on House menus as a Tuesday news conference.

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Restaurant serves 'freedom fries'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The cafeteria menus in the three House office buildings changed the name of "french fries" to "freedom fries," in a culinary rebuke of France stemming from anger over the country's refusal to support the U.S. position on Iraq.

Ditto for "french toast," which will be known as "freedom toast."

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

Across the country, some private restaurants have done the same.

"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.

SPECIAL REPORT

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• Document: Iraq weapons declaration
• Document: March 7 Blix report to U.N. (1.4 MB)

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.

"I represent a district with multiple military bases that have deployed thousands of troops," Jones said in a statement. "As I've watched these men and women wave good-bye to their loved ones, I am reminded of the deep love they have for the freedom of this nation and their desire to fight for the freedom of those who are oppressed overseas," Jones said in a statement. "Watching France's self -serving politics of passive aggression in this effort has discouraged me more than I can say."

The name change was criticized by one young man in a House cafeteria.

"That's completely ludicrous to me," he said.

France has pressed the United Nations to give weapons inspectors more time in Iraq, saying the U.S. and British-led move to war is premature.

Its stance has angered some U.S. lawmakers.

Rep. Jim Saxton, R-New Jersey, has introduced legislation in the House that would block any French company from receiving U.S. government aid or financing in any reconstruction of Iraq. Another measure discourages American tourists, businesses and the government from participating in the 2003 Paris Air show.

But House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said he didn't think Congress needed to take any formal steps to signal its disapproval of France.

"I don't think we have to retaliate against France," he said. "They have isolated themselves. They have resigned from any responsibility for the war on terror."

-- CNN Congressional Correspondent Jonathan Karl contributed to this report.



Wow, we can be just as jingoistic and stupid as we were in WWI and who's going to notice?