Stop attacking the French. There’s no reason why the
country and its people should face American scorn for their lack of
compliance with American and British desires for war with Iraq. If
anything, the French and other dissidents are giving the United
States a taste of its own medicine.
Recently, a small band of protesters gathered in front of the
Federal Building and emptied bottles of French wine into the
gutter. According to the protesters, disposing the alcohol
signified discontent with French hesitance to condone an invasion
of Iraq. Earlier this week, two House representatives led a
successful campaign to change the name of French fries to
“freedom fries” and French toast to “freedom
toast” in the House cafeterias for the same reason: French
skepticism about war.
These forms of protest are shamefully childish, and coming from
elected federal lawmakers, highly embarrassing. It’s
reminiscent of World War I when hamburger was called “liberty
steak” and sauerkraut was called “liberty
cabbage.”
The United Nations, just after winning a Nobel Peace Prize for
its world coalition-building efforts, is on the brink of disaster.
If the United States decides to ignore its inspections campaign and
attacks Iraq, the United Nations will lose a devastating amount of
credibility. In the future, if a country faces international
conflict with a nation already allied with the United States, what
chance does it have of finding an objective forum for conflict
resolution if it knows the United States will not respect decisions
made by the global community?
This is not just a question for theoretical pondering; conflicts
the world over fit this scenario: Israel and the Middle East; North
Korea and South Korea, Japan, China and Russia; India and Pakistan,
for example. And what about areas of continuous domestic struggle
that affect regional stability, such as Columbia, the Balkins and
the central African region? Will efforts to involve the United
Nations just result in the United States imposing its own interests
instead?
France, Germany, Russia and other countries demanding the United
States and Britain prove their case before being granted
international support should be lauded for their efforts to uphold
the integrity and independence of the United Nations in the face of
fierce American pressure. If upholding this integrity means making
the United Nations less important to the United States, at least
history will know who is to blame for disrupting the world’s
path toward world cooperation.
In facing opposition to its war efforts, the United States has
received nothing more than the same rebuffing it generously hands
out to other countries that have agreed to, or are seeking
international cooperation. Not too long ago when the world was
trying to reach agreement on the Kyoto Treaty, which would reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, the United States, the largest producer
of greenhouse gasses, refused to cooperate, killing the effort. The
Bush administration also saw the death of a 30-year-old agreement
with Russia not to build missile defense systems; is it a wonder
Russia now opposes the United States on Iraq? The difference is
other countries now get to see the Ozone layer destroyed and we get
to eat freedom fries.
Sure, France might oppose the war because of oil contracts with
Iraq ““ but it wouldn’t be the first time a nation puts
oil interests high on its list of international priorities. It has
no less of a right to look after its fiscal health than the United
States.
Protesting France by throwing out a couple of bottles of cheap
wine is an understandable expression of free speech. But the
pressure and harassment French Americans are receiving because of
their native country’s stance is inappropriate. French
businesses have suffered locally and the French are ridiculed
everywhere from local radio stations to Senator John McCain,
R-Ariz. on television. This ridicule would receive less tolerance
if the subjects targeted were a more oppressed ethnicity. Why not
oppose and make fun of the British? Almost everyone there except
Tony Blair opposes the war.
When a nation stands up against the world power, demands it
justify its actions, and refuses to comply unless it does, the
nation should be applauded, not ostracized. Next time you’re
asked if you want fries with your burger, say “no.” You
want French fries.