March 20, 2003

can words bleed?

Plate in hand,
no appetite in stomach,
I swallowed hard.

The two ladies ahead of me
in the buffet line twittered dubiously over the French toast.
"Would you like a piece of freedom toast?"
"Freedom toast? Oh! I forgot that we were calling it that now!"
Giggle, giggle.

Knot in stomach,
I stared at the heaping pile of French toast.
Excuse me. I'm sorry.
Freedom toast.
Freedom fries.

They don't support our war, why should we support their food?
Logic.
Pure logic.

But unfortunately,
most of the arrogant American population
has completely forgotten
that France once begged for our help in a war.
A war we refused to enter until it suited our capitalistic interests.
A war we refused to enter until France was completely decimated.
France has seen the horrors of war bled out on her own soil.
She has lived in oppression, in slaughter,
While we sat idly by and munched on her French fries.

And now we wonder why France is hesitant to enter another war.
Why a country once bathed in blood should not leap at the chance to do so again.

Yes, but this is different!
It's for freedom!
For right!

France pleaded for life,
We ask for economic stability.
They gasped for breath,
We seek for peace of mind.
And after denying their wish,
How dare we blame them for refusing ours?

I do support the war.
Reluctantly, painfully support this war.
But beyond that,
I support the sovereignty of all nations.
If France should choose not to enter a war,
Bravo!
They are simply following our own wonderful example.

Posted by stephanie at March 20, 2003 03:26 PM