US relations with France hit sour note

As the controversy of a possible war with Iraq plagues the globe, some Americans are stunned and perplexed by some of France's recent decisions and actions strongly indicating a lack of support for a U.S.-led military invasion.\nFrance's latest resistance to the United States came with a speech President Jacques Chirac gave Monday night vowing that his country would vote against a second U.N. resolution, which would give Iraq until Monday to disarm, or risk war against the United States and its allies. \nSome Americans remember how the French helped us gain independence by aiding the United States in the Revolutionary War in the 18th century, while others see France as the country the United States bailed out in World War II. The United States and France have had an historically amicable relationship, but as international tension increases with a possible war, the relationship is growing more complex.\nEven members of Congress are questioning France's loyalty. Reps. Walter Jones and Bob Ney pushed for changes on menus in three House office buildings. French fries and french toast will now be known as "freedom fries" and "freedom toast." According to CNN, the representatives called their actions a "symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure of many on Capitol Hill with the actions of our so-called ally, France." Other cafeterias nationwide have mimicked this idea. \nOther Washington officials have criticized the French for not allying with the United States. \nU.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said last month that "going to war without France is like going duck hunting without your accordion."\nThe conflict between Americans and the French is very real and closer to home than most would think. Senior Nathan Proud, who spent his entire junior year in Aix-en-Provence, France, called the stereotype that French people hate Americans untrue. Proud said they are even in awe of how big and powerful we are. However, he said, the French dislike America's involvement in the rest of the world's business. \n"They don't hate us; they just hate our policies," Proud said.\nProud said he never felt resented as an American in France and people went out of their way to express sympathy about the Sept. 11 attacks. However, Proud mentioned he felt most of the French were opposed to Bush and his administration's war on terrorism. \n"They spewed the same cliché accusations you can hear on most college campuses -- that Bush is an idiot, war-loving hick," he said. \nFrom his experience, Proud said he would not call the French culture non-confrontational. \n"They love to protest and go on strike," he said. "It seems like that's all they do."\nHistory professor David Pace said historically, the French have not avoided confrontation. \n"The French are very much concerned with their cultural, political and economic independence," Pace said. "They're very independent, and they certainly go their own way when they want to."\nPace said France has many other reasons for not supporting a war in Iraq that do not include anti-American sentiment. He gave reasons such as French oil contracts with Iraq, concerns about Israel and France's large African population and its connections with the Arab world, going back to colonial times.\nThe interesting element in U.S.-France relations right now, Pace said, is that France represents the mainstream of world opinion and "we are the ones going off on our own this time."\nPace also gave some personal opinions on the Bush administration's policies toward the possible war. \n"The Bush administration was very clear during the election that they didn't think the U.S. should go around being the world's policeman," Pace said. "Now all of a sudden Saddam Hussein has to be overthrown for humanitary reasons, and wars for humanitary reasons are always questionable enterprises."\nPace also said, historically speaking, "this could turn out very badly -- we could end up being very much alone in the world."\nWhether the U.S. wages a war on Iraq alone, the French have made it very clear they are not with us, but they are also not against us. \nThe Associated Press contributed to this story.