Well, well, well. There's a certain ring of Irany [sic] to
this story.
TEHRAN, Iran - Iranians love Danish pastries, but when they look for the flaky dessert at the bakery they now have to ask for "Roses of the Prophet Muhammad."
I wonder if Iranians love Danish pastries as much as Republicans love French fried taters?
more...
It seems as though Iranians and Republicans are soul mates. Who could forget the whole
freedom fry affair? Those were some good times brought to us by Reps. Bob Ney and Walter Jones from Ira... sorry, the Republican party.
On March 11, 2003, Representatives Robert W. Ney (R - Ohio) and Walter B. Jones, Jr. (R - North Carolina) declared that all references to "French fries" and "French toast" on the menus of the restaurants and snack bars run by the House of Representatives would be removed. House cafeterias were ordered to re-name French fries as "freedom fries". This action was carried out without a congressional vote, under the authority of Congressman Ney's position as Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, which oversees restaurant operations in the house. The simultaneous renaming of French toast to "freedom toast" attracted less attention.
Without a congressional vote? Do Republicans actually hate Democracy more than the Iranians? The answer is yes. Yes they do. At least in Iran, this seems to be more of a grass roots effort.
Bakeries across the capital were covering up their ads for Danish pastries Thursday after the confectioners' union ordered the name change in retaliation for caricatures of the Muslim prophet published in a Danish newspaper.
"Given the insults by Danish newspapers against the prophet, as of now the name of Danish pastries will give way to 'Rose of Muhammad' pastries," the union said in its order.
"This is a punishment for those who started misusing freedom of expression to insult the sanctities of Islam," said Ahmad Mahmoudi, a cake shop owner in northern Tehran.
I'm confused. Could someone please tell me what the fuck a "union" is? I seem to remember hearing about unions, but it's been awhile.
Another thing the Republicans and Iranians have in common is the sheer "it's silly and everybody knows it" effect of these name changes.
Compare this reaction:
The French embassy made no comment, except to note that French fries come from Belgium. "We are at a very serious moment dealing with very serious issues and we are not focusing on the name you give to potatoes," said Nathalie Loisau, an embassy spokeswoman.
to this reaction:
"I just want the sweet pastries. I have nothing to do with the name," homemaker Zohreh Masoumi told the sales clerk taking her order.
I think the lesson here is a Rose of Prophet Mohammad by any other name would smell as sweet.
hink