By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
In a show of patriotism, Corning pulled French wines off of his menus, and even renamed his french fries. Following a trend that even found its way into the dining halls of Congress, Corning is calling them freedom fries.
Corning is the owner of Caffe Laguna on West Beech Street in Long Beach, and Olive Oils in Point Lookout.
We feel that it's not right that the French aren't supporting us, he said.
For the past two months, Corning has had a sign in both restaurant windows: In support of our country ... we will no longer be serving French wines. He supports the U.S. troops, he said, and he hopes other businesses will follow.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, he said. We've gotten calls from people all over Long Island. French wine has been a popular item in both restaurants, but now the restaurants feature California and Italian wines instead.
As for the maligned French wine, Corning said he has exiled the bottles to storage, possibly for an extended stay. It's not right to support their economy when they aren't supporting us, he said.
Corning isn't the only local business owner raising the flag of support for U.S. soldiers. At the Coffee Nut Cafe on East Park Avenue in Long Beach, a sign declaring, Show your support. Protesters not welcome hangs in the front window.
Thomas J. Jennison, the owner, said he isn't barring customers who don't support the war. Instead, he said, he simply wishes that they would leave their social issues at the door at this time. Once the war is over, it's a different story.
Jennison doesn't worry about the sign deterring customers from entering. He has gotten some complaints, but not as many as he first thought he'd see. It seems there are more people in support [of the war], he said.
There were a number of reasons Jennison decided to put the sign in the window. Mainly, he said, I don't want our troops to think they are going to die for no reason. Now is the time this country should stick together.
Some patrons like the sign. Local artist Eugene, who declined to give his last name, said he is in full support of the war in Iraq. I back the guys 100 percent, he said. They are fighting for their country and they are fighting for peace in the world against a tyrant like Saddam Hussein. He would, though, like to see the troops come home soon, he said.
Eugene isn't alone. Dan Ryan Jr. said that while the anti-war protesters have the right to express themselves, he believes now is not the right time to protest. He feels people should be showing their support for the troops. Besides, he said, the protesting isn't solving anything.
Maria Lopez stopped and looked at Caffe Laguna's sign just after picking up her 7-year-old twins, Christopher and Brian, from the bus. I think it's a good idea, Lopez said. They [the French] don't help us. They aren't doing anything for us.
Other residents have had some mixed emotions about the signs. Karen Leone said she wasn't sure how she felt as she stared at the sign in Caffe Laguna's window. Her best friend is French, and she loves French wine. But for several reasons Ñ including the fact that the restaurant is one of her favorites Ñ Leone said she would continue to frequent the restaurant.
One resident did not comment on the business owners' pro-American attitude, but did say he feels the United States should only act in defense of the country rather than attack a country that hasn't attacked first.
I don't think we should be involved in any conflict, D. Simon, a psychiatrist, said. Look how many people got killed already. It's needless, needless deaths. The response to Pearl Harbor, he said, was justified. However, the United States, he said, hadn't been attacked by a foreign nation since.
As all of the stores are privately owned, Point Lookout resident Bob Dowling said they should be able to hang any sign they want. The signs don't bother him, he said, because once a war happens, supporting it is a good idea. But supporting the war, he said, has many different meanings. He supports trying to bring the conflict to a peaceful end, he supports the troops, and the country.
As for Jennison's purported ban of anti-war sentiments, Dowling wasn't bothered by it. If they want to show their support in that way, it's perfectly fine, he said.
And as for the Freedom Fries, Dowling said, I think that's wonderful.
