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CNN Live Saturday
Some U.S. Residents Wage War Against Everything French
Aired March 15, 2003 - 18:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: As U.S. troops brace for possible war, some U.S. residents are waging their own war of sorts against everything French. CNN's Whitney Casey spent the day at Ellis Island under the shadow of Lady Liberty, an old gift from the French that some are sarcastically suggesting America should send back.
They're not really saying that are they Whitney?
WHITNEY CASEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN SATURDAY: Well, you know this is the city of sarcasm here in New York so you did hear quite a bit of both sides today.
But, you know, it was such a glorious day here in New York. It was hard to really be cynical, even for New Yorkers, but most of the people that come down here are tourists. So, it is a really interesting melange -- using a French word -- of people here.
And we've got quite a few perspectives, but most of the people here said that this gift behind me, from the French, if you can see it is a beautiful sunset here. That what it stood for is really what the French, when they gave it to us, it still stands for that, Liberty.
Now it was a group of liberals that gave it -- that came up with this. And it was right after the Civil War so we were a very poor country at the time. And so they gifted this beautiful statue and we had no money to put it up here. So, the torch actually sat down on Fifth Avenue until we could get enough money, 10 years later, to get the statue here.
But, joining me now, is a woman named Kyle (ph); she's from Vancouver. She came down to the park tonight just to see the sunset and see the Statue of Liberty. So I asked her, I said, so you know, with all the sort of French bashing, it is kind of becoming a bit apocryphal. And I said are you a French fry or a Freedom fry?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a French fry.
CASEY: But you came down here, seriously, tonight to look at the Statue of Liberty. And with all of this that's been going on and the scuttlebutt about the French, does it look different to you? Does it mean something different to you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I think it's important that the world recognize our global community. And it sort of symbolizes that. That maybe perhaps people aren't agreeing with the French perspective, but they are part of a community, and that is sort of a symbol of that. CASEY: And that's pretty much the sentiment that was echoed throughout the day here. That, that means Liberty. And, you know, because the French gave it to us, was the time when our relationship --it meant Liberty to them. And it still does.
CASEY: And you feel, Kyle (ph), watching the sunset today, peaceful and what are your sentiments about this war and pending war?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, well, I'm Canadian. So, I think that my feelings about the pending war -- largely I think that war shouldn't ever been an option. You know, one hit doesn't deserve another.
CASEY: Thanks, Kyle (ph). We'll let you enjoy the peaceful -- what's left here of the sunset.
Back to you, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Whitney. Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 15, 2003 - 18:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: As U.S. troops brace for possible war, some U.S. residents are waging their own war of sorts against everything French. CNN's Whitney Casey spent the day at Ellis Island under the shadow of Lady Liberty, an old gift from the French that some are sarcastically suggesting America should send back.
They're not really saying that are they Whitney?
WHITNEY CASEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN SATURDAY: Well, you know this is the city of sarcasm here in New York so you did hear quite a bit of both sides today.
But, you know, it was such a glorious day here in New York. It was hard to really be cynical, even for New Yorkers, but most of the people that come down here are tourists. So, it is a really interesting melange -- using a French word -- of people here.
And we've got quite a few perspectives, but most of the people here said that this gift behind me, from the French, if you can see it is a beautiful sunset here. That what it stood for is really what the French, when they gave it to us, it still stands for that, Liberty.
Now it was a group of liberals that gave it -- that came up with this. And it was right after the Civil War so we were a very poor country at the time. And so they gifted this beautiful statue and we had no money to put it up here. So, the torch actually sat down on Fifth Avenue until we could get enough money, 10 years later, to get the statue here.
But, joining me now, is a woman named Kyle (ph); she's from Vancouver. She came down to the park tonight just to see the sunset and see the Statue of Liberty. So I asked her, I said, so you know, with all the sort of French bashing, it is kind of becoming a bit apocryphal. And I said are you a French fry or a Freedom fry?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a French fry.
CASEY: But you came down here, seriously, tonight to look at the Statue of Liberty. And with all of this that's been going on and the scuttlebutt about the French, does it look different to you? Does it mean something different to you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I think it's important that the world recognize our global community. And it sort of symbolizes that. That maybe perhaps people aren't agreeing with the French perspective, but they are part of a community, and that is sort of a symbol of that. CASEY: And that's pretty much the sentiment that was echoed throughout the day here. That, that means Liberty. And, you know, because the French gave it to us, was the time when our relationship --it meant Liberty to them. And it still does.
CASEY: And you feel, Kyle (ph), watching the sunset today, peaceful and what are your sentiments about this war and pending war?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, well, I'm Canadian. So, I think that my feelings about the pending war -- largely I think that war shouldn't ever been an option. You know, one hit doesn't deserve another.
CASEY: Thanks, Kyle (ph). We'll let you enjoy the peaceful -- what's left here of the sunset.
Back to you, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Whitney. Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
