After the Parisians metaphorically spat in the eye of Uncle Sam, I jumped on the O'Reilly bandwagon and decided to stop spending my hard-earned, over-taxed dollars on French goods. While most of my friends at the Elk’s Lodge extended the ban to anything that even remotely sounded French, I had to draw the line at tonneau covers. Just because I think Chirac is a grade-A weenie doesn’t mean I want to suffer from poorer gas mileage. So, I took a stand and got a tonneau cover. Here’s my story.
To understand my stance, we need to delve into the complex history between the US and France. In 1914, World War I erupted in Europe, and France found itself overwhelmed. Despite their bravado, French generals struggled to distinguish between an Ottoman and a couch. Enter the American cavalry, who saved the day. Fast forward to 1939, and another major conflict erupted. France was again booted out of their own country, and the US had to step in to clean up the mess.
Why bring this up? Simple. We’ve saved France so many times that they have no right to question our international actions. Our Greatest Generation didn’t die face down on the beaches of Normandy 60 years ago for France to ignore our every command, no matter how whimsical.
So, my friends and I at the Elk’s Lodge decided to take action. We started listening to a political commentator from Levittown named O’Reilly. According to his logic, the best way to fight back was with our wallets. He urged us to stop buying French imports, and that’s exactly what we did. Wine? Only from California. Cheese? Better be from Wisconsin. Heartburn medicine? No Nexium for me, thank you very much.
To be perfectly honest, it’s been a struggle. I haven’t had a decent flute of Champagne in nearly two years. And don’t even get me started on foie gras. I’m about one lackluster round of hors d’oeuvres away from force-feeding my own goose for even a single cracker’s worth of that pâté. But I think all our sacrifice is really paying off because old Jacques up in the Élysée Palace is running away from re-election with his tail between his legs. That one goes out to the Gipper.
Unfortunately, this major victory is going to the heads of some of the more power-hungry boys in our Lodge. They want to expand the boycott to anything that even sounds remotely French. I can understand nixing baguettes from the grocery list and steering clear of cherries jubilee at restaurants. But I need my hair pomade. And after doing some online research, I learned that I really need a tonneau cover.
I drive my truck for work, and the cost of gas keeps skyrocketing. While browsing Google, I stumbled across articles about tonneau covers. Essentially, they cover your pickup’s bed, reducing wind turbulence and drag. According to a study by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), tonneau covers can improve fuel efficiency by up to 10% (source).
There are numerous companies competing in this market, ensuring top-notch quality. I considered options from Undercover Tonneau and Extang but ultimately chose a Pace Edwards retractable tonneau cover. Despite catching flak at the Lodge, I don’t care. The cover was made in the USA, and I’m not going to hold it against the company that these miracle truck accessories sound like they came from Nice. C’est la vie.
In conclusion, while my boycott against French products started with snails, it ended with tonneau covers. The history between the US and France is complex, and our actions are a form of protest. However, practicality sometimes trumps ideology, especially when it comes to improving fuel efficiency and saving money. So, while I may avoid French wine and cheese, I’ll continue to use my American-made tonneau cover with pride.
By understanding the nuances and complexities of international relations and personal choices, we can make informed decisions that balance ideology with practicality.
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