Cheese-eating surrender monkeys
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"Cheese-eating surrender monkeys" is a satirical and insulting phrase, referring to the French, which gained notoriety in the United States, particularly in the run-up to the war in Iraq; as the war in Iraq grew far longer and bloodier than initially anticipated, the phrase began to fall into disuse. The phrase was first coined by England regarding the second world war, due to speed of Nazi occupation and the apparent (if however wholly wrong) lack of resistance by the French. However it was only coined in the nation. After the war American GIs brought the phrase home with them, where it stayed without much use until it was carted out as an insult in support for the Iraq War.
The Simpsons
The phrase was first notably used in the Simpsons episode "'Round Springfield" (first aired on April 30, 1995). Template:Spoiler Willie, the school janitor, an unkempt Scotsman, is teaching French due to budget cuts, dressed in a striped shirt and a beret, his lesson consists of; "Bonjourrrrr, you cheese-eatin' surrender monkeys!"
The 'surrender' element of the phrase refers to the perceived proclivity of the French to surrender in military confrontations. The implicit characterization of the French as cowards, and the description of the Battle of France as a surrender is—as promulgators of the phrase likely intend—regarded by many as highly offensive.
The character of Groundskeeper Willie is known for his grumpiness and animosity, and the format of the phrase in question is in keeping with his characteristic style of insult (as when, in the episode entitled "Kamp Krusty", he calls Principal Skinner a "silk-wearing buttercup"). However, it does not follow with the general Scots opinion of the French, historically known as the Auld Alliance. This does works well for American audiences though, as for all intents and purposes for them Scotland is British, and thus share the typically English attitude of rivalry against the French. His attempt to speak French with a heavy Scottish accent does provide much of the comedy in the scene. According to the DVD commentary for the episode, the line was likely (but not certainly) written by Ken Keeler.
In the European French language version of that Simpsons episode, Willie's line was dubbed as singes mangeurs de fromage (cheese-eating monkeys) without any mention of "surrender". The line does not translate easily due to the way "surrender" is used as an adjective in the phrase.
Iraq War
The line was first picked up and used predominantly by Republican American politicians and publications. They were led, according to British national newspaper The Guardian, by Jonah Goldberg, a popular columnist for the US bi-weekly National Review and editor of their website National Review Online February 11, 2003[1]. Goldberg's online-only column, the G-File, is written in a more casual, personal manner and in the late 1990s often contained Simpsons (and other pop-cultural) references. Goldberg's repeated aggressive use of the phrase "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" led to its more widespread use amongst his readers. Oddly enough, Goldberg had stopped using it by the time the phrase was gaining mainstream popularity post-9/11.
France opposed many U.S. positions and actions, in particular the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Some argue the phrase's success reflects deep antipathy in the U.S. towards countries such as France who oppose the U.S. in international forums. The phrase, and similar opprobrious comparisons, have been used more frequently by some U.S. media outlets, such as the New York Post and commentator John Gibson of the FOX News Channel (both owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., which also owns The Simpsons), and commentator Mark Hyman of the Sinclair Broadcasting Group.
The New York Post resurrected the phrase "Surrender Monkeys" as the headline for its December 7, 2006 front page, referring to the Iraq Study Group and its recommendation that U.S. combat brigades be withdrawn from Iraq by early 2008.[2]
Use outside of the United States
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Use of the phrase has also grown outside of the United States, particularly in the United Kingdom where The Simpsons is also very popular. It is generally used in two ways:
- by conservative politicians opposed to increased links with continental Europe. [citation needed]
- more often, as an ironic reference poking fun at the offensive terms supposedly used by many Americans.
In December 2005, the phrase was used by British Eurosceptic Nigel Farage who said of the French President, Jacques Chirac, "No cheese-eating surrender monkey, he", in his unflattering comparison to Tony Blair during a European Parliament session following Blair's brokering of the EU budget deal.
Edouard Lapaglie, faux French comedy sidekick to broadcaster Martin Kelner on BBC Radio in Yorkshire on a Friday and Saturday night, is frequently referred to jocularly as a soap-dodging cheese-eating surrender monkey.
In Peter Milligan's X-Statix book for Marvel Comics he introduced a supervillain of French descent known as Surrender Monkey. His super power was the ability to "quit at just the right time".
On the popular satirical British TV show Have I Got News For You, former Conservative leader William Hague has used the phrase when hosting the show on two different occasions. The first time he did it, however, it said that he didn't agree with it, and that they had left out "wine-guzzling".
Original origins are said to occur from the Second World War[citation needed], where the phrase was invented by typically rivalistic English persons unknown, regarding the speed of Nazi occupation in France and the apparent lack of resistance by the French. The phrase was then taken home by American service-men where it stayed to be eventually used for the Iraq War.[citation needed]
On another popular British TV show, QI, Graeme Garden turned the phrase round, referring to Americans as "Burger-eating invasion monkeys". And the phrase "haggis-eating suspender monkey" was also used by Garden, as his character, Dougal, on an episode of radio programme You'll Have Had Your Tea to describe his friend Hamish, who is Scottish and was wearing ladies' clothing at the time.
Irish comedian Dylan Moran referenced the use of the phrase by Americans in his stand-up DVD Monster, in which he comments on anti-Americanism in Europe in early 2003. He does not give any suggestion that he knows it was originally from The Simpsons, however.
Former Key 103 radio host James H Reeve used the expression on his late night radio show in the North West, UK. This had nothing to do with his contract not being renewed and popular opinion suggests that his cheeky remarks made him if anything, more employable.
References
- ^ The Guardian. Wimps, weasels and monkeys - the US media view of 'perfidious France'
- ^ Lathem, Niles (December 7, 2006). "Iraq 'Appease' Squeeze on W." New York Post.
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- "'Round Springfield" episode review and partial transcript – The Simpsons Archive
- References to France on The Simpsons – The Simpsons Archive
- Sound recording of Groundskeeper Willie – Political Humour
- The French aren't cowards