Eat your patriotism!

I went grocery shopping today and found myself perusing the vast selection of potatoes for the beef stew I plan to make. Did I want large potatoes to peel and cut up or tiny new potatoes to throw in the pot with skins and all?

And THEN.

I came to the Patriotic Potatoes. Little bags of red, white, and blue potatoes with the proud banner screaming PATRIOTIC POTATOES. Three or four servings of Patriotism in a bag.

First I laughed. And then I stopped because the concept of Patriotic Potatoes just offends me. Aside from the mutilation of the English language by labeling a potato patriotic, what is it with people in this country?

Well, here’s a clue from Penn State University’s Department of Horticulture Newsletter (July 2000):

It is hard to believe that the “Fourth of July” holiday is already here. It is a time of picnics and fireworks. It is also a time to pause and remember the sacrifices of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and other founding fathers who laid it all on the line and those down through the years that have continued to lay down their lives that we may enjoy freedom here in this great country. It is also a great opportunity for marketing vegetables and small fruits, such as your “Patriotic Potatoes"- a bag of early red, white and blue spuds for the true patriot’s potato salad. Don’t forget to charge a good price for those special potatoes.

Gah!