Posted on 02/24/2003 1:28:51 PM PST by knighthawk
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - Aage Bjerre has three rules for dining at his pizzeria on the Danish island of Fanoe: No dogs. No Germans. No French.
The owner of Aage's Pizza said Monday that he's tired of French and German attitudes toward the United States, calling them "disloyal" and "anti-American" in their bid to thwart a possible U.S.-led attack against Iraq.
Since hearing news of France and Germany's opposition, which has led to a rift in U.S. relations with Europe, a split in NATO and a feeling of malaise between old friends and stalwart allies, he's made it rule No. 1 to bar service to any French or German tourists in Nordby, the North Sea island's largest town.
"Hadn't the United States helped Europe in defeating Germany, there would have been photos of Adolf Hitler hanging on the walls around here," he said, referring to Nazi Germany's occupation of Europe in World War II.
The island, 320 kilometers (200 miles) southwest of the capital, Copenhagen, is a popular spot for visitors from neighboring Germany. Of the approximately 100,000 tourists who come, some 60 per cent are German, said Birthe Elstroem, head of the island's tourism office. The others are mostly Scandinavians and Dutch.
There are few French visitors to the island, which has a year-round population of 3,300.
The idea of losing euros from German and French tourists hasn't curbed Bjerre's zeal.
On Friday, he put two homemade pictograms on the shop door, much like the ones that show the outline of a dog with a bar across it.
One featured the silhouette of a man colored red, yellow and black - the colors of the German flag. The second was painted blue, white and red - the French Tricolor colors. Both silhouettes had a bar across each man.
The ban has yet to affect his business because tourist season typically starts after Easter and peaks during the summer. "I do what my conscience tells me to do," he said.
Should Germany decide to participate in U.S.-led military action against Iraq, Bjerre, 44, said he would lift his ban.
But the few French tourists who do visit the island will need to fill their bellies elsewhere.
Frenchmen have "a lifetime ban here," Bjerre told The Associated Press. "Their attitude toward the United States will never change."
Yesterday we talked to Mr. Aage Bjerre, the owner of that Pizzeria on the Danish island of Fanoe. Mr. Bjerre has banned all French and German nationals from his shop. The Germans will be allowed back if and when their country backs the U.S. against Saddam Hussein. The French … never.
You asked for Mr. Bjerre’s address so you could send him a letter of thans!
Here ‘tis.
Mr. Aage Bjerre
Aage’s Pizza
Valdemarsves 14
6720 Nordby
Fanoe, Denmark
Neal's website is Nealznuze
Aage Bjerre, the owner of Aage's Pizza is pro-American. He has three rules for serving patrons at his pizzeria on the Danish island of Fanoe: No dogs. No Germans. No French.
He said he is tired of the French and German outlook toward the United States. He called them "disloyal" and "anti-American" in their bid to thwart a possible U.S.-led attack against Iraq. He has thus made it rule No. 1 to bar service to any French or German tourists in Nordby, the North Sea island's largest town.
"Hadn't the United States helped Europe in defeating Germany, there would have been photos of Adolph Hitler hanging on the walls around here," he said. The island is a popular spot for visitors from neighboring Germany. Of the nearly 100,000 tourists who come, some 60 per cent are German. He said he will begin serving Germans when they come to their senses, but the French are banned forever.
The story was posted on FreeRepublic.com, a conservative news forum on the web. Many tickled Freepers decided to send thank you notes, along with American flag decals, patriotic post cards and even small amounts of money to help pay for lost profits. I personally will send him a heart-felt note, a picture of Abraham Lincoln suitable for spending and a parchment copy of The Declaration of Independence suitable for framing.
If you also want to thank him, his address is:
Aage Bjerre
C/o Aages Pizza
Valdemarsvej 14
6720 Nordby Fanø
Denmark
I sent a copy of this article to Mr. Bjerre today (3-6-03)
Bumping to the top. Seems timely now.
I think he sold his pizza shop and moved. I hope he came to the United States.
I have a buddy in Denmark. There are still huge concrete bunkers as in Saving Private Ryan all along the shoreline.
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