In columns past I've established the fact that I like to route for the little guy. It seems that lately, one of Europe's superpowers has turned into the little guy in the shadow of the ever-ominous United States. America's least favorite European country, France, has been getting kicked around yet again for respectfully declining our offer to join the fray and take out Saddam. Good for them.

All through elementary school and high school I was taught to stand up for what I believe in and not feel compelled to join the crowd. Basically, I was taught to think for myself and judge how the outcome might personally affect me in any given situation. I'm sure there are many others who have been brought up on similar merits. The message that is being sent out by continued bashing of the French teaches children that in fact it is much more beneficial to join the crowd and do the popular thing. If you don't, everyone will laugh at you.

Hardee's has produced a commercial that advertises a chicken sandwich and points out various French military shortcomings just to win over patriotic Americans and sell its product. It's almost like saying that buying from Hardee's means supporting the U.S. in "the war against terrorism."

But if we're fighting a war against terrorism, then why is the biggest terrorist in the world still allowed to run rampant with a military superpower at his command? I'm not talking about Hussein, either.

It's not so much the product that Hardee's is selling so much as it is the means by which they are promoting the sandwich. Should this commercial serve as an indicator that Hardee's supports President Bush? If we go to war, are we going to see Hardee's stars emblazoned on U.S. tanks. When the evening news comes one, are we going to see "Conflict in the Gulf: Brought to you by Hardee's" flashed before and after each news segment?

Also, I've noticed that the McRib is indeed back at participating local McDonald's. I'm not sure if this is merely a coincidence or an indication that something sinister is on the horizon.

I want to switch gears now, and write about something less depressing. Every year the Daily Egyptian sends a few representatives to a convention in Chicago, sponsored by the Illinois College Press Association, or ICPA. The Daily Egyptian scooped up several awards, as it has in past years, but this year was a little different. The Pulse was awarded First Place in College Entertainment Supplements.

So what does this mean? Well, if you're a student on the newspaper at Northwestern or Northern, it means that you have a new enemy. If you happen to work at the Daily Egyptian, or the weekly Pulse, it's just a little something extra to fuel the fires of inspiration.

The particular issue that helped get us the First Place position was an issue we ran last semester with Henry Rollins on the cover, containing a Q&A I did with Rollins. Although I believe that was one of our better issues that semester, I believe that in order to stay on top, the Pulse has to step it up a notch each and every issue, each and every semester. This is how a newspaper stays on top in this business.

At next year's competition, I expect to see Northern and Northwestern's supplements looking a lot like last semester's Pulse in design, whereas we will have once again moved on in creativity, story development and dedication to do whatever it takes to push the envelope. Awards are nice, but, in the end, it's the people who matter, and how we serve them that means the most.