September 19, 2005--McMuslim Burger

Maybe I’ve had it wrong all along. I had been thinking that one reason McDonalds and Starbucks are being attacked around the world is because they represent the worst of America’s globalizing reach. But now the NY Times suggests something else in “The World McDonald’s Missed” (see link below). They may not represent the worst of America, maybe they are just serving the wrong food.

Here's why I've changed my thinking. In France now, one finds a new restaurant, “Beurger King-Muslim.” (I suspect still not Michelin rated.) A halal version of Burger King where Islamic people can get more than Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. At Beurger King-Muslim, a Franco-Algerian girl in low-slung jeans or head scarve can get an all-halal Double Koull Cheeseburger (“koull” means “cool”) while a flat screen TV shows scenes from the life of The Prophet Muhammad. The place is so popular that there is a waiting list of at least 30 franchisee hopefuls scattered around France.

Maybe Dick Chaney had it right—offer them what they really want and they will welcome us with roses and open arms.

Perhaps the problem has been that we have been focusing on pipeline infrastructure and democratic institutions when what we really should have been doing is helping the folks in Afghanistan and Iraq open halal fast food restaurants.

Then maybe they’d leave us alone. Or at least our Starbucks and McDonalds.