We all know that the US is the epitome of a consumer society. Wherever we go, we’re constantly inundated with ads convincing us to buy the latest products and gimmicks. NFL football on Sundays is no exception. I spent the last few hours watching the Redskins play the Cardinals, and since I don’t have a DVR, I also absorbed the crappy commercials. The most disturbing by far have come from Taco Bell. They’ve really been pushing their Big Bell Box (with a special emphasis on the Volcano Taco). It’s a 1500+ calorie orgy of nasty unhealthiness that says a lot about the culture of food in this country – the more the better… and make it look pretty.

I’m fairly well traveled and I’ve rarely taken in sights like this outside the US. Of course, there are fat people all over the world, but they eat so much shit in this country that it’s no wonder obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the US. The fast food culture we live in is largely responsible for that. We can find these ever-growing portions of nastiness wherever we turn. If there isn’t a Jerry’s at that Exxon or a Taco Bell around the corner, there’s likely to be some billboard reminding us what we’re missing out on. Most of us don’t live on the same block as a fast food ‘restaurant’ but we have TVs that show commercials of colorful looking foods that can be prepared/bought in a matter of minutes.

Anyone who has ever eaten fast food after being fooled by one of these advertisements has surely been disappointed by what they got after forking over their money. For starters, it never looks as good as it does in the commercials. My personal experiences have always been laden with a heavy serving of regret that comes in two stages – the first immediately after finishing my meal (or throwing some of it away), the second a physical type of regret on which I’ll spare you the details.

I’d take a shawarma sandwich (prepared with unwashed hands in sweltering heat) over a Volcano Taco or BigMac any day. In fact, I’d kill for some Arab-style fast food right about now…  If I’m in a hurry to eat something back in Beirut, I have a plethora of choices to satisfy my palate and stomach without wasting time or money. In most places in the US however, our choices are severely limited.

I hate seeing American fast food chains in the Middle East, not only because it’s a sign of the bad side of US-culture invading ours, but because people actually give them business. There are more and more marketing campaigns back home convincing us to eat shit instead of good food. Still, most people who can afford that junk shun it in favor of the more traditional fast food.  I sincerely hope that doesn’t change.

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