The American Way

Published in Tageblatt
(Luxembourg) on 18 May 2015
by Jean-Philippe Schmit (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Thomas Johnson. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.
Fewer and fewer people are following the American way. This was not always the case. Just five days before the opening of the first "McDonald's Bar-B-Que" chain restaurant, German troops marched on Luxembourg.

Five years later, liberated by the Soviets and the Americans, Europe lay in ruins and part of the population had to endure starvation through winter.

At this point in time, McDonald's developed the concept of industrializing the process of making burgers. In America, people were able to drive their car up to a counter from which affordable meat patties of the same exact quality came off the assembly line. This left a lasting impression on Europeans at the time and seemed desirable.

The American style of high-calorie foods and lack of exercise leads to weight gain. From the dreams in a time of scarcity sprung the nightmares in a time of plenty.

The image of America has changed over time in parallel with the image of McDonald's. Today, people associate American style fast food with severely obese people in electric wheelchairs.

McDonald's can understand that the world is less and less enthusiastic about the "American way of life" by looking at its sales figures.


Der amerikanische Weg

Immer weniger Menschen gehen den amerikanischen Weg. Dies war nicht immer der Fall. Genau fünf Tage vor der Eröffnung des ersten Restaurants der Kette, "McDonald’s Bar-B-Q", marschierten die deutschen Truppen in Luxemburg ein.

Fünf Jahre später lag das von den Sowjetrussen und Amerikanern befreite Europa in Trümmern und Teile der Bevölkerung mussten Hungerwinter überleben.

Zu diesem Zeitpunkt entwickelte McDonald’s das Konzept der Industrialisierung des Prozesses des Burgerbratens. In Amerika konnten die Menschen mit dem eigenen Auto zu einem Schalter fahren, aus dem, wie am Fließband, preisgünstige Fleischklopse in der immer gleichen Qualität herausfielen. Dies hinterließ einen nachhaltigen Eindruck bei den Europäern dieser Zeit und schien erstrebenswert.

Die amerikanische Art von energiereicher Kost und wenig Bewegung führt zu einer Gewichtszunahme. Aus den Träumen in Zeiten des Mangels wurden die Albträume in Zeiten des Überflusses.

Parallel zum Amerika-Bild hat sich das Image von McDonald’s im Lauf der Zeit geändert. Heute assoziieren viele Menschen Fast Food nach amerikanischer Art mit stark übergewichtigen Personen in elektrischen Rollstühlen.

Dass der "American way of life" die Welt immer weniger begeistert, kann McDonald’s in seinen Absatzzahlen nachvollziehen.
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