“The essence of “home” is the ability to exclude others. Those who have
homes may seldom exercise that right: neighbors, guests, and distant rela-
tives may come and go. But the person who is at home knows he can exer-
cise the right to be left alone any time he pleases”. That’s what Lars Eighner,
famous for his book “Travels with Lisbeth” depicting his homelessness days
when I was writing a story about social stratification a few years ago.
The piece ended up being more about belonging that about social stratifi-
cation, with the consumer culture being the upholding umbrella, “No two
countries that both have a McDonald’s have ever fought a war against each
another” was Tom Friedman’s thesis.
Lebanon and Israel have just proved him wrong.
McDonald opened its first restaurant in Israel in 1993 and now operates more
than 80 restaurants across the country. It employs 3,000 Israelis and sources
80% of its ingredients locally including “100% Kosher beef patties, potatoes,
lettuce, buns and milkshake mix,” according to the website that adds:
“All meat served in McDonald’s restaurants in Israel is 100% kosher beef.
McDonald’s operates Kosher restaurants and non-Kosher restaurants. Their
non-Kosher restaurants serve Israeli customers who do not keep strictly
kosher and want to visit McDonald’s on Saturdays and religious holidays.
McDonald’s Israel’s seven Kosher restaurants, where the menu does not
include any dairy products and all food is prepared in accordance with kosher
law, are not open on the Sabbath and all religious holidays.”
The website for McDonald’s Lebanon states that: “McDonald’s opened its
first restaurant in Lebanon in September 1998. Today, there are 9 restaurants
employing more than 250 Lebanese throughout the country. As local busi-
ness people, we are proud to have introduced in Lebanon the largest global
food service retailer and the world’s best quick service restaurant.”
When McDonald’s opened its first branch on the Dora highway in Lebanon,
the queues of cars trying to go there were so enormous that the Internal
Security Forces had to step it to regulate the traffic into “McDonald lanes”
and “Non McDonald” ones. The McDonald’s on the Beirut corniche remains
the only outlet in the world with a valet parking. But of course, everything in
Beirut is the “hippest thing” until the “next hippest thing shows up,” which is
about a week or so later.

As a side note, it is also obvious that “two countries that both have a” Burger
King will fight wars against one another. What can I say but: “Have it your
way TM”. As another side note, there will never be a war until it erupts in
restroom doors… Invariably, wars start as graffiti and racial slurs on the
inside doors of restrooms in universities, shopping malls, schools, and public
places. So, as a rule of thumb, a war erupts three weeks after the first doodle
on a washroom door.
My key to the Beirut house is hanged in the rhinoceros pure silver keychain,
and those of the village estate are housed in a fake leather necklace that I
have triple-tied, and both look at me mocking my helplessness at “excluding
others.” Only managing to exclude me in the process.
And the keys rattle on their own, “belonging” to the spare key hanger much
like someone “belongs” at Sheraton hotels.