Role-Play Debate for course EngC 1015

The fact that the US is westernizing other countries in examples like having clean bathrooms and pushing for fresh air doesn't mean that we're controlling their country. In a way, it's merely common sense to want a clean, public bathroom. I don't believe there is a culture that loves polluted, dirty air surrounding them either. The "smile" is controversal since other cultures take offense to our happy greeting, but since the US is so influential around the world, most people understand the significance behind the action. I think that by offering clean bathrooms and fresh air is for the public, not the culture. Many different cultures travel and experience the lives of other cultures and for their sake it's only courteous to keep up with things. Marketing the fact that countries should try and pollute less is a world-wide effort to keep the earth cleaner for a longer period of time. There really is no cultural interaction so it's harmless!
I think that all of the McDonalds located in foreign countries are doing a good job at adapting and offering food/beverages that are traditional foods in that country. If globalization keeps increasing, the US's cultural influences will tend to spread too since we are so involved overseas. McDonalds has really employeed millions of people and helped out the economy drastically so yes we may think it's gross, (I never eat at McDonalds!) but it has some fairly remarkable accomplishments throughout the world.

But what is clean, what is fresh air? Obviously you are right about not being surrounded by dirty air, but take for example in Sri Lanka they wipe their butts with their left hand (sorry to be crude). It is their culture, and if we decide to push other standards on them then their culture will fail. Imperialism might be a strong word for it, but if I could coin a word, wannabeism. We might not be pushing, but setting an example.

We are indeed setting a strong pushing example, but we aren't actually going over there and saying where this we are in charge. Its just customs that are unusual us are actually unusual to us. So remember if you go to Sri Lanka always shake with your right.

I agree with Kayla, this is all relatively new to the industry and they're adapting at exponential rates. I think this acceleration just depends on how patient we are and our abilities to see this through. We're setting a standard protocol to go by and McDonalds, to maximize profits will adapt to the moralities (societal norms) of the region to make its customers happy. They serve people here with a smile because they think we care, and maybe some of us do, and they'll adapt their best over there as well. We're witnessing a new stage in the food industry and all extremist speculations should shift to a lower gear for the time being because as Watson describes the bad side to this cultural indifference, there is a current (not necessarily sound) medium being reached and as we approach this limit, any so called hostility which reach a minimum.

I see and I think that I understand your point, but, the american culture is not forced upon these countries. A gun is not put to some guys head as he is told to buy a mcdonalds franchise. There is obviously a market overseas for our culture, and American business men have taken advantage of that market. The violent retaliation due to some groups frustration over their countrymen's desire to buy american culture, that is just plain childish.

I may agree with you on the whole smile issue because different cultures have different gestures. However, I definetely disagree with you on the cleanliness. I do not care who you are, dirty bathrooms can only facilitate bad things. And I do not get why everyone is complaining about McDonalds changing culture. What is wrong with improving your culture? If you look back a 100 years ago, the cultures were not the same, they were completely different. A good culture should change through the times improving with technology. Just because a culture changes a little, does not mean the culture is out the window. Not at all. Just as stated in McDonalds in Hong Kong, the culture is still there, if anything McDonalds has adapted more to Hong Kong's culture then vice versa.

To address Dain Haukos comment, it's not that they feel like we've put a gun to their head and forced our culture upon them. A comparison to make would be if you lived in your neighbhorhood and someone put an extremely tacky tobacco shop right where you live. It's a similar principle except to a foreigner it represents something much larger that they feel is baring down upon them whether they like it or not. The resistance is not "NO! Anything but delicious food at affordable prices!", but

Here in the United States, we protest having Walmarts put up nearby. Many people don't want that symbol of corporate dominance near them. Sure, they could shop somewhere else, but that's not the point.

The Laughing Man is partially right in his arguments, however, i am sure there are some people who want these franchises in their countries or they would not be there.

I'd like to reinforce Parag's last statement: "...if anything McDonalds has adapted more to Hong Kong's culture than vice versa." Completely true. McDonald's hasn't changed Hong Kong; it's been an influx of multinationals the world over that has made HK what it is today. HK accepts this, and that's why it's further along internationally than most other Chinese cities in the twenty-first century.