I don't know anything about McDonald's operations overseas. Perhaps they were paid a sum for the rights to the name, or perhaps they operate the joint over there.

I don't frequent McD's often; sometimes I'll grab a fish sandwich when I'm on the way to the range. The McDonald's down the street gives 10% off to active duty military types, and I do appreciate that.

What should a fellow do in this situation? Obviously, I would be jumping to conclusions to criticize [or compliment] their presence in a totalitarian state. Maybe it's a positive; maybe not. Right now, I'll just say that I won't frequenting the place down the street from me anymore.

Besides, I'll be grabbing a George Foreman grill when I return from Florida in a few days. Why settle for a fish sandwich when you can grill up some fresh Alaskan salmon? Or halibut. Or killer whale.

I'll rifle off an e-mail to Ronald McDonald himself. If I receive a response, I'll reconsider my decision. If I don't receive a response... well, let's just say I won't do business with someone who ignores me.

UPDATE: I thought about it a little bit. I still plan to eschew the fish sandwiches for the Foreman grill. As I thought about it, wouldn't an outpost of capitalism be a good thing in a place like Belarus? Sort of like those Levi's jeans in the old Soviet Union, right?

And if McDonald's did come out and criticize the Lukashenko regime, that could put the average Joe at risk.

So when I see these images and read these stories from Minsk, what's a fellow to do? I guess I'm not sure. At least, unlike Darfur, the unrest in Belarus is getting some attention.