As communism was gripping Southeast Asia by the throat it became necessary for America to have virtuous diplomat relations. In the novel, The Ugly American effective and ineffective diplomatic relations were highlighted. Regular citizens such as John Colvin and Homer Atkins made leaps and bounds when it came to helping Sarkhan’s economic independence and freezing communism at its source. On the other hand, representatives like Joe Bing and Lou Sears did more for themselves than they did for the people of Sarkhan, or for the containment of communism.
John Colvin was an American that impacted the Sarkhnaese in stupendous ways. His passion and courage displayed for the people of Sarkhan, and his desire to aid them economically indicated his devotion
…show more content…
Sears took the position of ambassador in Sarkhan, only for the sumptuous living conditions. He is categorized as narcissistic because of the lack of involvement with the Sarkhanese. Sears did not take the initiative to learn the language, or interact with the natives. Due to this he was not truly aware of the complications going on in the country. Lederer and Burdick express how not to be like a Lou Sears by committing to a high position for leisure. Moreover, Joe Bing was just as ostentatious as Lou Sears. Joe Bing was a well-known American that was loved by everyone except Asians. He is characterized as narrow-minded because he only associated himself with “western-educated, and decently dressed” Americans (59). Not to mention, he only acknowledges the extravagance, and the exceptional benefits you receive when you go abroad. Since most Americans were fascinated in living an opulent lifestyle, these countries do not get the finest Americans to aid them. Given these points , the authors displayed to the audience that in reality there are people who only value themselves, and choose to disregard how that may have an affect others.
Communism gradually gripped the throats of Southeast Asia due to inadequate leaders, like Lou Sears and Joe Bing. Their egotistical ways surely made a pessimistic impact on Sarkhan, and the natives of the country. On the other hand, there were leaders like Homer Atkins and John Colvin who’s best interest were for the Sarkhanese. Their devotion and desire affected the natives and economy in remarkable ways. Throughout this novel Homer Atkins was concerned “The Ugly American” because of his outward appearance. However, the true ugly American was revealed in the behaviors of Lou Sears and Joe
In the 1950’s the Second Red Scare also referred to as McCarthyism was in full swing. Fearful of communist overtaking the United States almost everyone, including educators were scrutinized and affected. In the letter “To Dr. William Ross”, Katherine Porter is responding directly to Dr. Ross and his request for an Oath of Allegiance as a condition of her employment at Colorado State University. She is writing during a time when refusal to sign such an oath, often resulted in denial or loss of employment, and destruction of careers. In “To Dr. William Ross”, Katherine Porter effectively uses logos, ethos and pathos to support her claims, and persuade her audience that an oath of allegiance is not necessary for one to be loyal and allegiant to their country.
America and the USSR both had different opinions on communism and how a country should be run. The USSR believed communism was the perfect way to run its country and people. Communism consisted of a one party state which owned the whole of the industry business and the agricultural business too. There would be no individual profit making and everyone was equal and received an equal amount of money. America, however was a capitalist state which meant that there was freedom of speech, free elections and more than one political party.
...en’s novel shows the soldiers’ innermost thoughts and concerns and internal conflicts which appear to outweigh the communist cause. The Things They Carried demonstrates the soldiers’ opposition to the war. However, the U. S. remained focused on preventing a communist takeover. The United States enormous political power affected history
The Iranian Revolution of 1979 had an enormous effect on many Iranians, including those who had immigrated to other places. But not the Dumas family. They were fortunate enough to have immigrated to America before that shift in the government. They were able to experience American hospitality in its truest form. Firoozeh Dumas, a published author of “Funny in Farsi”, wrote about her and her family’s experience in America before that turning point in Iranian history. In her book, she says “We remember the kindness more than ever, knowing that our relatives who immigrated to this country after the Iranian Revolution did not encounter the same America,” (Dumas 19). This quote relates to multiple aspects of Dumas’ life being herself, her relationship with her family, and her family’s relationship with her community.
...nure there are individuals who cultivate a positive change in the lives of the people in Sarkhan and Southeast Asia. These individuals are able to win friends for America and improve the living conditions of those who desperately need it. Unfortunately, Ambassador MacWhite failed to do the same. The full responsibility for the failure of his mission in Sarkan falls on MacWhite. Although dedicated, he was unprepared for the realities of Southeast Asia. Among all the mistakes he made, in each one he failed to start with the smaller things. He was reminded throughout his tenure both by the examples of individuals making a difference and direct suggestion from respected officials. Had he established a feeling of genuine concern for the population and a set of principles to combat the problems in Sarkhan, he may have succeeded in shaping foreign policy in the region.
Many immigrating to the United States develop ideas of themselves and their own identity in order to fit the form of America they have been coaxed into believing. In “A Thousand Years of Good Prayers”, Mr.Shi displays these expectations and false prophecies of character when he naively concludes, “America is worth taking a look at; more than that, America makes him a new person, a rocket scientist, a good conversationalist, a loving father, a happy man”(189). Mr.Shi not only perceives America as a place of pure prosperity and freedom, but also anticipates a society where he can recreate himself. Arguably, these limited ideas of America can foster one 's desire to improve as an individual, however this often results in a further loss of identity because they are unwilling to accept their true self. He longs to exist within the form of American society he fantasizes because he envisions himself as a more developed and well rounded person that he feels communist China has kept him from
The Cold War was fought between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, both struggling to assume a hegemonic role in the world while simultaneously attempting to undermine the power of the other. This war was fought by proxy in a variety of developing nations, including Vietnam and Guatemala, and was attributed to the differing ideologies of communism and socialism, and capitalism and democracy. Gods Go Begging (1999), by Alfredo Vea, examines the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War, while Francisco Tobar uses The Tattooed Soldier (1995) to explore the Guatemalan Civil War and the role the United States played in the governmental coup that precluded the war. Both authors show through specific descriptions and narrative lines that while the
If you have ever heard me talk about Wal-Mart, you may notice I constantly call it a communist regime. It may have nothing related to communism, but communism is bad and so is employment at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart for me was the most biased and unfair treatment of any kind that I have ever felt in my life. Their policies are extremely ridiculous and their managers have very unrealistic goals. Wal-Mart is, in my opinion, one of the most stressful and unfair places to work.
From the time of the Spanish American war until the beginning of the Cold War the United States went from relative isolation to increased global involvement because of 1 utopian thinking, 2 business expansion, and 3 changes in foreign policy. The consequences on American society of that greater involvement were 4 America’s development into an “international police power”.
The American political economy of freedom seemingly was at risk. Thus, the Truman administration switched to an “adversarial relationship”. However, the foreign policy challenge, as Dean Acheson stresses, “was to foster an environment in which our national life and individual freedom can survive and prosper (Leffler, The Specter of Communism, 63).
With this book, a major element of American history was analyzed. The Cold War is rampant with American foreign policy and influential in shaping the modern world. Strategies of Containment outlines American policy from the end of World War II until present day. Gaddis outlines the policies of presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, including policies influenced by others such as George Kennan, John Dulles, and Henry Kissinger. The author, John Lewis Gaddis has written many books on the Cold War and is an avid researcher in the field. Some of his other works include: The United States and the Origins of the Cold War, 1941-1947, The Long Peace: Inquiries into the History of the Cold War, We Now Know: Rethinking Cold War History, The Landscape of History: How Historians Map the Past, Surprise, Security, and the American Experience, and The Cold War: A New History. Dr. Gaddis received his PhD from the University of Texas in 1968; he currently is on a leave of absence, but he is a professor at Yale . At the University, his focus is Cold War history. Gaddis is one of the few men who have actually done a complete biography of George Kennan, and Gaddis even won a Pulitzer Prize in 2012.
Joseph Raymond McCarthy was a Republican Senator from the state of Wisconsin between 1947 and 1957. Between 1950 and 1954, McCarthy became noted for unsubstantiated claims that there were Communist and Soviet spies and sympathizers inside the federal government.
It is somehow strange for today’s reader to find out that the situation with America’s foreign affairs hasn’t changed much. As some clever people have said, “The History book on the shelf is always repeating itself.” Even after nineteen years, Americans think of themselves as citizens of the strongest nation in the world. Even after the September the 11th. Even after Iraq. And Afghanistan.
Taubman, William. Stalin's American Policy: From Entente to Detente to Cold War. New York: Norton, 1982. Print.
Fedman, David. "Rethinking Asia: “Smart Power” and US-China Policy." The Olive & Arrow. The Word Press, 8 Mar. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. .