The Ugly American

Rating:
Summary: Reading between the lines
Review: Having read "THE UGLY AMERICAN" when it first came out I was not preconditioned to that expression being paraphrased unendingly over the last 4 decades. I was preparing for a career in agriculture extension and identified with the unattractive civil engineer (the "ugly" American in the book) and his family. I appreciated Burdick's and Lederer's contrasting the civil engineer's heartwarming ways with the more typical condescending attitude of most Americans overseas, then and now, whether tourist or professional.
The Peace Corps has alleviated some of this stereotype, but unfortunately we have had patronizing Corpspeople as well.
As luck would have it, I ended up working in forestry and agricultural outside of the US. In my 25+ years in working in private as well as volunteer and governmental work in SE Asia I have always remembered the "ugly" American. Following his example, I tried to devote my efforts to not just helping and teaching local people but learning from them as well. It isn't hard and you wouldn't believe the things I have learned from illiterate but highly intelligent local farmers and forest dwellers in Borneo, Java and Malaysia.
Read it yourself, taking special note of the "ugly" American and the stereotyped "UGLY" Americans we see and hear about all the time. Which would you rather be??
It also reminds me of the shallowness of many American's reading habits when I hear the phrase "Love is not having to say you are sorry" from "Love Story". Could it also have been confused with "Love is not HAVING to say you are sorry"? (Caps are mine.) Believe me, if I have Love, I say I'm sorry because of the Love, not because I HAVE to or NOT HAVE to!
Thanks and have a good read!

Rating:
Summary: Enduring Lessons for American Foreign Policy
Review: The Ugly American is a classic book about the manner in which the U.S. approached Vietnam in the 1950s, but could just as well refer to American involvement in the Arab world today. Burdick and Lederer tell several satirical and easy-to-read stories capturing the arrogance, ignorance, and cultural insensitivity which too often mark the image of America abroad. The authors' impatient call for a reexamination of American methods continue to resonate, and their recommendations are no less virtuous today. Anyone with an interest in U.S. foreign policy, history, or the Vietnam era will find The Ugly American a delightful read.

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Summary: Should be Required Reading for Post 9/11 Era
Review: The Vietnam War is well-known for its anti-war literature. I picked up this book with the impression that it would recite the usual 'we had no business over there' mantras. However, this book is neither anti-war nor anti-American. Instead of simply stating that the U.S. was wrong, this book takes an indepth look at errors in strategies, both politically and militarily, via a fictional Southeast Asian country (some sections are fiction; others are based on actual events).

The lessons purported are simple for Americans abroad: learn the culture, learn the language and respect the religion so you don't inadvertantly burn the locals. Maybe this isn't such a big deal for a tourists' two-week trip to Paris, but these lessons are definitely important in a situation for Americans staying long periods in a foreign country such as, say, American troops in Iraq. With the emphasis of winning the hearts and minds in the Middle East post 9/11, The Ugly American is a very timely book.

If this book were one of Aesop's fables, the moral would be: 'You catch more flies with honey.'

Rating:
Summary: This Novel Sounded a Warning
Review: This 1958 novel caused a sensation because it questioned Official Policy of the time, when Sputnik scared a lot of people. The book begins with Ambassador Sears viewing the Sarkhanese population as "strange little monkeys" where "women do all the work, men have all the fun". The only motorized vehicles are carrying American military supplies. Sears is just marking time until he can land a tenured Federal judgeship (the reward for some old politicians); he was also a fat man. The day's crisis involved the beating of John Colvin, an OSS agent in WW II who fought the Japanese. Colvin returned from America to market powdered milk. His wartime friend Deong showed up with a pistol to force Colvin to poison the powdered milk! Deong was now a Communist (or an agent to protect public health). But this is a minor detail to Ambassador's Sears attempt to bring American troops into Sarkhan. The Sarkhanese Govt. wants American foreign aid, but not at the cost of military occupation. The authors then show the Soviet Ambassador as much better prepared; a professional rather than an amateur.

Chapter 2 has a prankster putting stencils on bags of American rice: "gift from Russia". The Soviet Ambassador suggests Pravda should attack Ambassador Sears to convince America that Sears is doing a superb job! (Does this remind you of the Vice President's trip to South America?) Chapter 3 concerns Father Finian's discovery of Communism as a belief system that promises salvation to the faithful who perform devotions and sacrifices. Father Finian SJ wants a country where any man may worship and live as he wishes. The appeal of Communism is its claim to do good things for the people, unlike Western colonialists. Finians' little group publishes a newspaper that attacks the powerful Communist organization; then Father Finian leaves for Sarkhan.

Chapter 10 tells how an entertainer can affect an election. No stuffing of ballot boxes is needed! Sounds too easy? Chapter 11 argues for reading Mao Tse-tung on warfare. Chapter 12 tells about using Mao's tactics. It must work since they said so in this chapter. Chapter 13 has suggestions for American diplomacy. Chapter 14 argues that increasing chicken and egg production is more important than costly roads, canals, and military plans. It shows how anger and outrage can be contained diplomatically. Any improvements would affect food imports! Chapter 15 shows Colonel Landale studying secret embassy reports, then amazing dinner guests with knowledge of their past lives. Chapter 16 provides a simple answer why no nuclear bombs were stored in Asia. Chapter 17 tells of the honest American who said better food production is needed, not dams and roads. But loans produce bribes for politicians, profits for banks, and create a debt that can never be repaid. Chapter 19 tells how Mrs. Atkins cured villagers of their lumbago. Chapter 20 tells of the visit from a US Senator. The wily diplomats know how to handle him! Chapter 21 lists the authors' suggestions for winning the hearts and minds of the natives.

The Epilogue says this fiction is based on facts. The authors studied the Communist way to power. The characters were based on real people. They tell of the Red Chinese schooling system for SE Asians who are taught agriculture, tanning, printing, blacksmithing, and other country crafts. There is a need for small projects. They call for a "small force of well-trained, well-chosen, hard-working, dedicated professionals". Was this book the inspiration for the Peace Corps?