The Stereotype of Ugly Americans Has Never Been Truer Than Now

Just in case you never heard the negative stereotype "Ugly American" here is a quick summary of where the term comes from.

The term Ugly American made its first appearance through the title of the 1958 book, The Ugly American.

The book was a thinly fictionalized chronicle of American diplomatic insensitivity, ineptness, and bungling in Southeast Asia.

The message of the book was that American officials abroad were ignorant of local customs, social norms, and culture of the people in the region. I saw this when I was sent to Vietnam in 1970, twenty-two years after the term was birthed.

Since the stereotype surfaced it has become shorthand for loud, boorish behavior abroad. American tourists were said to be "poorly oriented" and in June of 1960 Parade Magazine ran an article about tourism titled, "Don't be an Ugly American," written by Frances Knight, director of the U.S. Passport Office.

We have earned the negative label and reinforced it over the decades. 

George W. Bush was often called "The Ugly American" in part because of his stance on foreign policies.

A study carried out in 2002 revealed that Hollywood also contributes to the Ugly American image. The study found that the more access other countries had to American programs, the higher their negative attitudes towards Americans tended to be.

The Ugly American tourist stereotype has been heavily depicted in films, with characters such as Sheriff J.W. Pepper in The Man with the Golden Gun, the Griswalk family in National Lampoon's European Vacation (one of my favorites), Ralph Jones in King Ralph, and the movie Sex and the City 2 that has been cited as a typical portrayal of the Ugly American image, where Samantha makes fun of Middle Eastern culture and women in traditional dress during a visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Numerous opinion pieces have accused Trump of behaving in a way that fits the Ugly American stereotype, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Nation, Financial Times, The Sydney Morning Herald, and the Financial Post.

Which brings me to the present. The Pew Research Center conducted a survey in June gaging Trump's popularity in 24 nations. 

More than half in 19 of these countries say they lack confidence in Trump's leadership of world affairs. World leaders describe Trump's personal characteristics as arrogant and dangerous. People abroad, and at home for that matter, believe he is an unrepentant liar. That's about as ugly as you can get.

The ugly MAGA movement that Trump spawned is recognized worldwide as a cult. And for good reason. They believe ever word he utters, regardless of how insane or stupid it is.

As it Stands, it doesn't look like we're ever going to shed that Ugly American moniker. 

Everyday Heroes Are Seldom Recognized for their Deeds

Countless men and women over the ages have stood up to evil despite the risk of harsh reprisal or even death. Everyday heroes have always resisted injustice and faced daily challenges, but their stories are seldom told. 

Here's a few inspiring stories that you probably never heard.

*A pair of 9-year-old twin sisters were hailed as heroes after their quick thinking saved a little girl from drowning at the bottom of a Michigan pool.

* Madison Williams: A 13-year-old girl who, without hesitation, was lowered into a small septic tank opening to rescue a two-year-old boy who had fallen in.

* John Meffert: A fire department captain who, after a plane's engine failed and it landed on a highway, ran through smoke and fire, rescuing the pilot and a passenger just before the plane erupted in flames.

What inspires ordinary individuals to perform heroic acts?

According to Dignity Health

* Empathy and Compassion: people who act heroically often possess a heightened sense of empathy and compassion, allowing them to deeply connect with the suffering of others and feel a strong urge to help.

* Sense of Responsibility and Duty: This stems from a moral conviction or deep-seated belief in doing what is right, even in the face of adversity.

* Personal Values and Principals: Individuals who engage in heroic acts are often guided by strong moral principles that align with their sense of self and purpose. They are willing to make personal sacrifices to defend these values.

It's important to remember that heroism is a complex phenomenon influenced by a variety of interacting factors, not just one single motivator.

In the past, the ideal of heroism was passed down through oral traditions in stories such as the Iliad or Beowulf. When scribes began documenting heroes like William Wallace (Scottish knight) who fought for Scotland's independence against English rule, generations of people read about their national heroes with pride.

However, for every story about a national hero or someone who made the news for a heroic act, there are fifty whose stories go untold. They go to work. They marry. They have children. They stretch every dollar to survive. They are the salt of the earth. People who interact daily with challenges that require courage and fortitude.

As it Stands, according to Dalai Lama XIV, "The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred."

That Dystopian Future Described in Numerous Books is Here

The door to the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four is open and we've all walked through it. Some grudgingly, some eagerly. Most of us unknowingly as it slowly opened up over the decades.

Now here we are in George Orwell's Animal Farm. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. A world where history is repeating itself and fascism and totalitarian governments are becoming the norm. A world where a convicted felon and pedophile has seized the reins of our 250-year republic. A world where lies are rewarded by monetization. Where the truth has to hide in the shadows.

Many fiction authors and writers have looked at real world problems that appear in dystopian worlds and societies giving the reader a glance at what could happen if they don't pay attention to the world around them.

Warnings of a growing dictatorship seem to have been ignored here in America. Historians are comparing the 1930s and 1940s - the height of fascism and totalitarians regimes around the world - to America in 2025.

The central themes found within dystopian novels and stories generally contain a number of elements and characteristics. Consider what's happening today in the USA when you look at the checklist for historically corrupt regimes:

* Government & military control

* Destruction of the environment

* Control through technological means

* The loss of individualism to collective ideology

The cataclysmic decline we are currently witnessing is shocking but not irreversible. Those of us that are not under the spell of the Felon-in-Charge can still unite and fight for our rapidly disappearing freedoms. 

We can still defend democracy by voting next year. Meanwhile we have to unite in common cause in every state and city speaking truth to power. It means more organized protests nationwide to counter the daily corruption in the Trump regime.

Common Americans must turn out in record numbers to assure victory in the midterms next year.

Defending against election rigging by the Republicans is going to be a challenge, but justice will prevail. Liberal lawyers are challenging the Trump regime and fighting the good fight for our freedoms. 

The point is we can change our current dystopian government back to what the founders originally wanted. Justice and equality for all men. But it's going to take a generation to erase all of the deep damage to our nation caused by Trump and his minions.

The takeover is not complete yet. Americans still have time to turn the tide on MAGA world. It's going to take hard work, but it'll be worth it. 

As it Stands, fiction has turned into fact. Right now, we have to deal with the facts facing us...we're teetering upon being a totalitarian government.