The Ugly American Character Analysis

IIII. By presenting multiple points of view in vivid detail, The Good German asks readers to wrestle with the moral and ethical dilemmas facing the United States and the international community after the end of the

Well-known professor of American history, William Appleman Williams, crafts The Tragedy of American Diplomacy to illustrate that there is more to history than what meets the eye – more than what most Americans have been taught. He argues that there is a tragic past when the history of American diplomacy is analyzed. Throughout crucial periods of time in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Williams explores and analyzes instances in which American diplomacy was challenged, policy was deficient, actions were hypocritical and the structure of the system proven inconsistent.

There are two types of Americans that are portrayed in The Ugly American. The two types of Americans portrayed in The Ugly American are the ethnocentric Americans, who believe that their ways are superior to all others, and don’t really care about stopping the spread of communism; and then there are the kind hearted Americans, who truly care about defeating communism. Through multiple characters we learn how these two types of Americans think and how they represent not only themselves, but their country.

Jingoism intwined with governmental policy and “a majority…of Americans…grant[ing] spontaneous consent to foreign policy militancy” influences policies related to foreign and national security in the United States.1 European history of colonialism and imperialism impacted the development of foreign policy and national security. In Culture, National Identity, and the “Myth of America,” Walter L. Hixson leniently critiques American foreign policy, while advocating towards a more “cooperative internationalism.”2 Melvyn P. Leffler in National Security, Core Values, and Power fails to formulate an engaging argument for national security policies reflection of America core values. In reference to foreign and national security policy, both Hixson and Leffler refer to the impact of hegemony, with Leffler’s mention succinct and without specific detail. In the United States, foreign policy leans towards jingoism, while national security policy develops from general core values.

The foreign policy of the United States can be defined as a labyrinth- a set of complex intricacies which either lack comprehension or are characterized by meticulous thought. Established during a period of ideological warfare and domestic hysteria, it is evident the Truman Doctrine was conceived with a disregard for the future stability of American international affairs. Engulfed within a period marked by massive power struggles and distorted accusations, the Truman Doctrine may appear minimal in regard to alterations of the United States international attitude. However, the Doctrine acted as a catalyst for the shift in America’s foreign policy objectives and vision. It is clear the Truman Doctrine produced detrimental consequences in regard to the international policy of the United States, stability of foreign countries, and continuing repercussions in the modern day.

The next character I will mention is Honorable Gilbert MacWhite, who replaced Ambassador Sears in Sarkhan. This character functioned in complete contrast to Sears. He understood the sensitivity of the US mission in Sarkhan and how vulnerable the Sarkhanese government was to potential communist influences. He also understood the communist threat and did not underestimate it. MacWhite’s understanding of the operational environment was clear from the beginning and made constant efforts in understanding the people of Sarkhan.

In his book titled “The Vietnam War: A Concise International History,” Mark Lawrence suggests that the United States’ Cold War foreign policy began to play a main portion in Vietnam. U.S. policy at the time was controlled by the domino theory. Which believed that the collapse of North Vietnam to Communism might cause all of Southeast Asia to descent, setting off a type of Communist chain reaction. The reason is that philosophy played a lashing force in policymaking, shows the notion that Vietnam had more to do with the global context of the cold war than it did the country itself. Losing a country of Vietnam to communist rulers in military totalitarianism was an example of failure to the US. Therefore, it was essential for the US to quickly respond in Vietnam’s

Intelligent, compassionate, and inspirational are three words that perfectly describe the exceptional man that is Dr. Pedro J. Greer, Jr. His life’s work is defined by the medical help and attention he provided to the homeless and downtrodden citizens of Miami, Florida. In his autobiography, Waking Up in America, Dr. Greer recounts two events that charted a career course aimed at working with the poor, and giving hope to those marginalized in the community.

Unfortunately indicative of the politics and policies in today’s terms, foreign policy increasingly occurs 150 characters at a time through Twitter, and the unhinged behavior often displayed by our executive leadership damages our national image and ability to effectively manage foreign policy. This fosters a political climate bent on retribution, vilifying dissent, and clear lacks of self-control does not convey an image of national strength and admiration. Unfortunately, this reinforces the stereotypical worldview of American’s and our politics as “the gun toting cowboy” that shoots first and asks questions later. While “the gun toting cowboy” is part of our culture as a nation, an “environment of threat inflation, frenzied overreaction, confusion, complexity, and uncertainty requires cool judgment” (LeVien 16), but cool judgement and detailed planning are not the hallmarks of a shoot-from-the-hip approach. Fulbright spoke to this in The Arrogance of Power in comparing two Americas when he clearly portrayed “the gun toting cowboy” as self righteous, narrowly egotistical, and arrogant in the use of power (Fulbright 245). This only reinforces Fulbright and Bacevich’s

After earning his master’s degree and Ph. D from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Famous historian William Appleman Williams of Atlantic, Iowa, wrote the book, The Tragedy of American Diplomacy in response to the rampant changing things happening around him. Enraged, Williams’ addresses several points with foreign policy being the main one. He encompasses several themes throughout his book such as American capitalism, the failure of American liberalism, and the Open door notes. These themes help convey his view on the matters at hand, which for a lack of a better term was pissed. Quite frankly, Williams’ gets straight to the point without being around the bush with his extremely biased views by going into depth about America’s morbid foreign policy.

Having a successful life in America is like a goal to many people who do not have the opportunity to make this goal a reality. Living the “American Dream” was a goal for many foreigners from as early as the 1950’s up until now. Sometimes, the perfect life for one person might not be the same perfect life for others. Abraham Lincoln said “Folks are usually as bout as happy as they make their minds up to be.” This quote means that happiness is not all about the circumstance of a situation rather than how one looks at it. Throughout the story of Revolutionary Road, happiness seems to quickly reveal itself to be the downfall of Frank and April Wheeler’s relationship. One of the many examples of Frank

The Book of the Unknown Americans is a refreshing novel about two immigrant families who struggle to acclimate to their new homes in Delaware. This novel manages to accurately portray the obstacles that most immigrants must overcome, whether it be good old modern American racism or the effort to learn a new language. By following the Toros and the Riveras, readers are exposed to the obstacles of being both a newly immigrated family and an established immigrated family in both the real world and at school. In addition to these, readers are also introduced to the problems that parents must overcome with raising a mentally injured youth.

The history of recent years in the Indochina conflict has been an eventful one. It will exhibit to the eyes of the future student some of the most remarkable instances of a ruthlessness and indifference to common humanity. Moreover, it will, I believe, demonstrate that North Vietnam has, for a long time, steadily pursued a communist regime which was deliberately designed to produce a subjugation of other countries by the threat of communism.

As we approach the next Presidential election the topic of American foreign policy is once again in the spotlight. In this paper, I will examine four major objectives of U.S. foreign policy that have persisted throughout the twentieth century and will discuss the effect of each on our nation’s recent history, with particular focus on key leaders who espoused each objective at various times. In addition, I will relate the effects of American foreign policy objectives, with special attention to their impact on the American middle class. Most importantly, this paper will discuss America’s involvement in WWI, WWII, and the Cold War to the anticipated fulfillment of these objectives—democracy,

In “The Journey to the West,” the monk was accompanied by Pigsy, the Sha Monk, the Handsome Monkey King, and the horse. Each of these supporting characters possess a certain magical ability that assisted the monk on his journey, additionally they had their own flaws. This contrasts the monk, which has no magical ability and was devoted buddhism. The strengths, weaknesses, and backgrounds of these supporting characters encapsulate the idea of buddhism throughout the novel, and by including them and Xuanzang the book is able to summarize the idea of buddhism.