The Ugly American Finally Dies

[detlef]

GM is finally going to kill the road-going symbol of suburban neoconservatism that is the Hummer H2

Comments

[july4th]

*applause*

[gws57]

Like the Uncle Tom character in Uncle Tom's Cabin who is -- tragically -- almost universally understood nowadays as a sellout, the Ugly American in The Ugly American is actually a good guy, worthy of admiration, inspirational and uplifting. He's hard working, intelligent and well-connected, but he's ugly to set him apart from the "pretty boys" of the US Foreign Service who know nothing about the cultures they interract with. Over the years, the term "ugly American" was taken out of its original context to mean almost the exact opposite of the character that Lederer and Burdick composed.

Someone wrote a seminar paper on it this past semester that I had to critique, which is why I bring it up!

[detlef]

See, now I need to go read that book.

I'm not sure where the exact split came from, but to be honest I think the bastardized meaning is the much more widely known one now. If I'm thinking straight, I'm pretty sure it has something to do with American tourists abroad.

Thanks for bringing the term into better focus for me. This is why I love my flist!