Comments on: Are You An Ugly American?

By: Charlotte Newman

Charlotte Newman — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:51:24 +0000

I had a similar “bad American” experience in Boquete two years ago when my husband and I had stopped in a small restaurant for a bite to eat. Two “Gated Community” guys, obviously living in Boquete, came in and ordered food in English. The woman behind the counter, being Panamanian, and familiar with her native tongue, that being Spanish, didn’t at first understand what they wanted. So the one guy…like this would work…raised his voice…and shouted out what he wanted louder, in irritated English, and shook his head to the other guy in dusgust. My husband and I cringed, and I wanted to get up and smack him. Seriously.
My mother and father both came to the U.S. very young, as immigrants. And, yes, at first they clung to their landsman - other German Americans. It’s scary to make such a leap. But they both worked hard, at, I might add, menial jobs, learned the language, and thrived. Dad was a mechanical engineer. Very successful and very well respected in his professional community. Mom was, well, mom.
So, I was raised with the attitude to respect people wherever you are. I’ve been studying Spanish in extended learning classes at a local community college, because I feel that at least I can make an effort to learn to speak Spanish, if I intend to live in the Panamanian peoples’ country. And, I love the sound of the language.
Dang. too bad they don’t speak German. I already can do that!

Ok one other “ugly” storiy..Bocas was the be all and end all of outrageously offensive Americans. (along with some really nice Americans, usually in the midst of being excessively naive and taken advantage of by the U.S. A. sharks). These good old boys from U.S. southern states practically trampled my husband and me soon as we got off the water taxi and stepped on to Bocas. Trying to sell us real estate! “Why, we can help you with everything, little lady. Non-titled. Not a problem. Off the grid. Why not. Fluer de lances. Don’t worry. The natives say they’ve got no problems with them on the islands.” Yeah, just smile and say hello to Mr. snakey, then run like hell. Too bad them snakes be faster.

What a a flood of yahoos. Incredible. And one guy actually insulted both the local Panamanians, and even more so, the Afro-caribbeans, right in front of his “partner”, who appeared to be Panamanian, and I think was basically his Spanish speaking interpreter. Thank god I’m small, and carry no punch. Felt another urge for a smack down coming on!
We hung out a lot at the Big Bamboo, as well as at other local establishments. Seems the Big Bamboo was a mecca for the Americano “movers and shakers” wannabes. They’d all gather at tables, trying to one-up each other with their tales of grandiose accomplishments, plans, money, and ideas for the future of Bocas. One guy said it all when he said. “Bocas is just like Key West used to be. Man it’s that kind of paradise.” Then he went on about several “great projects” that he was gonna launch, like jet ski services, hotels, grand tours, trendy bars, and whatever else popped into his addled middle-aged-crisis brain. Yep, jest like the good ole days of Key West.
Yeah right brother.

OK Enough of that.

Also, since my espanol es muy mal at this point, I have no idea what an “ugly Panamanian” behaves like. Right now everybody sounds great. Just the rhythm of the words. Think it’ll be a bit of a let down when I understand the language more, and actually hear the same banal conversations that I overhear in English, in stores and offices here in the U.S.
There’s good and ugly everywhere. Our differences are truly only skin deep. A little respect goes a long way. So, hey why don’t we all just get over it. And no harm in watchin’ your back!

Well, Don. Obviously I’m addicted to your site. Time to end my babble session. Thanks for having me on! Charloe

By: John

John — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:48:52 +0000

A couple years again I was at Chiriqui Mall getting my driver’s license. There was an American fella there. We were waiting our turn. I asked him how long he had lived in Panama. He said 5 years. I was surprised because he was wearing short pants. His turn came. When he approached the counter he received a lecture that ended all lectures. How dare he come to a government office wearing short pants, she said. There were about 35 people there. There was dead silence. We were all embarrassed. He should have known the custom. He should have played by their rules whether he liked it or not. (He went around the corner to another office and found a lady to override the first lady.)

By: Don Ray

Don Ray — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:32:51 +0000

Hi Mike. Very good comments. Thanks for contributing.

By: Mike Horrell

Mike Horrell — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:26:32 +0000

Y’know, this is one of those phrases that has had its context lost..

In the 1958 novel “The Ugly American” by Eugene Burdick, the Ugly American was a GOOD guy,,,

From Wikipedia..

In the context of this novel, the title alludes to both positive and negative attributes of its characters. The authors state that one of the “good” characters is “ugly” looking to create a contrast with the “bad” characters who were “handsome”.

In the book, the authors’ “good” characters used their skills and resources to make a positive change in the lives of villagers in Southeast Asia and the “bad” characters used their skills and resources for other purposes.

For example there is an “ugly” engineer who helps villagers with an irrigation system, and a “handsome” Ambassador who does not care about what happens to the people on the village level. The novel weaves many separate stories with these kinds of counterpoints of an “ugly American”

This aspect is still very true however…

“In the book, a fictional Burmese journalist wrote, “For some reason, the people I meet in my country are not the same as the ones I knew in the United States.

A mysterious change seems to come over Americans when they go to a foreign land. They isolate themselves socially. They live pretentiously. They’re loud and ostentatious.

Perhaps they’re frightened and defensive, or maybe they’re not properly trained and make mistakes out of ignorance.”"

FWIW
Mike

By: Don Ray

Don Ray — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:07:37 +0000

Tom and Gordo. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Tom. I don’t doubr it. I bet it was a lot more tranquil. Gordo. I will check it out.

By: Gordo

Gordo — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:59:28 +0000

On the same day that La Gringa’s thought provoking post about the “Ugly American” appeared on her blog, I happened to have purchased the soundtrack to Ken Burns’ film “The War”. On it is a wonderful version of Gene Scheer’s song “American Anthem” sung by Norah Jones. As a bit of a counterpoint, I highly recommend you check it out.
Sung at the last two presidential inaugurations, the song was also the subject of an NPR story, featuring comments by author Scheer.
http://www.genescheer.com/

By: tom

tom — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:58:13 +0000

Don Ray:

I was in Boquete 16 years ago; not a gringo in sight. Seriously

By: Don Ray

Don Ray — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:28:49 +0000

Wow. It is good to see some reaction from a post.

Caryl – Yes I agree that America is a great country. I am also proud to be an American – however, I would never want to act like or provide the opportunity for someone to call me an “Ugly American”. If I do then I hope someone slaps me down! This term is generated by actions as opposed wealth or status. When one get labeled as an “Ugly American”, it is probably because of the way that person has acted.

I certainly didn’t say that all Americans that move to or visit foreign countries fit this description. However, the unfortunate thing is that too many do fit the description. I don’t know how many times I have gone to Boquete and been in a restaurant and have had to listen to another table filled with gringos, talking loud and boastful about all that they have and how important they were in the US.

They try to impress others with their “pet” projects to improve Panama, when all they are really wanting to do is get another spotlight placed on themselves. They complain that the restaurant hasn’t been wise enough to train its staff in English, saying, “What do they expect us to do – learn Spanish?” Instead of enjoying Panama. its people and its culture, they want to change it into their micro version of the US.

My post above was intended to cause you think about how you appear to people in whose country you are living or visiting. This is a time when the US can use all of the positive influencers that it can muster. If you are a gringo, living or visiting in a foreign country, then I hope you are one that makes the country say, “Boy, I am happy I got to meet him/her. He/she is not anything like I would have imagined from what I have read or heard from others.”

By: Omar Upegui R.

Omar Upegui R. — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:14:39 +0000

Hi Mr. Kravette:

I can’t believe you mean what you wrote. Perhaps you would like to re-read your comment and think again if that is what you want to be. I’ve known many Americans who are “Beautiful Americans” and proud to be so.

The USA is a great country because it was built by “Beautiful Americans”. I trust you keep it that way.

Regards,

Omar.-

By: tom

tom — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:05:23 +0000

Yes, Caryl, keep going. Why do you think “America is the greatest country?”