Shirley Smith: The Return of the Ugly American

When I think of the return of the "Ugly American," I realize that people don't have to live overseas to be subjected to what has become the ugliness of America by Americans. Due to the Bush GOP administration, prejudices of all kinds are no longer hidden or suppressed by people, especially those who would come under the titles of the GOP Right Wing, Christian Coalition, and the Bush GOP administration. They wear these beliefs like badges of honor. Aside from the most abusive and intrusive legislation, not counting the illegal wiretaps, no fly lists, election fraud, theft of treasury, deaths caused by the shell of government agencies, deaths of military due to lies and war for profit, high gasoline prices and outrageous oil executive salaries and benefits ... Americans have also been subjected to constant harassment, job loss, and intimidation, if they shared views different from the Bush GOP and their followers.

Proudly spoken out in the open, comments of such distaste, hardly fitting for those who get paid for their comments, and would burn the ears of an average American ... but not those who listen to the repugnancy of Right Wing radio. There, obnoxious, spiteful sputters are mainstream and accepted with bravado. Speeches that have utterances of hate and violence, including suggestions of assassination of world leaders, coming from a Right Wing "religious leader," and all of this freedom to speak out against anything decent is coming from those who follow the Bush GOP administration and their policies.

Yes, Americans can expect to be treated rudely when overseas, if they are lucky. Because of the profound hate that is held in the hearts of many around the world due to the murderous political policies of the Bush GOP administration ... arrogant, greedy policies in our name ... we Americans bear that shame. We Americans bear that blame ... rudeness to Americans for the aggressive actions by the Ugly Bush GOP regime ... yes, lucky, because all Americans should be aware that they, too, could suffer the hateful rage that is felt around the world towards the Bush GOP and their policies.

If that's not enough, we also are paying for all of this damage by the Bush GOP that has resulted in our highest debt ever, along with tens of thousands of deaths of families, hearts ripped out by grief, and the destruction of lives, liberties, and any pursuit or thoughts of happiness in their future. Ugly American? That sounds so insignificant when we compare that to the ugliness that has been caused around the world and here at home by the Bush GOP.

Americans have died for others and their liberties ... and, no one will remember those lives, those unselfish deaths, because of their duties for their country ... even though our military was duped and sent to their deaths by their own Commander in Chief ... those around the world will only remember the ugliness, the terrorizing, the prisons, the torture, the lies to invade a country, the thieving, destruction of cities, towns, the death of a country's whole existence ... that's why Americans will be considered ugly. Because we have allowed this to happen.

Yes, vacation time is here and our government would like Americans to believe that all of the hate, prejudices, outwardly rudeness, and yes, possible violence that they might experience in foreign countries will be because of their own actions, their own fault ... the way they speak, dress, blah, blah -- Bush GOP propaganda ... when in reality, the truly "Ugly Americans" reside in the White House in DC. Those arrogant Ugly Americans and their deeds of disaster, their miscarriage of democracy, their hateful hypocrisy ... they are the faces people see and react against, when they bump into you and me.

* * *

Shirley Smith is a regular BuzzFlash Reader and Contributor. Many of her earlier posts can be found in the Mailbag.

Ms. Smith Goes to Washington

April 18, 2006		ARCHIVES
The Return of the Ugly American MS. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON by Shirley Smith BuzzFlash, When I think of the return of the "Ugly American," I realize that people don't have to live overseas to be subjected to what has become the ugliness of America by Americans. Due to the Bush GOP administration, prejudices of all kinds are no longer hidden or suppressed by people, especially those who would come under the titles of the GOP Right Wing, Christian Coalition, and the Bush GOP administration. They wear these beliefs like badges of honor. Aside from the most abusive and intrusive legislation, not counting the illegal wiretaps, no fly lists, election fraud, theft of treasury, deaths caused by the shell of government agencies, deaths of military due to lies and war for profit, high gasoline prices and outrageous oil executive salaries and benefits ... Americans have also been subjected to constant harassment, job loss, and intimidation, if they shared views different from the Bush GOP and their followers. Proudly spoken out in the open, comments of such distaste, hardly fitting for those who get paid for their comments, and would burn the ears of an average American ... but not those who listen to the repugnancy of Right Wing radio. There, obnoxious, spiteful sputters are mainstream and accepted with bravado. Speeches that have utterances of hate and violence, including suggestions of assassination of world leaders, coming from a Right Wing "religious leader," and all of this freedom to speak out against anything decent is coming from those who follow the Bush GOP administration and their policies. Yes, Americans can expect to be treated rudely when overseas, if they are lucky. Because of the profound hate that is held in the hearts of many around the world due to the murderous political policies of the Bush GOP administration ... arrogant, greedy policies in our name ... we Americans bear that shame. We Americans bear that blame ... rudeness to Americans for the aggressive actions by the Ugly Bush GOP regime ... yes, lucky, because all Americans should be aware that they, too, could suffer the hateful rage that is felt around the world towards the Bush GOP and their policies. Loud and brash, in gawdy garb and baseball caps, more than three million of them flock to our shores every year. Shuffling between tourist sites or preparing to negotiate a business deal, they bemoan the failings of the world outside the United States. The reputation of the "Ugly American" abroad is not, however, just some cruel stereotype, but - according to the American government itself - worryingly accurate. Now, the State Department in Washington has joined forces with American industry to plan an image make-over by issuing guides for Americans travelling overseas on how to behave. Telegraph \| News \| 'Speak softly, don't argue and slow down' If that's not enough, we also are paying for all of this damage by the Bush GOP that has resulted in our highest debt ever, along with tens of thousands of deaths of families, hearts ripped out by grief, and the destruction of lives, liberties, and any pursuit or thoughts of happiness in their future. Ugly American? That sounds so insignificant when we compare that to the ugliness that has been caused around the world and here at home by the Bush GOP. Americans have died for others and their liberties ... and, no one will remember those lives, those unselfish deaths, because of their duties for their country ... even though our military was duped and sent to their deaths by their own Commander in Chief ... those around the world will only remember the ugliness, the terrorizing, the prisons, the torture, the lies to invade a country, the thieving, destruction of cities, towns, the death of a country's whole existence ... that's why Americans will be considered ugly. Because we have allowed this to happen. Yes, vacation time is here and our government would like Americans to believe that all of the hate, prejudices, outwardly rudeness, and yes, possible violence that they might experience in foreign countries will be because of their own actions, their own fault ... the way they speak, dress, blah, blah -- Bush GOP propaganda ... when in reality, the truly "Ugly Americans" reside in the White House in DC. Those arrogant Ugly Americans and their deeds of disaster, their miscarriage of democracy, their hateful hypocrisy ... they are the faces people see and react against, when they bump into you and me. Thanks, BuzzFlash, Shirley Smith * * * Shirley Smith is a regular BuzzFlash Reader and Contributor. Many of her earlier posts can be found in the Mailbag.