the ‘ugly American' opinion

Does the “ugly American” really exist? Let's see now, what would constitute being deserving of that title? Oh yes, self-centeredness would be one. Then there's being apathetic about what's going on in the world around them. Let's see now, oh yes, being anti-social.

I think in today's world, everyone wants their privacy so bad, they'd rather not socialize particularly with neighbors. Wow, talk about not being neighborly. Seems like most Americans just want to stay in their own little “ivory tower,” totally removed from reality. And talk about being removed from reality. Where does their Christian upbringing show? There can be little doubt that if the majority of Americans displayed more tangible Christ-like values, most fellow Americans would be living in a kinder, gentler world.

Certainly no one is expected to be perfect. But everyone should be expected to exhibit more good traits than bad. Take driving a motor vehicle, for instance. For most who drive one, very few use good judgment. Accidents should be few and rare. They're not. And they certainly shouldn't be called “accidents.” They should be labeled “idiotcidents.” (Something that happened because they drove in an idiotic fashion.) Excessive speed, tailgating, running lights, not using common sense obeying the rules of the road is idiocy.

Right now, that terminology, “The Ugly American,” fits many pretty well. If anything, behavior in all aspects of life presently seem to be getting worse, not better.

Somewhere in the past, American goals, everything relative to a “Great Society” becoming reality fell completely apart. That hope seems now totally forgotten, no semblance whatsoever. Everyone in American society needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask themselves: “What do I need to do to help make, not only for a better world, but to finally get that long overdue ‘Great Society' realistically started and no longer have to ever hear ‘Ugly American' said again.”

Murray Lynch

Auburn