The American government, who believes in capitalism, is a strong opponent of Communism. Their perception of Communism is negative; and this is often shown through different medias, such as television shows, movies, and literatures. One example is The Ugly American by William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick. In The Ugly American, Lederer and Burdick portray Communism as a force of evil that is slowly spreading in undeveloped Asian countries like a virus, with many of the citizens of these Asian countries becoming Communists. As well, the authors depict many of their American characters as anti-communists who try different approaches to prevent the spread of it. Though the authors' views on Communism is a reflection of the American government, the question that emerges is whether this portrayal is accurate.
Before answering this question, lets start by explaining the portrayal of Communism. The authors do not directly call Communism a force
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For one, those who are Communist portray themselves as allies to the citizens, even though this is not true. An example is the Russian Ambassador to Sarkhan, Louis Krupitzyn. Krupitzyn learns the native language of Sarkhan and studies their culture prior to arriving there (35-38). This makes him more appealing to most of citizens then American Ambassador Louis Sears, who looks down on them and refuse to learn anything about their culture (14-15). This type of behavior from American government officials leads to the second reason why some citizens become Communists. The second answer is that most Americans, like Ambassador Sears, in these underdeveloped Asian countries do not relate to or try to connect with the local people. This creates hatred toward America and all things relating to the American culture, like capitalism. This hatred causes some citizens join a culture that is seems anti-America, Communism. However, some Americans in these countries found ways to fight against
The government in the United States supposedly revolves around American ideals such as equality and diversity; however, this is simply not the case. The meaning of democracy has been skewed in the United States to represent something entirely different than it did in 1776 when the country was founded. Today, our democracy behaves more like an aristocracy, where the upper class exercises power within the government and state, influencing discourse and therefore the laws and resources in our country, purportedly “for the people”. Democracy is presumed to provide everyone with equal political power, but the government in today’s America, although seemingly following this ideal model, does not. Instead, the elite upper-class have a monopoly over
The novel, The Ugly America, by William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick, was published in 1958. The story takes place during the height of the cold war in the early 1950’s in Southeast Asia, centering on the fictional country of Sarkhan. The United States is attempting to defeat communism in Southeast Asia and gain supremacy over the Soviet Union. Unlike their Russian counterparts, the diplomats representing the United States in this mission to defeat communism in Sarkhan fail to understand the local culture and address the needs of the people. Assigned to Sarkhan, Ambassador Gilbert MacWhite is dedicated and intelligent, employing a prodigious effort to fulfill the mission. During MacWhite’s tenure, other U.S. officials and citizens are able to invoke positive change. However, the failure of high level diplomats, without a clear strategy, undermines their efforts. In the end, Ambassador MacWhite makes several key mistakes. He is unable to execute the change necessary to address the threat of communism, poverty, and underdevelopment in Sarkhan, leaving him responsible for the failure of his mission.
At the height of the cold war two super powers, the Soviet Union and America were competing for natural resources in third world countries, Southeast Asia. As a result, political power and diplomacy with the locals was very important. The Ugly American by William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick depicts interrelating stories in Southeast Asia and mainly in a fictional place called Sarkhan. The novel is based around the conflict that the United States is failing to turn communism in Southeast Asia, because the diplomats sent are not willing to learn to speak Sarkhanese, to learn their culture, and connect with the locals. Throughout the chapters in the novel the reader encounters
Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing written by; Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle, Eighth Edition, published April, 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin’s, is a textbook about writing and critical thinking. In the first chapter of Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing, “Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths”, the Authors begin by setting a relatable scene of what it’s like for a college student. How a new found independence can be overwhelming, especially with regards to critical thinking, showing that what we have learned, needs to be re-evaluated and that an open mind in essential. "What Is Critical Thinking" In this section of the chapter the editors explain what it means to be a critical thinker. They explain that critical thinking is not just studying dates and facts, but rather taking those facts and examining them. The editors then proceed by explaining how having an open mind, and taking others' perspectives into account when formulating our own opinions on what the author is trying to say to us is important. A critical thinker takes all aspects into account and reflects on personal experience as well. The editors also point out that different cultural experiences bring different opinions. They suggest that we need to become active learners, continuously questioning the meaning behind everything, testing not only the theories of others but also our own experiences and analyzing the text rather than going for the obvious. They show that thinking outside the box is the epitome of critical thinking. Basically, we need to step outside our comfort zones and what we have always been taught. The editors also suggest that we need to re-evaluate our per...
To what extent did anti-communism ideologies affect the daily in the US during the Cold War? The Cold War lasted from 1945 to 1953. This investigation assesses the daily life in the United States during this time frame. In order to evaluate the affect it had and its significance, the investigation evaluates the background of anti-Communism, the Red Scare and daily American life at home as well as in school. Influences of anti-communism ideologies through various types of propaganda will be discussed as well. Bishop Fulton J.Sheen’s articles of such events and television documentaries about the perspective on communism ideologies are the primary sources used to evaluate the affects. In addition, history sources dealing with propaganda in media and school life in the US will be used as well. This investigation will focus on the US daily life was affected nationwide.
differences. One of the main tenets of communism is that capitalism is inherently bad and posed a threat to the working class. The communists view all capitalist nations as possible enemies. According to them, capitalism will eventually destroy itself and it is their duty to help it along. They refuse cooperation between themselves and capitalist nations ideologically. These extensive differences in beliefs widened the gap between the Soviet Union and the west.
In the long years between 1947 and around 1957, fear of communism froze the very voices of America into unison. A supposedly enlightened country, the United States of America succumbed to the mass hysteria of the Red Scare with shockingly little resistance. Communist “Reds” and Communist sympathizing “Pinks” were seen everywhere and were often persecuted by the House Committee on Un-American Activities (also known by the inaccurate acronym HUAC). Many of these individuals’ only crime was that of sensibility; they saw the truth behind the terrifying chaos. One of the best records of this dark chapter in America’s history is its literature, which expressed opinion when it could be dangerous to do so. The American public’s paranoid fear of communism and other extremist organizations is evident in the literature of the period, which reflects the conformist mind frame.
The American anti-communist crusade, which followed the end of World War II, reignited a culture of suspicion and fear of communist ideology throughout US society. It began as a consequence of tensions that arose following the expansion of the Soviet state in the post-war world. It drew to an end in December 1954 as the head of the crusade, Senator Joseph McCarthy, was increasingly portrayed as a hysterical bully and therefore lost credibility. The US and USSR were diametrically opposed in relation to the political structure and underpinning values of each society. For America, the Soviet State threatened everything it represented; freedom of speech, religious freedoms and a democratically elected government. The perceived external threat was complete Soviet expansion as China had already fallen into under a communist regime in 1949 and North Korea had become a warzone in an attempt to spread communism into South Korea as well . Given the significant external threat to the US from the Soviet State, America also focused on the internal communist threat presented by the American Communist Party and its sympathisers which created varying levels of hysteria throughout society as it caused a sense of distrust around who was going to threaten core American values. This Red Scare brought with it the revival of the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) to carry out the country’s communist purge. There is controversy as to whether this anti-communist crusade was a justified reaction to the threat that was facing America. In this essay I will argue that it was not justified as even though the external threat that United States was experiencing was very real, the crusade was an over-reaction to the extent of the internal threat...
The earliest starting point of the Cold War to the very end, the United States has exhausted a considerable measure of time, vitality, and assets in endeavor to stop the spread of socialism. From the late 1940s to the mid 1990s, the United States actualized numerous projects, had a few wars, and completed a plenty of mystery operations. Two of these measures taken to contain socialism were the Bay of Pigs attack and the Vietnam War. Both of these endeavors at halting the spread of socialism were exceptionally dangerous moves for the United States politically, what's more, both were unsuccessful. Despite the fact that the United States had a clear reason for taking part in these two occasions, both were most certainly not effective and affected
After World War II, many Americans believed that Communism was a threat to the United States. I believe Joseph McCarthy provides the best case on how the United States is threatened by Communism. After the war ended, the United States was the most powerful nation, but unfortunately threatened by Communism. McCarthy believes that the most powerful people like the government, and wealthy have intentionally created a system that permits the enemy to guide and shape our policies. The enemy (government) is continuously covering up traitorous actions, treason, and the betrayals of the nation. Presidents Truman at one time orders all government to refuse to turnover any information in regards to Communist activities of any government employee
Art exhibitions are but a manifestation of the of the artist and what an artist produces specific art in order to provoke certain emotions or feelings to their audience. Artists have put their paintings, photographs, designs, on display for the world to critique and to judge; although this does not necessarily have to mean that the critique they are giving is negative. Artists develop certain themes and patterns in their art in order to evoke feelings and emotions that will draw more people to their exhibits and therefore audiences can acquire a thirst for what it is that artists produce. A recent gallery at the University of Arizona’s Center for Creative Photography had an exhibit on display titled, “The Pure Products of America Go Crazy”
Richard in the article Business-government relations in the 1990s. suggest that communism is a threat and that America should be careful of letting government have too much control over business. He proposes that communist countries are struggling such as “The standard of living in communist nations is low and getting worse. Food shortages are common,
How do you view America? Do you believe we’re the greatest country in the world? Do you believe we’re even in the top ten? Many people in present day America think there are too many “poor people” in the country, or argue that we don’t have as long of a life expectancy as other countries. Do you agree with those statements? Do you believe you’re really free?
The communist party did not give their civilians enough rights unlike the capitalist government. According to the site Learning Mind by a guest author, communism does not give people freedom of speech or artistic freedom which here in America, a capitalist country where these freedoms are enjoyed. These are rights
In a recent article concerning the political movement behind followers of Garabandal, journalist Barry Hanratty reports “to speak of communism today almost seems anachronistic” (Hanratty). Communism today does seem to be an oxymoron. The United States’ Cold War politics have trapped communism in a different century and attached to this word those negative feelings once associated with foreign Communist powers. Americans have now forgotten the actual definition of communism, relying solely on the propaganda fed to America during its wars against communist nations and particularly Joseph McCarthy’s time in Congress. However, some individuals in America are moving past the propaganda and looking at communism at the root of its definition, seeing it - not as a totalitarian form of government, but rather as a system which distributes all property of a community equally among community members, making social class nonexistent and all individuals share equal economic status. Fran Rubel Kuzui proved to be one of those individuals by directing the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer which shows communism as something positive rather than threatening. The episode that exemplifies this most is “Normal Again.” In this episode, Kuzui uses the two realities Buffy finds herself in to contrast communism with capitalism, showing not only a preference to communism, but also that it has a place in a new generation.