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03/01/2025

Today’s blog

Lynn Murphy Mark

The Ugly American

In 1958, a book with this title was published. Written by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer, it was a non-fiction account of the failings of the US diplomatic corps due to innate arrogance of the staff, along with a failure to understand the local culture. It became a best seller and occupied a space on a bookshelf in our house. 

We were living in Mexico City at the time. We did a fair amount of traveling to different sites in Mexico and were exposed to the antics of many North American tourists. These observations are what caused my mom to explain why there was a book with a title about the  bad behavior of US tourists visiting a “foreign” country. These people stood out at restaurants and tourist spots by their loud talking and laughing and their demeaning behavior toward the “locals”. By 1958 we were well established residents of this beautiful country and its gracious people. We felt as much a part of this culture as we possibly could.

Yesterday at lunch with my nursing school friends a good deal of discussion was held about the current administration. The main point of dismay and disgust came when Nancy told us what she had witnessed on TV about the disastrous meeting with President Zelenskyy in the oval office. Both 47 and sidekick (the elusive vice president) verbally and angrily attacked the president of one of our allies. As she was describing what happened she said we wouldn’t miss it because it would go viral and be featured on every TV station. Those of us who hadn’t witnessed the display of bad behavior were sure it couldn’t have been as bad as she was describing.

But it was. Watching rabid dogs attack a formal visitor to our country is perhaps the best display of ugly Americans at work I have ever seen. Adding to the disaster was the ignorant reporter who asked why President Zelenskyy doesn’t wear a suit, and asked if he even owns a suit. The response he got from Zelenskyy was classic – words to the effect that he would wear a costume when his war torn country wins its war against the Russian invaders.

I watched this fiasco several times because every channel I tuned to was showing it. I was so shocked by it that I felt tears forming, tears for the current state of our country. The hostility and insulting behavior that sidekick demonstrated in a recent trip to Europe was nothing compared to yesterday’s outburst. President Zelenskyy was honest about his opinion that trusting Putin is a mistake. This infuriated 47, that anyone would question his bromance with Russia’s Criminal in Chief. 

47 was off and running about witch hunts and many of his previous grievances that he can’t seem to get over. Then he chastised Ukraine’s president for not being grateful and respectful towards the United States. By this time my friend Vicki had texted, “OMG: Trump and Zelenskyy”. There wasn’t much to say in response except to text that it was horrifying and embarrassing.

Of course 47 is now being praised by his sycophants for taking a strong stand against our ally. News media this morning are saying that it is altogether possible that any further support for Ukraine can be canceled. Congress has appropriated about $3.85 billion of withdrawals from Pentagon stockpile of weapons, earmarked for Ukraine, but we have already witnessed what 47 does when he freezes funds. 

Demands that Zelenskyy apologize for his role in the outburst are being made. To his credit he has thus far refused to apologize, only saying that he came to the US to discuss peace talks. “We want peace.”, he said. “That’s why I came to the United States and visited President Trump.” In turn 47 said Zelenskyy can come back when he is ready for peace. 

I am sad for my country this morning.