Like BEAUTY, UGLY is in the eye of the beholder.

Why are Americans singled out with the task of global diplomacy and supposedly in need of good-will ambassadors?

Isn't common courtesy in our daily exchange something everyone should expect regardless of nationality, ideology, profession or orientation? What about tolerance?

Why is it that we come under such incredible criticism for the simplest of improprieties? I challenge anyone to show me that they have never made a mistake or embarrassed themselves here, or abroad.

Who actually determines what is and isn’t appropriate?

We seem to spend an awful lot of time under a ridiculous microscope that has little bearing on much more than agitating the masses. It is the sensational that draws attention and sometimes fire.

Maybe we are a sensational people, envied, hated, loved, pitied…

With that, do we really need to be the “credible messenger” of diplomacy? It seems that someone is already taking us pretty seriously with the attention we get, regardless of how UGLY we might seem to be.

Go ahead, be UGLY, be SENSATIONAL, be AMERICAN!

As american as I am american, born in Argentina? And as american as Venezuelans are?

As an American (from the midwest) living in France since 1987, I must say that being an American from the outside these years has been a continual learning process.... Shame, pride, astonishment, sadness, joy, frustration, understanding our misunderstanding are all feelings I have experienced over the years as diplomatic and political relations between my two "countries" have been challenging, and as I have observed the USA from the outside. Unfortunately, or fortunately (I have yet to decide) the visibility, presence and position of the USA in the world today does not allow us as Americans to pass unnoticed. As a "citizen of the world", my observations have led me to believe that humility and curiosity are key into understanding others, and then going beyond misunderstandings which lead to tension in the world. People are people the world over, regardless of where we are from - and that is where we all need to start. We have more to gain by respecting others and appreciating our common aspects than by accentuating our differences.

Americans are somewhat unique in the world as, in general, and mostly due to geography, we have the least real-world exposure to other cultures and languages, except for what we see on TV. As a result of these artificial references, many Americans, when first visiting foreign nations, treat the experience as if it's a theme park, marveling at the quaint novelty of it, and soon become frustrated and "ugly" when foreigners challenge their humility--an attitude that has sullied Americans' reputation abroad.

It's fine to be a proud American, but don't go rubbing it in the noses of the people whose homes you visit. Understand that you are there to learn, not be entertained.

I guess Americans need to keep in mind that when abroad they are in jealous, intolerant and petty society quick to judge, condemn and despise. One of the things foreigners find refreshing in America is that we are typically not like this. They can leave their old world concerns behind and live freely. Ask foreign visitors you meet what they think about America-This is what you will often hear. The ones who come here really like that. Even the British whose society is freer than the majority of other countries. The trouble is, you can't take our attitude abroad because it is not shared there. So, I don't think it's us with the problem, it's them. We should just realize that and try to be more humble while abroad.

I wonder if the Romans apologized for being Roman?

After spending 3 weeks in Indonesia, I have a suspicion that many of the people who are accused of being ugly Americans have had someone be ugly to THEM first. While in Indonesia, my husband and I got along with a great many people. Most everyone we came into contact with, as a matter of fact, and as long we smiled and were pleasant and polite, the people we dealt with were also polite and pleasant.

There were some (very few) occassions where someone was snotty and pretended to be nice, saying hello and how are you in English & then made a nasty comment in Indonesian. They didn't realize that the friend we were visiting had been living there 3 years and knew the language. I can see where someone who either knew Indonesian or wanted to make an issue of it, could suddenly become an ugly American. I think uglyness is a WORLD problem, not an American problem.

I don't understand why people can't just play nice.

Americans are ugly for the following reasons:

1. Delusions of grandeur
2. A constant search for belonging:
a. Irish Americans
b. African Americans
c. Etc
3. A media that refuses to expose its readers and viewers to anything that is not about America
4. Unbridled patriotism
5. Out of control religion
6. Uncontrolled use of the word "Cute"
7. An addiction to turning everything into a Hollywood movie
8. Ignorance
9. Lawyers
10. A complete aversion to anything naked

Having lived half my life abroad in several countries, I've noticed one thing, locals are all the same in every country. Namely, they live there because because they like it there, its there home. Questioning or making remarks about someones home is not acceptable for a visitor in any culture (not even in the States); the visitor can either accept or leave. Anything else will be taken as an hostile gesture.

You can forget books about "local" behaviour etc, forget all of this, all you need to remember is to never question. If you do something "unusual" and the police show up, explain that you are a visitor and don't know the local habits; that will get you out of trouble. Questioning the local rules will get you a visit to the station (even in the States).

About Americans, well I'm not American, but I have similar books from my own homecountry. Being insecure on how to behave in an alien environment is not American, its how all people are. Again, forget these books, an open and flexible attitude will a) save you a lot of trouble b) bring the greatest profit when doing business. Nothing specifically American there, thats normal social behavior in any culture. The locals don't expect you to be "exactly" like them like your colleagues at work don't expect that you are a carbon copy of an "average co-worker". Just don't question anything, be open and flexible. Or leave.

I know many expat Americans. They are just like expats from any other nation. They don't feel like they belong, they find that local habits are strange, and that the local working habits are inferior etc etc endless moaning about the local circumstances. When asked why don't they just go back if everything is so terrible, it turns out that home is even worse. I.e. all expats have left for a reason, the locals stay because they like it as it is, be it USA or any other country. And its these expats that curse their surroundings wherever they are (home and abroad) that give the bad image to all visitors. The people that are least "American" represent the US to the local people, i.e. the people who left for a reason are your local ambassadors. No wonder the locals think that "foreigners" are arrogant, difficult etc. And this again is the case for all foreigners, not just Americans.

I wonder if we can give visitors to the USA a similar brochure upon arrival.

Although the greatest need for such brochures is along the Rio Grande.

Europeans are ugly for the following reasons:

1. Delusions of grandeur
2. A constant search for belonging:
a. Indians
b. Arabs
c. Etc
3. A media that refuses to expose its readers and viewers to anything that is not critical of America
4. Unbridled patriotism
5. Contempt for religion
6. Uncontrolled use of the word "____" (fill in the blank)
7. An addiction to turning everything into a techno song
8. arrogance
9. Lawyers
10. No aversion to anything naked

My point is that Europeans think they've cornered the market on some enlightened point of view and anything else is "ugly." Isn't that the most narrow-minded view of all?

I'm french, so maybe my point of view can be interesting for you.
First of all, I agree with the first comment. If this is your real nature to be arrogant and/or "sensational", be it...the only thing to remember is that arrogance may be seen as a quality only in the USA, but this IS the worse defection in the rest of the world, because this is a sign of attempting to hide a real weak education(the best defense is the attack!) and finally a lack of the trust you can give to other people...so a kind of fear of the unknown instead of a curiosity for the unknown.

US people are about 250 millions. We (europeen) will never have an arrested opinion based on a few meetings or a media "campain".
Having an arrested opinion for 250 millions people is seen as stupidity here.
We will like/dislike you only after knowing you personnaly.

Being polished and modest cannot be learned with a 16 lines note.
Anyway, if people hates you, you still can think that it is their all fault and not yours.
So this 16 lines note is not for you, since it's THEIR fault! You are perfect, the TV said it!
...Ironism of course ;-)
Else if you are, like US people I've met, nice, modest and with a true will of knowing "locals", you do not need this 16 lines note too.

So who needs it?

I pose this question to all: Do we need to go abroad to sustain or disprove the "ugly American" image? After all this is a new age where with a click of a mouse I can talk, be seen, and interact with anyone in the world. With the beginning of this new century we have just begun to explore how ordinary Americans can become extraordinary ambassadors for our nation. What image we project is often forgotten in the comfort of our offices or homes as we traverse our planet quicker and more in-depth than we have at any other time in the history of the world. Company to company, person to person often the only contact we make is through our computers.