Comparison of the American Ambassadors Louis Sears and Gilbert MacWhite in The Ugly American
“There are two types of men which whom one can bargain with profit: with the wise man who can see one’s problem clearly and is without vanity or pride; or with the stupid man” (30). The native people of Sarkhan have a predetermined image of Americans and their diplomats as ignorant and self-absorbed beings. The Pilipino Minister of Defense divides Americans into two groups, those that are unaffected by expectations and cocktail parties and those that are “second-raters” (108) who have the need to live up to the luxuries of foreign policy. An idealistic ambassador is someone who is open with his or her ideas and skills and is willing to make sacrifices for the good of others. U Muang Swe described a leader as someone who is, “top-notch, with the ability to make their subordinates fit in with the culture, habits, and needs” (152). These types of qualities portray an individual who can lead a country to success and great achievements. With close analysis of the American ambassadors in Sarkhan, Gilbert MacWhite was a more successful ambassador because he was trained, self-sacrificing and dedicated to the success of the natives of Sarkhan without personal gain.
When entering a troubled country, it is expected that the native people will not be the easiest to convince that a foreign government has their best interest in mind. There are suspicions about purpose and motive, along with resentment due to foreign protrusion into their country. A successful leader would enter the country with a complete knowledge of the native culture, religion, language, history, economics, politics and overall way of living. Allowing the native people to see your intentions and take part in your ideas, it gives them a reassuring confidence of the progress and outcome of their country. Gilbert MacWhite defined himself as a leader with qualities desired by the people of Sarkhan. Living a...