Mon
Apr 24 2006
01:42 pm
How not to be an Ugly American
By: R. Neal

Karen Hughes was apparently so mortified by the response to her performance as "Cultural Ambassador/White House PR Mouthpiece to the World" that she came back with some ideas for fine tuning the message.

The State Department worked with a non-profit called "Business for Diplomatic Action" to create a "World Citizen's Guide" with etiquette tips for American business people traveling abroad. They are also looking at providing a copy of the handbook with each U.S. Passport issued so everyone can be a good PR ambassador for the USA.

The handbook contains sixteen tips, such as:

  • Think as big as you like but talk and act smaller. (In many countries, any form of boasting is considered very rude. Talking about wealth, power or status - corporate or personal - can create resentment.)
  • Save the lectures for your kids. (Whatever your subject of discussion, let it be a discussion not a lecture. Justified or not, the US is seen as imposing its will on the world.)
  • Speak lower and slower. (A loud voice is often perceived as bragging. A fast talker can be seen as aggressive and threatening.)
  • Your religion is your religion and not necessarily theirs. (Religion is usually considered deeply personal, not a subject for public discussions.)

    First of all, how pathetic is it that grown-ups need to be told not to act like six-year-olds? But, I think Randi Rhodes summed it up best when she said "So, because George Bush has pissed off the entire planet, I've got to make up for it by talking lower and slower? Ain't gonna happen." Or something to that effect.

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