Editor,

Perhaps Mr. Ivan Simic of Belgrade, Serbia (The Americans, 26 February, 2009) could have used Google to search under the topic "Ugly Americans" and saved us from his boring American History lessons.

The Americans he detested had been known for decades under the same title of a book made into a movie during the U.S. Vietnam War (1950s - 1970s). The late famous actor Marlon Brando portrayed American characteristics when they're in foreign lands, and how they dealt with foreign cultures. They lost the Vietnam War because of those reasons.

But since Mr. Simic seems to be a knowledgeable history buff, can he tell us if the Roman Legions, the British Empire builders, the German and Japanese World War II imperialistic soldiers were any different? Conquerors and imperialists in history are often guilty of these charges.

However, one of the Asian characters in "The Ugly American" said, "For some reason, the people I meet in my country are not the same as the ones I knew in the United States." And perhaps if Mr. Simic would travel to the U.S. he would find bright people who are experts in American history as well as world history, and they're the friendliest people around.

Additionally, most of them do not care what Europeans think of Americans. They don't care being criticized and they make no bones criticizing others. They may seem arrogant and ostentatious, but Americans are descendants of Europeans who fled the Motherlands to seek liberty, independence, free-thinking, and the pursuit of happiness in the New World.

Twice they came to Europe's rescue and saved them from anarchy in both World Wars. And it seems when the oppressed cried for help, the world looks to America to come to their rescue. Unfortunately, many countries suffered from a case of "short memory."

It took small countries like Tonga to answer America's call for help in the Iraq War while France and New Zealand turned their backs. If the course of history was different in World War II, France would still be under Nazis rule, and New Zealand and the Pacific Islands would be speaking Japanese today.

In America, Mr. Simic will find people who love their freedom and to think however they want. By the way, the "Ugly American" was written by Americans, too.

Sione A. Mokofisi

samokofisi [at] hotmail [dot] com