As a nation, we have had weak relations with Cuba throughout history, dating back to the time of the Spanish-American War. In the beginning, we had complete and total control over Cuba, manipulating their economy and resources to our needs and to the needs of our allies. We built casinos and low-income farms, all the while keeping the people of Cuba oppressed through poverty. When the Cuban revolution came, the U.S.-installed government was overthrown by a communist regime. After the Cuban revolt, they asked for our help in becoming a stronger nation. We said no. As a result, Cuba continues to be a communist-socialist nation, and we continue to hate them for it.

Alternatively, we have the book The Ugly American. The book is about the struggles between the United States and a non-existent country by the name of “Sarkhan.” The novel is about the United States taking over Sarkhan through brute force and greed. In the novel, the U.S. uses Sarkhan only as an outpost; taking the resources of the country and ignoring the people. The United States mistreats the people of Sarkhan until they grow to hate American capitalism, changing to becoming a more communist nation.

Although it may sound like The Ugly American has no relation to the real world or specifically Cuba, there are actually many similarities. For example: In the real world, we had essentially taken over Cuba through their economy and their land. The same goes for Sarkhan in the novel. The United States did the same thing in The Ugly American through the use of diplomats who made laws without telling the natives of Sarkhan.

Not everything that happens between the United States and Cuba and the United States and Sarkhan has a negative impact, though. In fact, President Barack Obama has recently been attempting to remove trade embargos on Cuba to let them become a more influential nation with a better economy. They may even gain the new technologies we have been keeping from Cuba for the past 60 years.

When it comes to the United States and Sarkhan, the U.S. made a positive impact as well. In the novel, The U.S. sent a couple people to Sarkhan who actually cared about the people there; such people as Ambassador MacWhite, Homer and Emma Atkins, John Colvin, Edward Hillindale, and Father Finian. These Americans tried to get to know the people of Sarkhan instead of just ignoring them and taking their land and resources. Because of the aforementioned American’s generosity and genuine curiosity with the Sarkhanese culture, Sarkhanese people actually enjoyed the Americans company and looked forward to seeing them.

In conclusion: Yes, the United States has done many oppressive things to both the people of Cuba in real life and the people of Sarkhan in The Ugly American. However, the Americans in The Ugly American learned from past mistakes, and started helping the Sarkhanese people instead of hurting them, thus gaining their respect. The current administration is also learning from previous mistakes and trying to fix the broken relationships between the United States and Cuba.