Calling US Citizens Americans? Not right to me

[Ares]

I hear it's going to be a 3rd World country in a couple years anyway. Maybe the rest of the "Americans" can take over the US and force a new name upon it. *crossesfingers*

Just call us 'Mericans. I mean, our president does, so why not the rest of the world.

 

[kyless85]

It is ridiculous because no one cares.

They are known as mexican-americans because they are from Mexico now living in the United States of America which is known as America. Therefore, they are mexican-american.

I think you are just thinking too much. Or just way to sensitive and need to see a therapist. Or, you know, care about real issues?

Actually you posting 4 times in a row means you care.

 

[frankfrank]

I'm baffled that you call it 'United' Sates of America. United it certainly isn't. Different states have different laws for a start. Hardly united.

Maybe not united in consensus, social policies, laws, culture, etc.

But the ruling powers in Washington (DC) certainly think that the States are "united." Imagine if Washington (State) and Oregon formed a mutual agreement to secede from the United States and call the new nation Pacifica. Though the U. S. Constitution expressly allows any U.S. state to secede, Washington (DC) would make sure that it didn't happen, and would very likely go to war to prevent it.

There is precedence for this, when a group of southern States seceded and formed a new nation called the Confederate States of America. You'd better BEEEE-LIEVE that Washington went to war over that! We call it "The Civil War."

The Civil War? Yeah, right - as though it's the ONLY civil war in the history of the world, LOL. Though I prefer the term "The War Between the States" as it's sometimes called, I'm still in the habit of calling it the Civil War.

 

[tonyboy]

I tried looking for another thread with this topic, but couldn't find it. Anyway as i was posting on another thread this came into my mind, and I thought it would be interesting. I currently live in Mexico City, but I have lived in many different countries and I come from a very mixed background. I have thought about this a lot, and I think it is insulting to other American countries (North, Central, and South) for US citizens to call themselves American, as if they were the official "Americans".

I believe most people from the US do it because it's easy and they're used to, but still it kinda bothers me 'cause some people do it with a feeling of superiority (btw I have no inferiority issues, that's not the problem). The other day as I arrived on a flight from Mexico City to New York I was greeted with a "Welcome to America" (it was not said in a nice way), and it bothered me because I LIVE IN AMERICA!

Anyway, I hate being whiny, but I had to post about it. What do you think?

And btw this is not meant to become a thread of America vs. the US. Most people from the US are cool.

I actually agree with you partially on this topic.
It's bothered me for some time that when our President closes a televised speech he usually says something like 'God Bless America'.... I think he should say 'God Bless the United States' or God Bless the United States of America.

Congressmen and Senators should also call us by our proper name: The United States of America.

The world press will continue to use American as a term meaning the USA, nothing we can do about that. But our leaders should know better.

Another thing that I doubt will ever change but irks me just a tiny bit is that we are no longer refered to as These United States.
I think Lincoln was close to the last of the presidents that used the plural when referring to our collection of soverign states.
Little things like that do make a difference, words do matter.
I think that you posted a very interesting thread and made a fine point.

 

[Apollo]

Actually you posting 4 times in a row means you care.

I care about how stupid this post is, and how incredibly sensitive you are to a none issue. We have been called Americans since the beginning of this country.

Just like people in the Republic of Chad are called Chadians or whatever it is.

You still haven't suggested an alternative name.

 

[Apollo]

I actually agree with you partially on this topic.
It's bothered me for some time that when our President closes a televised speech he usually says something like 'God Bless America'.... I think he should say 'God Bless the United States' or God Bless the United States of America.

Congressmen and Senators should also call us by our proper name: The United States of America.

The world press will continue to use American as a term meaning the USA, nothing we can do about that. But our leaders should know better.

Another thing that I doubt will ever change but irks me just a tiny bit is that we are no longer refered to as These United States.
I think Lincoln was close to the last of the presidents that used the plural when referring to our collection of soverign states.
Little things like that do make a difference, words do matter.
I think that you posted a very interesting thread and made a fine point.

OMG grow a pair of balls and care about real issues.

The United States of AMERICA has been known as America since the beginning and it will continue. It isn't even a issue of politcal correctness. It's a issue of a bunch of sensitive homos being bored and needing something useless to care about.

If you need something, have you HEARD of Darfur?

Canadians and Mexicans are North Americans along with us. But we are Americans, as is said in our countries name. People in South America are South Americans or Latin Americans and so on and so forth.

OMG, I am gonna have a heart attack. I never knew someone could actually care about a non-issue like this. It baffles my mind that someone actually has hurt feelings because we call ourselves Americans as we have since our constitution was ratified. What makes people sit around and care about nothing? Don't you have a life or something?

 

[unclaimedblessing]

This has gone in so many directions.
With the possible exception of Australia, I never have known anyone who identifies themselves by a continent rather than their nationality.
If questioned, a Swiss would not say he was a generic European anymore than an Israeli or a Japanese would answer they're Asian.
Insofar as the hyphenated American goes, this is a nation of immigrants. The hyphen means they are American but originally of a specific nationality. I guess no one has ever heard of a French-Canadian either.

 

[sentirpromesas]

I graduated with latin american and Latino studies...the majority of scholastic stuff i read refer to "americans" as "US americans" because of this very issue. Some people in the rest of the Americas do find it a little biased.

however, in spanish "americano" isn't used as much as "estadounidense" although the former is most commonly used by Latinos in the US

OMG grow a pair of balls and care about real issues.

The United States of AMERICA has been known as America since the beginning and it will continue. It isn't even a issue of politcal correctness. It's a issue of a bunch of sensitive homos being bored and needing something useless to care about.

If you need something, have you HEARD of Darfur?

Audre Lorde once said that there is no hierarchy of oppression. What is happening in darfur is what happens when a country believes itself heir to not only a name but also the land. In many ways, its an extension of egocentrism by some countries

 

[unclaimedblessing]

I grew up in NYC which is undisputeably one of the most ethnically mixed cities in the world.
I was blessed by exposure to so many different and interesting cultures, languages and cuisines.
I have been friends with or met people from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. Not a one has ever introduced themselves as South American. Brazilians can be particularly touchy when some Americans don't realize that their language isn't Spanish.
Living here in Tucson (near the Mexican border), I can assure you there is quite a difference between a Mexican-American and a Mexican national, just ask any of them. Of course only the racists group them all together as Mexicans. Because of their ignorance they don't realize or recognize that many of the Mexican-Americans were here long before we were.

 

[Shepherd 2]

I like to be called American, for Americus Vespucious was the real brains in the journey to the Americas and he was a hot Italian stud.
Let us all call ourselves American. It is just fine with me. But If I am asked where I am a citizen, I say, US.

Shep+

 

[Apollo]

As opposed to an insensitive homo who, dismissing others' opinions as not worth considering, uses a disparaging term to describe not only other posters but himself.

One might wonder why.

But more than that, it is not "useless to care about." I wouldn't walk down a street anywhere in the world without a Canadian flag pinned to my clothing as an advertisement I am NOT a citizen of the USA, because being mistaken as one could be extremely dangerous. I doubt the USA has been more disliked since the Vietnam war.

Your ignorance of this is telling.

I'm not being sensitive. I am loudly wondering why people actually care, and why they are wasting brain power to be concerned about such a thing. It just seems...useless.

Umm, I am American and I walk around and will say I am from the USA and nothing happens to me. Maybe because I am a big black man they are afraid to attack me? Or your just being overly cautious?

Pinning a Canadian flag on yourself wont protect you in the Middle East and certain other asian countries. Just the fact that your a well off white man from the south who I detect an air of pretentiousness is enough for them.

And I am not even being ignorant. I am absolutely baffled why people care. I mean there are some old old traditions (hatred towards gays and blacks) that do require some thought and changing. But this isn't even on the list.

 

[2243]

I tried looking for another thread with this topic, but couldn't find it. Anyway as i was posting on another thread this came into my mind, and I thought it would be interesting. I currently live in Mexico City, but I have lived in many different countries and I come from a very mixed background. I have thought about this a lot, and I think it is insulting to other American countries (North, Central, and South) for US citizens to call themselves American, as if they were the official "Americans".

I believe most people from the US do it because it's easy and they're used to, but still it kinda bothers me 'cause some people do it with a feeling of superiority (btw I have no inferiority issues, that's not the problem). The other day as I arrived on a flight from Mexico City to New York I was greeted with a "Welcome to America" (it was not said in a nice way), and it bothered me because I LIVE IN AMERICA!

Anyway, I hate being whiny, but I had to post about it. What do you think?

And btw this is not meant to become a thread of America vs. the US. Most people from the US are cool.

I guess you can think of the word "American" as having more than one meaning since there is no separate English word for "Estadounidense", but it's when people born in the United States of America are called "the only/real" Americans that it bothers you, right?

I see what you're saying and it kind of bothers me too, but I think people see the large scale of change over something like that as too much. I can't think of a better analogy than the Band-Aid/bandage or Kleenex/tissue one. When you think about it, there isn't much of a reason to be upset, just hand them their Band-Aid or Kleenex and let the bliss be.

It's better for your heart to be ignorant of such ignorance and better for your brain to not adopt it... If that makes any sense .

 

[Apollo]

I graduated with latin american and Latino studies...the majority of scholastic stuff i read refer to "americans" as "US americans" because of this very issue. Some people in the rest of the Americas do find it a little biased.

however, in spanish "americano" isn't used as much as "estadounidense" although the former is most commonly used by Latinos in the US



Audre Lorde once said that there is no hierarchy of oppression. What is happening in darfur is what happens when a country believes itself heir to not only a name but also the land. In many ways, its an extension of egocentrism by some countries

I was just under the impression that the ruling government of Darfur felt that some people of particular tribe are unworthy of living and much be extinguished and cleansed from the country. I don't see how it relates?

 

[Apollo]

I grew up in NYC which is undisputeably one of the most ethnically mixed cities in the world.
I was blessed by exposure to so many different and interesting cultures, languages and cuisines.
I have been friends with or met people from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. Not a one has ever introduced themselves as South American. Brazilians can be particularly touchy when some Americans don't realize that their language isn't Spanish.
Living here in Tucson (near the Mexican border), I can assure you there is quite a difference between a Mexican-American and a Mexican national, just ask any of them. Of course only the racists group them all together as Mexicans. Because of their ignorance they don't realize or recognize that many of the Mexican-Americans were here long before we were.

In Texas, they would refer to themselves as Tejanos.

I refer to all people who may come from a latin country as hispanic unless they tell me to call them otherwise. If there is someone who is from Spain I call them a Spaniard because they sometimes gets angry if you refer to them as Hispanic.

If you were to ever call a El Salvadorian a Mexican they would take great offense to that and correct you immediately. I asked them once why so much contempt for Mexicans, and all they have ever told me is that Mexicans are dirty and never really explained it to me.

 

[2243]

.............................................

 

[kyless85]

In Texas, they would refer to themselves as Tejanos.

I refer to all people who may come from a latin country as hispanic unless they tell me to call them otherwise. If there is someone who is from Spain I call them a Spaniard because they sometimes gets angry if you refer to them as Hispanic.

If you were to ever call a El Salvadorian a Mexican they would take great offense to that and correct you immediately. I asked them once why so much contempt for Mexicans, and all they have ever told me is that Mexicans are dirty and never really explained it to me.

wow, after reading many many posts i've realized 3 things about you:

1. You're a very angry person
2. You try to put others down to feel better about yourself
3. You're ignorant, and think everyone who doesn't agree with you is wrong or stupid.

The mexicans are dirty stuff is stupid, it's as if i said blacks are dirty, how would you take it? it's just plain stupid.

 

[Apollo]

wow, after reading many many posts i've realized 3 things about you:

1. You're a very angry person
2. You try to put others down to feel better about yourself
3. You're ignorant, and think everyone who doesn't agree with you is wrong or stupid.

The mexicans are dirty stuff is stupid, it's as if i said blacks are dirty, how would you take it? it's just plain stupid.

1. I actually never get angry in real life. I don't blow up in peoples face, I don't yell or scream. I am actually incredibly patient, comes with using the Houston mass transit system. If you don't have patience with the system, you will kill someone. Only once I get on this board and read the bullshit people write.

2. I'm not trying to put you down. I just think what your concerned with is genuinely stupid and a waste of time. I don't think putting you down will make me feel better.

3. I am not ignorant. I just think this is a stupid, worthless, useless subject. I am the first to thank a person if they make a sound arguement or enlighten me on something I did not know about. This, what this is thread is, will never have any of that. All I see is a useless waste of space on the JUB servers.

If you read what I wrote, I said thats what El Salvadorians say. I wouldn't expect you to understand, you are not El Salvadorian, and neither am I. I am just telling you what I have been told by an El Salvadorian friend of mine. I then followed up on his statement with other El Salvadorians and then talked to a Mexican friend of mine, and both groups just have a wierd dislike of each other. Who knows why?

You called the El Salvadorian thing just plain stupid I notice. Now why is that stupid, but this thread a valid arguement? THAT is just-plain-stupid.

I don't mean to be mean. I just got my Zune stolen from me, and I ride the bus. It was the key to keeping me sane while waiting minutes upon minutes upon minutes for the next bus and on the bus with all the loud, annoying, angry people yelling. I don't have enough money to buy a new Zune or iPod so I am very very mad. And your need to catagorize me in only 3 ways is annoying at best. Although, I probably do come off as angry on this board, but I just can't help it. I just don't see how people could be so fucking sensitive.

 

[Sangshao]

If the United States Government fell apart tomorrow, we'd all still be here. What would you think to call us then? We aren't United Statesians anymore than the Brits are United Kingdomians. The term "United States" is simply indicative of the current structure of our government. The land is named America and the people on it are Americans. It is the only land named America on earth, as the term "America" singular is never used in isolation to refer to either North or South America or both of the Americas as a unit. It's neither confusing nor particularly difficult to understand, it's just another something to chatter on about among those inclined to dislike Americans from the start. If anyone in either north or south America feels the need to refer to themselves as generically 'American' as part of their birthright as humans of the Western hemisphere, then so be it. You won't raise any objections in the US, as noone here will care. But if you think you have any right at all to tell us what we should be calling ourselves or our land you're woefully off target.

 

[Apollo]

If the United States Government fell apart tomorrow, we'd all still be here. What would you think to call us then? We aren't United Statesians anymore than the Brits are United Kingdomians. The term "United States" is simply indicative of the current structure of our government. The land is named America and the people on it are Americans. It is the only land named America on earth, as the term "America" singular is never used in isolation to refer to either North or South America or both of the Americas as a unit. It's neither confusing nor particularly difficult to understand, it's just another something to chatter on about among those inclined to dislike Americans from the start. If anyone in either north or south America feels the need to refer to themselves as generically 'American' as part of their birthright as humans of the Western hemisphere, then so be it. You won't raise any objections in the US, as noone here will care. But if you think you have any right at all to tell us what we should be calling ourselves or our land you're woefully off target.

I said the equivalent of that twice in this thread. TWICE

 

[ryanmatt]

Get over it! We were born in the USA, on the American continent. So...that makes us 100% pure American's.

As for you Europeans, and your calling we American's; fat, stupid, ugly, and so forth. You see, I read it everyday in the British newspaper threads, as well as some main land European newspaper. You Europeans hate America, and American's.

The "European Union" What a load of rubbish!! American haters. Did you American guys know that? Well, than read European "On Line" threads. You'll get a "real" education! On how the Europeans hate we, Americans.

The Canadians hate us also! I just read in the "Sun" On Line Discussion threads, where a Canadian going by; "Canuk79" called our dead soldiers from WWI & II trash & garbage. You heard right! Than several Brits chimed in calling our boys" rubbish! Along with some other vulgar names.

Well than, the next time you Europeans need our help, than call on good old Russia, or China. In order to help save your butts. Don't start that; "Where's the yanks"? "Why aren't they helping us"? Go screw yourselves, I say.

Thousands of American men died, helping to liberate your bloated butts from speaking German, and trading in Duetch Marks. How about Goose stepping, or perhaps a lovely room at the nearest "Death Camp"? As that is what they would have done to you. Just ask the Jews, Homo's, Gypsies, Slavic people, & The Dutch. Remember Holland? When after they surrendered to germany, how the German General had the Dykes opened up & hundreds of poor souls drowned, through out Holland.

I find it both nuseating & sickening.

By the way, most American's can "find" Europe on a map. Remember, we found it twice before, and during the cold war, when you begged us to protect you from communist Russia.

What a load of rubbish !

Finally, where are you American's, that have read the above tripe, that you let this wanker talk down about you & your loved ones here, in the states.

How many American's, like myself, feel it's about time that we become isolationists, as this country was before we got drugged into WWI, and worry about how own?