Calling US Citizens Americans? Not right to me

[kyless85]

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.

 

[MrBarbrey]

and with this thread i'm leaving b4 i get called a racist nazi asshole peace

 

[kyless85]

if the shoe fits....

 

[ComNavFdgPk]

I live in the United States of America. What else would you call me...a United Statesian??? People who live in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all part of Great Britain and they are called Irish, Scots, Welsh, English AND BRITISH!

 

[rareboy]

and with this thread i'm leaving b4 i get called a racist nazi asshole

It may already be too late.

 

[8591paul]

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! ...Sorry but I get a good laugh over that because the same thing happened to me on a flight from Germany many years ago...and what made it so funny was the fact I was in my Class A uniform( military)...the next time it happens laugh it off..And its very true we are all Americans but the bigger truth is we are all the same..just different in many ways...thats what makes the world so exciting to travel and see..

 

[JR]

You are a citizen of los Estados Unidos de Mexico or the United States of Mexico. You are Mexican. And in a broader sense, a North American or American.

Citizens of the United States of America are American. And in a broader sense, North American or American referring to the hemisphere.





Background:

When the US was founded and created, it was meant to be a loose organization of states with complete autonomy. That vision became secondary to the survival of the whole entity which was fighting for independence from what was the most powerful kingdom in the world.

The 8th person to preside over the state-appointed group of representatives (known as the Congress) was John Hanson of Maryland. He was responsible for several developments, most notably he went from town to town collecting the final signatures that had been agreed upon years earlier so that Maryland could become a part of this loose group of independent American states. This was important because the US could not officially exist until the last state, Maryland, joined the union.

When Hanson brought the signatures that finally united the states, he was unanimously voted in as the 8th president of the American congress and became the first person with the title "President of the United States of America in Congress" under the officially united group. Hanson then created the presidential seal incorporating the American eagle which is used today.

With President Hanson and the pressures of war, there became a more solid sense that this NATO-like group should be a nation rather than a collection of nation-states. And that is how we ended up with this rather awkward national name and identity. It evolved. So did the notion of the US Presidency. There were 14 presidents before the current constitution and the election of George Washington. Washington was the 15th president, but the first under the current constitution. Like most countries, the US has had more than one government and at least one that failed.

Following in the success of the eventual US government model, Mexico, Brazil and others have adopted a similar national structure of states and called themselves the United States of Mexico or the United States of Brazil. And US Americans in search of a national identity, follow the model of those nations to identify themselves as Americans rather than Mexicans or Brazilians. No insult intended. It is just the result of political and national evolution.

 

[Telstra]

and with this thread i'm leaving b4 i get called a racist nazi asshole peace

what did you do ?
which thread you were called racist ?

 

[scottish1]

I have never heard of a citizen of the United States of America called anything but an American appart from all the derogatory names yelled in abuse.
Anyway it's too late to change it all now mention an American and you think of the U.S.A.

 

[G-Lexington]

>>> United it certainly isn't. Different states have different laws for a start. Hardly united.

This from a member of the European "Union"?

As for "American", yes - it's a horribly racist and presumptuous term. Luckily, there are plenty of synonyms for "American" that can be used, such as "fat-ass", "redneck", and "fucking moron". There's some derogatory ones, too, but I don't want to get anybody angry.

Lex

 

[G-Lexington]

^ Exceptionally so. Despite waltzing in and doing that genocide thing they're so good at, they labelled THEMSELVES "Americans" and gave those they killed the moniker "Indians", just because the first whitey there had no clue where he was. They've at least bowed to pressure and changed the term to "Native American", which I guess is better than "Previous Tenant".

Lex

 

[unclaimedblessing]

We were the first in this hemisphere to win our independence.
Prior to that we were the "Thirteen Colonies". Wouldn't the "United Colonies" be construed as still being under a colonial yoke?
The colonies evolved into into states. We were united by a federal govt and we were in the America's hence "The United States of America".
The names Brazil, Mexico, Argentina etc were already used by those countries prior to their (or even our own) independence.
I was on a flight returning from Korea and when we were landing in Hawaii, the Captain announced "Welcome to the United States of America". There were tumultuous cheers, especially from the soldiers returning after 1 to 3 years abroad. It made me feel good to witness such happiness and pride.
Not all Europeans belong to the EU so should the non-members take exception to the term "European Union"?
We fought a bloody revolution for our independence and we did it first, therefore if nothing else, we have squatters rights.

 

[Spiff]

America as we refer to it in the US is just short for the United States of America. I don't see how that can be offensive. If you want to call yourself an American if you are in Mexico, then go right ahead. American has been the nationality of US citizens since. . . forever almost. If we can't call ourselves as individuals "Americans", then what nationality do we call ourselves? United Staters? Lol. I don't think so.

 

[Wtrain]

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.

I could say the same thing about the United Kingdom or the European Union

 

[TriBi]

North America
Central America
South America

The Americas...

Point being that South and Central America are both a multiplicity of countries. North America is Canada and the USA...and , of course, the USA citizens have become accustomed to calling themselves 'American'.

It's just what everyone is used to.

 

[TriBi]

^ Oops. Of course, you are correct.

As a 'non American' I have this tendency to bracket Mexico with Central America - not correct.

Apologies.

 

[Spellbound]

This is the most ridiculous thread I've ever read.

 

[Críostóir]

Also Mexico.

While Mexico is technically on the North American continent, it's generally considered Central America, rather than North America. But you're free not to accept this trumping of geography with politics if you don't want to.

 

[G-Lexington]

Next time I find something that may be offensive to me, I'll make sure to run it by you to get your stamp of approval, then.

Lex

 

[LongBeachBill]

I think it's really just semantics. And, the way this nation has conducted itself in recent years, as a US citizen/American, I certainly don't feel superior to anyone.