Why does the US call itself ALONE"America"? (page 6)

Maverick

Now let's look at a term that riles me up as a Southern boy. American of Southern heritage that is! Why do you Brits and Aussies call me a Yank. Come here and do that and you'll get a load of rocksalt in yer britches! Yankees are northern Americans. Notice northern is lower case and Southern is upper case? Y-all need to get that right. I know the origin of the term but you need to know we in the South do not like being called Yankees! Maverick

Simon

I'm English but if someone asks my nationality I say British as this is what it says on my passport and what most people around the world understand. If I'm differentiating myself from someone else from Britain though I may say I'm English.

This doesn't exclude other people who are not English claiming to be British too as they are ... Scots and Welsh and so on. We are all members of the United Kingdom just to confuse everyone (us included).

With the USA / Canada / American thing it's a bit different as there is a confusion between the geographical, geo-political and political.

I doubt most people would consider Canadians as "American" as this normally denotes someone who is from the USA. Most Candians I know would be proud and keen to distinguish themselves as Canadian and would only bring "north America" into it if there was something to do with the geo aspect involved.

Ask any Canadian what it means to be Canadian and they will almost always start with "Well, unlike Americans ..." (they end with "eh?" but that's a different topic)

Canadians: Unarmed Americans with Health Care

JH

My point is that Canada is ALSO America

USA is also America

truthseeker1

Nobody is refuting the fact that Canada is America. They are Americans. US Citizens are Americans also. We can call ourselves Americans if we damn well want to. French can call themselve European if they want to also. Chinese can call themselve Asian. I don't throw a hissy fit when they do. If thats what they are, let them call themselves that. I can Call my self an American, A Californian, North American, or even an earthling. Whoopdi Freaking do. Canadians can call themselves American if they want to!

truthseeker1

JH: "My point is that Canada is ALSO America USA is also America"

By Definition Yes. By 1 Definition US IS America and by another IS A PART OF

blacksheep

"When travelling abroad, when someone is asked about their citizenship, if you are from the United States, it is almost a given that you are identified as: American."

You took the words right out of my American mouth...I've travelled/lived abroad, and I honestly id'd myself as from the United States, thinking that America would be too vague. I cannot tell you how many times I heard europeans and others ID the US as America, and people from the US as "American." A few of the Brits called them "the states," but the USA doens't have the only country with states, of course.

JH

Your missing the point here,

Americans think that they ALONE are America.

Ask an American what is the population of America, they think you mean the USA only.

My point was to prove that Canada also is America.

If I said Canada alone was America, now you would get mad, no???

I started this thread because of what Ashitaka said in his thread:

Now, our neighboring countries must live by America's rules?

He considers the USA and not Canada as America.

That's what started the ball rolling...

blacksheep

"Your missing the point here,

Americans think that they ALONE are America."

Don't think I'm missing the point. I think you're belaboring one. As my last post explained, people from the US are certainly NOT the only one's who might view "America" to designate people from the US. And, UNITED STATES, is not the title of this country--there are other United States around the world. I suppose if we took THATname for the USA, THAT would be arrogant, like we think we are the ONLY United States....

"If I said Canada alone was America, now you would get mad, no???"

I wouldn't get mad personally; in fact I work for an org where Canada, the US, and Latin America are all called "the Americas."

But, if Canada wanted to id themselves as "Canada of America," then sure, I can see how it might logically be shortened to America by some. Since "America" is part of the USA's title, that's what happens.

" I'm not talking at all about the name Americans, that's something else. Thats a perfect name"

I'm partial to "United Stations." not

truthseeker1

No I'm not missing the point. There are 2 different defintions of the word America. One is just the US, the other is any land mass from North, South or Central America. So if I answer around 260 million for the population of America, I would be giving a correct answer. If a Canadian answered the population of Canada for the answer he would be correct, because one of the Defintions of America is not Canada exclusive. This is one of the problems with the English language, A word can have 2 differend definitions. Sorry.

teenyuck

Your missing the point here,
Americans think that they ALONE are America.
Ask an American what is the population of America, they think you mean the USA only.
My point was to prove that Canada also is America.
If I said Canada alone was America, now you would get mad

My point was to prove that Canada also is America.

Point proven. Give it a rest already.
BTW, if someone, anyone, askes me where I am from, I say Chicago. See? Boring. Who cares?!
Whatever your "I'm from the USA and I want to prove to all my non-USAican cyber-friends that I am not a Bush loving, Dixie Chick bashing" agenda is, it is really old.

Why does the US call itself ALONE"America"?

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