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twf
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Canadian. 
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twf
Guest
It’s one thing to co-opt the term America (which I take no issue with)… but to co-opt Our Lord’s metaphor for the Church itself?
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babochka
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Do you have an inclination to call yourself American?Canadian.
First: Victorian (I’m imagining you live in Victoria).
Second: British Columbian
Third: Pacific Northwester (Do y’all in BC count as Pacific Northwest?)
Fourth: Canadian
Fifth: North American
Sixth: American
Seventh: Human of the Western Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere (Ooops - that’s pretty controversial)
Eighth: Citizen of the world.
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Cruciferi
Guest
Historically it has been used in American politics. Both by Kennedy and Reagan.
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ZMystiCat
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My step-mom is from Honduras, and there was one night she went on a mini-rant about how “American” is so often used to refer to people from the U.S. rather than the Americas in general. I’ve also had a conversation with someone from Spain who was really confused by the term.
Personally, I’m in favor of “Usmerican” (long U). Just say it out loud. You’ll feel 10x more epic!
When the aforementioned friend from Spain mentioned how she found “American” odd, I asked if she would prefer “United Statesian”, not realizing some Hispanic people already use it. She actually thought it was funny and agreed that it wasn’t the best term for English speakers.
When I went to India, even the quiet Usmericans (so epic!) were relatively loud.
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twf
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Haha. No it wouldn’t occur to me to use the term American. North American definitely.
Some would count southwestern BC (the Victoria/Island and Vancouver areas) as part of the cultural / geographic Pacific Northwest, but it’s kinda funny as we are the Canadian Southwest (technically… not a formal designation).
On the other hand, my Nicaraguan-Canadian friend would use the term “American”.
Some would count southwestern BC (the Victoria/Island and Vancouver areas) as part of the cultural / geographic Pacific Northwest, but it’s kinda funny as we are the Canadian Southwest (technically… not a formal designation).
On the other hand, my Nicaraguan-Canadian friend would use the term “American”.
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babochka
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Okay, one more question: When traveling abroad (Europe, for example) are you angered, annoyed, perturbed, bothered or have any negative feelings whatsoever if somebody assumes that you are a citizen of the United States, Stateser, Statesman, etc.?
This is actually a serious question, as I’ve heard more than once that Canadians are somewhat annoyed by this and go out of their way to avoid giving people that impression. As a teenager, I visited Europe and noticed a number of Canadians wearing Canadian flags pins.
That’s interesting.
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twf
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Yes, it can be a little annoying when people assume I’m (US) American when abroad.
On the other hand, it is sometimes convenient to “pass” for American when in the US. I guess my accent is standard North American…
On the other hand, it is sometimes convenient to “pass” for American when in the US. I guess my accent is standard North American…
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runningdude
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We play the Star Spangled Banner at the highest volume…
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Wozza
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I know there’s a difference in the accents but I can’t pick it. Although there are significant differences within the US as well. I could pick a Kentuckian from a New Yorker for example. But a Canadian accent sounds like a generic US accent. But then I guess most people can’t tell an Aussie accent from a New Zealand one.
I can second the Aussie propensity for asking if you are from Canada rather than the US. I do the same.
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Sarcelle
Guest
How do you know that these Canadians are really Canadians?
I’ve heard of people from the USA who pretend to be Canadians in order to avoid anti-USA sentiments from those they meet.
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Sarcelle
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It does until they say “out” or “about” and then you can hear the difference.
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OraLabora
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I’ve heard the term “Usonian” used.
Of course since it is the United States, why not the state you live in, such as New Yorker or Californian? En français we sometimes say États-uniens”
I live in Québec where this is a touchy subject due to Francophone nationalism. And while my mother tongue is French, I am turned off by ethnic nationalism. I had a Francophone mother from Ontario, and an Anglophone father from Québec. I myself was born in a French enclave in Ontario. My wife and I spoke English in the home but sent our kids to French schools so they would be bilingual. My wife is of Dutch heritage. One son lives in Québec, my other son in British Columbia, and my daughter in Ontario. In our home, you can hear French, English, Dutch, and… believe or not, Latin ( I pray the Liturgy of the Hours in Latin).
So I fit nobody’s pre-conceived mould. So while I love Québec, I consider myself Canadian above all. Only secondarily as North American, which is a diverse geographic entity but not a nation-state.
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OraLabora
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Once while travelling in the UK, our hostess in the B&B we were staying in said “you’re Canadian aren’t you?” to my wife (then my girlfriend) and I. We answered “yes” of course, and assumed our accent was the tip-off. Then she added that it wasn’t the accent which sounds generic US, but -and I say this with no disrespect to my US friends- because we were too polite and quiet,and had tea instead of coffee at breakfast. Remember before you flame me: her words, not mine. And if it makes my US friends feel better, I’ve since developed an aversion to tea and love my morning coffee, though Italian-style: cappuccino or latte.
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on_the_hill
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All those people from other countries in the American Continents should be thankful that they have a national demonym. We USAers don’t have one and are forced to go by a generic name lifted from a geographic designation. We need to stand up for our right to have a name for and of ourselves.
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Sarcelle
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United States?
You have to be more specific. United States of America or United States of Mexico?
Can’t just say United States, otherwise Mexicans would take offense and say the USA is monopolizing that term again.
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Dr_Meinheimer
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Actually, the issue was more about a second-tier Colorado school with with an overdeveloped sense of self-importance trying to change the language so that in their words “communicators practice inclusive language and [help] everyone on [its] campus feel welcomed, respected, and valued.”
The fact that someone thought that worthy of typing and is actually mildly bothered by the term American to begin with this makes me want to puke all over them. Some people need to get a life. Luckily, most people couldn’t ever care less about this sort of pronouncement or recommendation from a school.
We can have whatever tangential discussion about word origin, accuracy, or what to call yourself when walking along Rue de la Paix in Paris, but none of that has anything to do with the CSU Rams sounding like clowns.
The fact that someone thought that worthy of typing and is actually mildly bothered by the term American to begin with this makes me want to puke all over them. Some people need to get a life. Luckily, most people couldn’t ever care less about this sort of pronouncement or recommendation from a school.
We can have whatever tangential discussion about word origin, accuracy, or what to call yourself when walking along Rue de la Paix in Paris, but none of that has anything to do with the CSU Rams sounding like clowns.
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Sarcelle
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This is why I go to Asia for holiday instead of Europe.
I know I will not be treated well when I go to Europe because of my nationality so I avoid it.
I know I will not be treated well when I go to Europe because of my nationality so I avoid it.
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GiftofMercy
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What definition are you using for nation?
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TheLittleLady
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The nation that I live in is named the United States of America. “America” is a nick-name, and an inaccurate one at that.
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