Some say to stop using the word ‘American’. What’s next?

[babochka]

Yeah, that’s a strange definition that I have never heard anyone use, especially my colleagues. Continents are matters of geography, not earth science.

Eurasia being a thing, by virtue of being a combined land-mass.

Again, both/and, not either/or. One cannot really study geography without also studying geology.

 

[Rhubarb]

I don’t consider the phrase “American” an important part of my national identity. I think it’s a silly and self-centric phrase.

 

[AlbMagno]

So America isn’t a continent, but USA has the right to call themselves Americans, but not us. Great logic.

 

[phil19034]

I don’t consider the phrase “American” an important part of my national identity. I think it’s a silly and self-centric phrase.

What would you consider your national identity to be? I’m honestly curious.

I know some Americans might say “New Yorker,” “Texan,” or “Californian.” But most people would consider their national identify to be "American.

 

[AlbMagno]

Then America CAN be one continent. I think your post was just to bash my country.

 

[VanitasVanitatum]

You can if you want, but depending on the context people might misunderstand or not.

 

[DaveBj]

I’ve lived in England and traveled the rest of Europe quite a bit. Not all Americans are loud, but the few that are definitely get attention and are sometimes rude.

I’ve observed the same about some Britons outside the UK.

D

 

[babochka]

So America isn’t a continent, but USA has the right to call themselves Americans, but not us. Great logic.

But do you call yourself American in everyday usage? Do you want to? Histirically, have people in your country referred to yourselves as Americans?

 

[Rhubarb]

I refer to my country as “The United States” the “US” or “USA”. I refer to myself as “from the US” or, one of the terms above.

I very much consider my national identity the same as yours. I choose my language differently. Because there are lots of people from, let’s just call it “The Americas” who aren’t from the US.

 

[AlbMagno]

Yes, just as europeans call themselves europeans.

 

[VanitasVanitatum]

Histirically, have people in your country referred to yourselves as Americans?

There are many deviations from tradition and history. The current trend would be more appropriate to consider.

 

[phil19034]

So America isn’t a continent, but USA has the right to call themselves Americans, but not us. Great logic.

Where are you from?

America is the name of our nation (United States is an adjective). North America and South America is the name of our continents.

You are either a “North American” or “South American.” The north and south in “North America” and “South America” are not adjectives. They are part of the name.

It’s not different than someone from the State of West Virginia vs someone from State of Virginia. The person from West Virginia is properly a “West Virginian.” They are NOT Virginian, as a Virginian is only someone from Virginia.

Now, you could argue that we should have picked a different name hundreds of years ago, but people from the colonies viewed themselves as “American” when everyone in Mexico and South America considered themselves Spanish and part of the Spanish Empire (and people in Brazil were considered Portuguese and part of the Portuguese Empire - heck the capital of the Portuguese Empire almost permanently moved to Rio)

 

[babochka]

babochka:

Histirically, have people in your country referred to yourselves as Americans?

There are many deviations from tradition and history. The current trend would be more appropriate to consider.

I am interested in both the current trend and historical context, in order to gain a more complete picture.

 

[Rhubarb]

See, that’s just it. The name of our country isn’t America. The name of our nation is “The United States of America”. You say the whole thing - like “A Tribe Called Quest” or “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince” (for awhile at least)

It’s just factually inaccurate to say this nation’s name is “America”

 

[Sarcelle]

Except the French. I could swear they were born with mufflers installed in their larynges. It’s a stereotype, yes, but I’ve never met a noisy French person.

They’re not loud when they don’t know you but I’ve met several who became good friends and they become loud once they become comfortable with you.

 

[Convert3]

The PC police are alive and well!

 

[phil19034]

Then America CAN be one continent. I think your post was just to bash my country.

I have no idea what country you are from. I wasn’t bashing any country.

If you are referring to Argentina, I just simply know that they are the most vocal about being American too. It’s not a bash of Argentina. I think it’s a beautiful place and I really want to go there (I missed an opportunity to go to a wedding there years ago).

The point is: there is a disagreement over whether we have two continents or one.

If we were one Continent called America (which we are not) then I would agree that it would be totally wrong for the United States of America to use the name “America” in the name of the nation, let alone call ourselves “Americans.”

However, there is no continent called America. There are “North Americans” and “South Americans.”

The North and South are properly capitalized because they are part of the name, not an adjective.

 

[AlbMagno]

We have already told you, continents aren’t standarized by your definition,and I would argue for it, we changed our name when it was generic enough. Now, you can mantain the name of your nationality, but don’t tell us who is partt of America and who isn’t.

 

[phil19034]

We have already told you, continents aren’t standarized by your definition,and I would argue for it, we changed our name when it was generic enough. Now, you can mantain the name of your nationality, but don’t tell us who is partt of America and who isn’t.

Personally, I don’t care if someone from South America calls themselves American. They can do that all day long as far as I’m concerned.

However, I do object when people tell us that we can’t call ourselves American. I have had that happen to me several times, when I said “I’m American.” And the ones who have objected (to my face) have always been Argentinians.

And considering that my Great Grandfather immigrated to the United States from Argentina, I feel comfortable stating this fact as an observation and not an ethnic slur as I’m half Spanish/Hispanic in lineage.

 

[AlbMagno]

Fair enough