America isn't just the U.S.A. So what is an American?

[Slevin57]

Most scientists and geographers refer to 6 continents: Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia, North America, and South America.

On the basis that a continent is a landmass separated by some body of water.

[fushigi]

Back to the thread...

What drives me crazy is that Brazilians, Ecuadoreans, and Canadians revile us for describing ourselves as "Americans," because they say it discriminates against them - "HEY! We're Americans too!"

Yet don't embrace the title for themselves. I've never once heard a Brazilian proudly declare she was "American," except to say that united staters aren't the only ones.

Blech. Political correctness.

[Slevin57]

I wasn't aware this was a problem.

Isn't it possible we call each other American's because we live in the United States of America and not because of the continent.

For Instance, Russians do not call themselves Asians, yet Russia is in Asia.

[fushigi]

You're right, they call themselves "Eurasian." I think they're the only ones laterally spread out enough to make such a claim.

Even if they weren't, they probably wouldn't catch the flack I do for calling myself "American" (as if I think we're the only ones in America.)

You'd think we would have gotten the right to it, considering we're the only ones using the term. I don't see Astrud Gilberto or Molotov singing songs like "American Woman," "Ain't that America," "White America," or "America, the Beautiful."

Possession is 9/10ths of the law, dammit!

[tinybear]

America basically consists of the USA and her colonies and protectorates. So an American is either a US citizen or a citizen of these colonies/protectorates.

I thought everyone knew that.

[fushigi]

No, America is the entire continent. That's why we bother with pesky identifiers like "North America," "Central America," and "South America."

We happen to be the only united group of states within the American continent, but that doesn't automatically give us the right to assume we're the only "America."

Have you ever met a French guy who responded to the question, "Where are you from?" by saying "Europe"? German? Dutch?

I'd imagine if there ever is a United States of Europe, we'll see such things happening. And I also guarantee that non-joiners (obviously countries like Norway and Switzerland) would resent others claiming they were from "Europe," as if their unification gave them monopolistic rights to the name.

[FIFI]

Quote by: Spoken Word ...I wasn't expecting arguments with more questions but I guess it's a good point...... Although I think the answer to yours might be a little old considering America was named as the "New World" MANY years ago. And even if I knew the answer, I'd know the "geographical" answer to mine as well. I believe there is a "racial" answer. I'd like to know what Canadian and Mexican schools teach but even if they the same as the U.S., I'd want to know the reason for the seperation of America. No offence either just wondering. It isn't really important, I consider it interesting.

I went to school in Oregon, and they taught that the American continent was all of America, Canada, and Mexico.
If you said things like, I live in America, it should mean the continent, but due to slang, it know means the United States. I believe you might be reading to much into it. Of course we seperate our selves from Canada and Mexico, because those are different countries, and respectivly, governments and cultures as well. The Americas or The American continent differs from Americans, according to the language use. Just like Europe and France are techniqually the same, but more specific.

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: Spoken Word the U.S is the only country that considers America two continents.

You haven't established this as a fact. Do you have a reference for substantiation?

[Osborn F Enready]

Why would I attempt to speak for more than myself OP?

[Spoken Word]

Quote by: tinybear America basically consists of the USA and her colonies and protectorates. So an American is either a US citizen or a citizen of these colonies/protectorates. I thought everyone knew that.

? where his shit for such an ignorant comment?

Quote by: PatrickHenry You haven't established this as a fact. Do you have a reference for substantiation?

you got me there, delete the thread then.:rolleyes:

ive talked to many different people about this. you know.. off line. just cause i don't look it up on the internet doesnt mean its false.
[edit]that comment is false though. other countries consider america two continents, we've established that. also that they divide it because of the panama canal. i should think before I post, forgive me.

[Nono]

Quote by: fushigi My girlfriend (Brazilian) takes offense to me describing myself as an "American." She calls me a "stater."

Your girlfriend is entitled to describe you any way she wants -- in Portuguese! But we'll employ the English language the way we choose to thanks-very-much. And it's broadly agreed in English that an American is a US citizen. Sorry, that's the way the language works.

What drives me crazy is that Brazilians, Ecuadoreans, and Canadians revile us for describing ourselves as "Americans," because they say it discriminates against them - "HEY! We're Americans too!"

I'm Canadian, and I'd never say that. Canadians are North Americans, Ecuadoreans are South Americans. Basta.

[fushigi]

Heh, good point Nono.

Let's see you try to argue that with a roomful of Carioca IR grads, though. Falls on deaf ears, so to speak.

[Le GoogelGuRu]

Quote by: Isherwood Politics and geography are often at odds. We don't consider people from India Asians, but India is in what we call Asia. North and South America seem obvious, but the division between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are more political than geographic. If we were only using geography as a basis, you'd be correct to call Canadians and Mexicans Americans. Since that leads to confusion, we accept the political definitions.

I consider myself both Canadian and American. :p

[brien]

I say "I'm from the US," and quickly specify California (we are the most tolerated US state).

Sounds as though you are an apologist for being from the US. Too bad, if that is the case.

If I had 1 RMB for every time I heard a Chinese say, "Oh, you're from the US huh? I don't like staters. I don't like Bush," I'd have a nice little collection going.

Like the Chinese, or any other nation has room to talk. F*cking hypocrites, I would call them. Perhaps the Swiss own the high moral ground, dunno. To blame and put down people from the US because of the current US administration and government is short sighted, ignorant, and insulting to the individual they are addressing in the conversation. I would suggest that if any other nation were without some fault in their national history, then allow then to cast the first stone. Otherwise, I say f*ck off, I am from the US and proud of it, despite all of its faults.

[brien]

A country is bombing your kids, invading your country, just generally fucking it up, aren't you going to give that country flack?

Since when are we bombing the Chinese? Iraqis or Afghans may have a axe to grind, but who else is the US bombing now?

[rmnunez]

In Europe they teach two Americas, North and South. In Mexico it is part of North America, Canada is the other besides the US. South of Mexico they have Central America.

"Americans" as in people of the US, are formally refered to as "estadounidenses" (united statians) in Mexico, informaly they are sometimes 'gabachos' or the other more infamous and forbidden "g-word".

[Boetie]

And what about the natives in the western hemisphere. They are called indians when in reality they are not indians. The name was given to them because of a goof up on Columbus's part.

Columbus originally was to have set course for India. He never made it but thought to call the natives in the western hemisphere indians anyway.

Not only do we have the mistake of calling the natives indians we attached America to them as well. Of course the natives have adopted the Native American Indian identity but in reality that is not the identity of their ancestors.

As it stands everyone on this side of the western hemisphere can call themselve Americans.

[brien]

And what about the natives in the western hemisphere

Aboriginals?

[Nono]

Quote by: brien Perhaps the Swiss own the high moral ground.

They cerrtainly have a little of the geographical high ground.

To blame and put down people from the US because of the current US administration and government is short sighted, ignorant, and insulting to the individual they are addressing in the conversation. I would suggest that if any other nation were without some fault in their national history, then allow then to cast the first stone. Otherwise, I say f*ck off, I am from the US and proud of it, despite all of its faults.

Well I never understand what people mean by "proud" when it comes to their nationality. At least when it's an accident of birth. As a naturalized citizen of a second country -- something I really had to work at becoming -- I guess I could go around saying "Yep, real proud". But I've never had the impulse.

I'd say that individual Americans are only as responsible for things as their personal voting record... And many perfectly blameless, freethinking Americans get dumped on abroad by people who would probably be no better if roles were reversed. But hey, when you're Number One you have more to live up to.

Anyway, when I see one of those "Oh-you're-American-I-hate-Bush" scenes I always intervene and try to turn the tables on the aggressor ("Oh you're Paraguayan, yeah that Stroessner was a murderous sleazebag, eh?" -- whatever). Mindless anti is as stupid as mindless pro.

[5010]

I've heard the term 'North American' when someone is referred by continent and 'American' when referring to someone from the USA and 'Native American' if they have an ancestor that was on the continent prior to European migration. But I tell people I am a native American because I was born in America even though my grandparents were all born in Czechoslovakia. Where else could I be native??