|
02-19-2010, 03:58 PM | #1 | |
Pink Confection
How Do You Identify?:
Femme Preferred Pronoun?:
She, Her, Ma'am Relationship Status:
Dating Myself Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Nashville
Posts: 4,266
Thanks: 17,195
Thanked 11,382 Times in 2,839 Posts
Rep Power: 21474855 |
Quote:
Sorry I came off so strongly...I owe you a drink my friend! I do feel deeply about this, but understand this may be the first time you have thought about it , and that it is likely not a priority for you. Sure we are American! and so is everyone else who lives in North, South and Central America. I think as a country, if we refered to our country as the "US", instead of as "America" it is more respectful to all the other American's and it might help our image overseas. I get that you might think what other countries think of us is not important, but it really is even if you don't plan to travel thoughhhhh....the fishing in Argentina and Chile is unbelievable, I will show you pictures that will make you weep . The Argentines and Chileans are American's too. I think it helps us all be more safe when traveling and as a nation here at home if we try to be respectful of the rest of the world. We are not the "only" Americans. Am I making sense?
__________________
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to Apocalipstic For This Useful Post: |
02-19-2010, 04:06 PM | #2 |
Member
How Do You Identify?:
Butch Preferred Pronoun?:
She Relationship Status:
No Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PNW
Posts: 823
Thanks: 1,387
Thanked 2,315 Times in 428 Posts
Rep Power: 21474851 |
Amerigo Vespucci
Hmmm, seems like both continents have been called America since the 1500's , or so...
wouldnt that make us all Americans? yet even today Italians dont call it America but rather Stati Uniti " Amerigo Vespucci was a Florentine merchant and navigator who made at least two transatlantic trips to the New World, voyages that inspired cartographer Martin Wardseemüller to label the new continent "America" in 1507. Vespucci was employed by the Florentine Medici family as a representative for their operations in Seville, Spain. He went from supplying ships to joining the expedition of Alonso Ojeda as a navigator. Although the record is unclear, it is generally accepted that Vespucci sailed with Ojeda to the northeastern coast of South America in 1499, under the flag of Spain. He made a second voyage in 1502. The story that he reached South America in 1497 is held to be apocryphal; the story that he made a fourth voyage in 1504 is also considered suspect. Somehow an account of a 1497 voyage was published, and Wardseemüller came to believe that Vespucci had commanded the expedition and had reached the New World before Christopher Columbus who found the mainland in 1498. Wardseemüller named the continent America and the label stuck. " |
The Following User Says Thank You to Boots13 For This Useful Post: |
02-19-2010, 04:09 PM | #3 | |
Pink Confection
How Do You Identify?:
Femme Preferred Pronoun?:
She, Her, Ma'am Relationship Status:
Dating Myself Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Nashville
Posts: 4,266
Thanks: 17,195
Thanked 11,382 Times in 2,839 Posts
Rep Power: 21474855 |
Quote:
__________________
|
|
02-19-2010, 06:35 PM | #4 | |
Member
How Do You Identify?:
TG/stone butch Preferred Pronoun?:
He Relationship Status:
Single Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Knoxville
Posts: 426
Thanks: 419
Thanked 1,341 Times in 309 Posts
Rep Power: 9701637 |
Quote:
I do think it's important what other nations think of us, but does me calling myself a US citizen rather than an American really make that big of an impact? I would think the actions of our government make a far greater impact. That said, I would hope my calling myself an American would in no way make anyone in another country feel negated. In fact, if we all are Americans here in the West, then it's a true statement, albeit a very general one. So, if I'm ever in another country (unlikely unless Canada), I'll be sure to say I am from the United States for the sake of peace and respect. And I can't wait to see your fishing pictures!!!!!!! ~~~shark~~~~~~~~
__________________
take a fish boating
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to sharkchomp For This Useful Post: |
02-20-2010, 09:05 PM | #5 | |
Senior Member
How Do You Identify?:
Stonefemme Relationship Status:
married to Gryph Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 2,177
Thanks: 1,126
Thanked 3,772 Times in 1,264 Posts
Rep Power: 10778869 |
Quote:
|
|
02-21-2010, 01:31 AM | #6 | |
Member
How Do You Identify?:
Butch Preferred Pronoun?:
I'm easy Relationship Status:
She's some kind of wonderful. Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks
Posts: 626
Thanks: 240
Thanked 714 Times in 325 Posts
Rep Power: 759421 |
snips:
Quote:
But, as Waldo said, it doesn't seem like anyone from South or Central America or Canada is rushing to call themselves "Americans" and who could blame them, based on the rep those from the U.S. have abroad. (although...can we say STEREOTYPE, much? Is every person from the U.S a loud obnoxious "American?") Also, for any Canadians, Central/South Americans (and I'm legit asking this) ... what is stopping you from calling yourselves Americans if you want to since you ARE indeed Americans? Back to what you said about saying "from the U.S." ... well, according to the Declaration of Independence, the name of this country *is* the United States of America. It seems like most countries have a derivative to refer to its citizens, such as Argentinian, Brazilian, Chilean, Canadian, Guatamalen, Columbian. "American" does seem like a natural progression for people from the U.S. I, too, wonder what other name would work (without being derogatory) as United Statsian a) seems unwieldy and b) leaves out what we're the united states of. Maybe our forefathers should have called us the United States in the Americas. But I don't think all of them were that well traveled enough to understand how much more there was out there. How does it make people from the U.S. dismissive, arrogant and possibly racist if they choose to call themselves Americans ... if those from South and Central America don't choose to call themselves that? I certainly understand and respect the viewpoint of others who are also obviously Americans, but I don't think U.S. citizens identifying themselves as Americans means they're racist or arrogant or dismissive unless they're denying someone else the right to do so as well. And speaking of arrogant ... Yanks, gringos? ... That's just stereotyping and making generalizations, as well. I think awareness of this issue is a great thing to have. But it seems to me the correct word usage might be "unaware" as opposed to dismissive. Simply because someone was taught they were an "American," doesn't mean they're being dismissive of others. Let's teach people instead of simply generalizing about an entire nation. And for the record, I ascribe the U.S.'s bad rep abroad to the same "Jeff Foxworthy theory" about the South. He jokes that it's "always the least intelligent among us that ends up on TV." I'm sure there are plenty of people from the U.S. who travel the world without drawing the word obnoxious, but damn those idiots that give us all a bad reputation. Just my thoughts and opinions anyway.
__________________
"I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days."
-- Crash Davis, Bull Durham |
|
The Following User Says Thank You to Write14u For This Useful Post: |
02-21-2010, 04:54 AM | #7 |
Member
How Do You Identify?:
Butch Preferred Pronoun?:
doesn't matter to me Relationship Status:
single Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 122
Thanks: 149
Thanked 167 Times in 48 Posts
Rep Power: 676963 |
When I saw the title of this thread I assumed it was a question, but that was before I read the first few posts and saw that there was already an answer given. Is everyone with a different opinion on this subject an arrogant, classist, racist? I hope not.
My reason for referring to my country as the United States of America or my nationality as American is because that's what our country is named. When the founding fathers of the USA wrote our Declaration of Independence, that's what they called it. Were the people of South America referring to any of their countries as "America" at the same time, or calling themselves "Americans"? If so, Jefferson and Adams and Franklin and everyone else involved back then owe them an apology. My understanding has been that the USA is the only country with "America" in its title. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone here will point it out. I think we shorten the name of our country because it's easier to say. |
02-21-2010, 08:12 AM | #8 | ||
Infamous Member
How Do You Identify?:
Butch Relationship Status:
A very happy Mr. Grumpy Cat Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Neither here or there
Posts: 7,987
Thanks: 27,733
Thanked 18,941 Times in 4,707 Posts
Rep Power: 21474858 |
Quote:
I think what is lacking is the knowledge that America is a continent. I did some consulting work for a Canadian firm and they always made the distinction and that made me aware that this was a US thing. Whenever they referred to the way they did things in Canada or the US as opposed to here in Colombia, they always said...oh this is how this or that is done in North America. I found that very respectful. Quote:
|
||
02-21-2010, 03:12 PM | #9 | |
Member
How Do You Identify?:
Special Snowflake Preferred Pronoun?:
she/her Relationship Status:
Married Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Wine Country, Oregon
Posts: 470
Thanks: 22
Thanked 795 Times in 238 Posts
Rep Power: 1006287 |
Quote:
And people from Colombia? as "Republican of Colombia" And how about those from Brazil? as "Federative Republicans of Brazil" And those from Germany? "Federal Republican of Germany" And how about those zany occupants of France? "French Republicans" And let's not forget the good people of "The People's Republic of China" (Yeah... what would that be? "A Person of the Republic of China" - rolls right off the tongue) Again, I realize I didn't pay a lot of attention in school (I'm sure it'll come as a shock to you all that I thought I knew it all as a teenager too), but I do believe the US(ofA) was recognized as a country before any other foreign colony on the North or South American continents. And yes, the founding fathers decreed that their newly established nation would be called "The United States of America". While I wasn't there, and do not know if their intent was to crowd out the ability for any other person living on the continents to feel comfy calling themselves an American - I some how doubt it. Why are those of you up in arms about this flap not screaming bloody murder about the audacity of the Australians? Well the poor sorry sods in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia must really hate life. Maybe it's not an issue any longer because the continental naming convention is seen as evolving from the Australian Continent to Oceania in some circles. And lest us not forget the continent Africa and the nation of South Africa or is that not so important nor confusing? This hub bub over what others call us? Lots of hot air. I don't know anyone from Germany, France, Spain, Italy or Portugal who calls themselves a European. They, seemingly more so to me, are far too nationalistic to be grouped with other nations under such an umbrella term as "European". Those from *outside* Europe? Yep, you bet! Although mostly I hear this in terms of descriptors "Oh, he's so European looking" sort of thing. The individuals from those European nation generally refer to themselves as "German", "French", "Spanish", "Italian" or "Portuguese". You'll note that each of these labels are formed off the unique identifier of their proper national name. So the call to arms to use another label for ourselves (USAian - yeah, I want to hear you call yourself that) seems rather silly. Should there not, instead, be a call to change the name of the nation? Or maybe the continent? One *really* could argue that we're much more brash and insensitive to say that we're "from the States" or "from the US" as though it's the only organization of states in the world when clearly the United Mexican States and the Federated States of Micronesia both exist. And I agree. Our bad rap has much more to do with our politics and general poor manners (not that self absorption isn't chief amongst our poor manners) over the last 40 years than it does with what the Founding Fathers so blithely determined we would wind up calling ourselves over the next many millenia. /soapbox of crankiness |
|
|
|