Who or what is an American?

[Geoff45 (Geoff)]

General usage in the Enlish speaking world is to refer to citizens of the USA as "Americans" and their country as "America". However, it seems to me that Canadians, Mexicans and all people in Central and South America are also Americans, just as the Germans, Swedes, French and British are all Europeans. In fact when I was in Buenos Aires a couple of years back I made reference to "Americans" I was told politely, but firmly "Please don't call them Americans. We are also Americans, and besides, we were here first."
So why have we let the Johnny-come-lately citizens of the USA usurp the words "America" and "Americans"? By the way, the US and US citizens is not correct either, since we have the United States of Mexico bordering the USA.

Just my stir for the day
Geoff

[erick (Eric)]

Yes, I'll join you. Answer:- Anyone who lives in the continent of America and that's lots of people from many countries.

I guess the folks who live in the USA and "US Americans" or "USA citizens"?

(But don't call a Canadian an "American" )

[Kal (Andrew)]

This is a tricky one, and one I haven't really realised when I use the term 'Americans'.

Technically, it refers to anyone from the two continents, North and South America. However, common and current useage dictates language, so words, and their meaning and application, can change over time. Without doubt most people when using the word 'Americans' in this current age will be referring to the citizens of the United States of America.

[Baddad (Marty)]

From ghsmith45

Who or what is an American?
General usage in the Enlish speaking world is to refer to citizens of the USA as "Americans" and their country as "America". However, it seems ....




I'll email my son in Arizona. He may straighten this out.
Its Brisbane time plus seven hours in Arizona, and minus a day.
ie. 4 PM Friday in Bris. Its 11 PM Thursday in Arizona.
Hope to get an answer tomorrow.
Back to you soon

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by erick

(But don't call a Canadian an "American" )

Unless you live in Quebec, they love Americans.

Cheers

[Enchilada]

"Americans" calling themselves this not based on geography but many of their solar system sized egos. One example, just look at their baseball "World Series" ! (You can't get more ego driven that that.)

By definition Americans are really "citizens of any nation in the Americas", but I can also see why the rest of North America and, especially, South America can't stand this demeaning term. This is especially true as the picture of the "Ugly American" are privately considered exploitative, "own the joint" folk, who are often somewhat condescending towards foreigners. I also think why others not from the USA see it as a derogatory insult - a kind of "don't lump me with those rotten untrustworthy so-and-sos."

As an example; Chile starting about WWII whose local government was flagrantly exploited by the U.S. Government and copper companies uptil about 1968. When the Chileans stood up to them and form two companies of their own, the U.S. Government soon destabilised the market leading to the U.S. sponsored and hostile coup d’état in 1973 against President Allende legitimately elected government. This left the dictatorship of Augasto Pinochet - and the exploitative copper mining still continued. As Richard Nixon said in September 1970 about the whole fiasco; "Make the economy scream to prevent Allende from coming to power or to unseat him" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Chilean_coup_d'état. For this reason, most Chileans would especially hate being called "American"

True. Love 'em individually, but collectively IMO they are not so nice. Mostly they play far too hardball and ruthless for me, whose unwarranted air of superiority really bothers me. (Company excluded, of course.)

In the end, I suppose anything is better than always being called "scum buckets" or "septic tanks."

[vash (Ashley)]

I just call them Yanks.

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

TBH, i had this argument over there, i lived there briefly due to a work contract, and had this argument with them, i questioned the term "African American" ,i said "you are either American, or African, but there is no such thing as an African American" to which i was told yes there is, and said "Well, you might be American and of African Heritage etc. but you quite literally cant be born in two places". My partner is British, but has dual citizenship and has lived here for 20 years, but she isnt "Brittish Australian"

Another thing that got up my hump was when people heard my accent (its fairly strong, think Billy Connolly mixed with Ewan McGregor and your kinda there) and said where are you from? "Scotland" said me "Glasgow to be more exact" (not that anyone knew where the biggest city in Scotland was) and some people said to me "oh yeah, i am Scottish" or they said "I am Scots/Irish" and would question it "How so? where were you born?" i would ask "Oh i was born in the USA but my great, great, great Grandpappy was from Scotland and my great great Gandma was Irish, so i am Scots/Irish". "No you're not" would be the reply "You're an American"

that never went down well.

[Enchilada]

Originally Posted by toryglen-boy

"Scotland" said me "Glasgow to be more exact"

Reminds me ages ago when when talked this 20-something lassie a few years ago. When saying where she come from in Scotland, she said "Glasgow" too. When ask how she felt being Glaswegian, she said she could not stand the name - as it seemed to confuse too many "who thought we in Glasgow were all short wee people!"

[GrahamL]

Arn't we all one under the one night sky ??... Prior the last ISAN I sent out quite a few emails to rergistered members .. It was so good to hear back from many of them .. russia ..china ..india ..ect..and yes the americias.. my personal view on all this is ...Don't judge another

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

Originally Posted by nightstalker

Arn't we all one under the one night sky ??... Prior the last ISAN I sent out quite a few emails to rergistered members .. It was so good to hear back from many of them .. russia ..china ..india ..ect..and yes the americias.. my personal view on all this is ...Don't judge another

i cant speak for anyone else, but i am certainly not judging anyone.

and I doff my cap to thee, for a phenomenon that exists on this forum that i call the "Ebony and Ivory" post.

Halfway through a thread someone ALWAYS posts something along the lines of "arent we all specs of insignifigance under the stars timeless wonder" or other such stuff.


congrats

[avandonk]

Be careful. I think a Klingon don't really cares.

bert

Don't the wild crowds shout USA! repeatedly not america. Nothing to see here move on!

Bert

[h0ughy (David)]

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