Alternatives to “American” don’t make sense

Occasionally, I read someone (who invariably has problems with Americans, or is obsequiously deferential to Canadians and Latin Americans) that says the term American should not be applied to the citizens of the USA, but to all citizens of the North & South American continents. They propose terms like “North American,” “USian” and other terms that don’t exactly roll off your tongue.

As pissed off as you might be about Americans, renaming us will not catch on, and what’s more, it doesn’t make sense:

1. The USA is not the only United States country. Mexico’s official name is Estados Unidos Mexicanos or United Mexican States (their term for the USA is Estados Unidos de America). So calling the USA “the US” is as egregious an error as calling it “America.”

2. The USA was the first sovereign nation in the Americas, and thus can lay claim to the name “America.” (Don’t like that? Should’ve declared your independence first)

3. No other country in the Americas has the word “America” in their name.

4. No other country national is called “American.”

5. People might say “americano/americana” in Latin America with respect to their residency in the Americas, but that’s in Spanish. Until we start, in English, calling Germans “deutch”, Armenians “hai,” and Croatians “hrvati,” I don’t see the point of adopting names in other languages into English usage.

6. “North American” is inaccurate since Canada is also in North America. (So is, arguably, Mexico)

7. “USian” could arguably apply to Mexicans. (See #1 above)

8. “Unitedstatesofamerican” is just stupid. (Even though it is the most accurate next to American)

9. Try calling a Canadian “American” and see what their reaction is.

10. I have a hard time imagining that the term “American,” which has become a dirty word worldwide recently, wants to be claimed by other nationalities in the hemisphere, who share nothing more with the USA other than the accident of geographic proximity and land bridge in Panama.

Post by JM

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PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT AMERICA IS A CONTINENT NEED TO DIE!

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