Americans aren't the only Americans.

Arceus64 · Before February 2015

I've partially U.S., and I've been studying the west hemisphere for quite some time, and I've come down to a basis that U.S. Americans are the only Americans on this planet.

Here's my point: America is two continents, North and South. It just so happens that the person who the U.S. was named after, Amerigo Vespucci, decided on the name America, leading to unneccesary confusion and offensiveness to some people.

Americans who say that U.S. Americans are the only Americans are offensive because Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South American residents are also Americans, just not in America (U.S.).

I would argue that the term American should only mean the people who live on the two continents and not the residents in the country U.S., but would hardly ever happen, and what would Americans be called?

Please discuss. Counteragruements are also appreciated, that's how we discuss as a group.

Last edited by Arceus64 (Sep 23 2012 11:54:40 am)

Zoey2070 · Before February 2015

Uh, okay, that's hardly racist. Did you know that the US is called the United States of America? I don't think any of those other countries have the word 'America' in their names. What would people from the US call themselves? Statsians? Even though there's a few other 'United States' out there? source
And you know, anyone who lives in Canada is considered a Canadian. Mexicans are from Mexico. It's like that for most countries in the world. We have America in our name. We're Americans. If you want to refer to North, South, and Central American inhabitants, just say, 'people who live in the Western Hemisphere'. Personally, I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill.

You used the term, 'U.S.' several times. Aren't you being racist to people who live in the United Mexican States, also known as Mexico?

Last edited by Zoey2070 (Sep 23 2012 11:17:38 am)

Jaybm · Before February 2015

I'm not sure if there is a factually based rule on this, but i'll just throw my opinions out there for the counterargument.

First of all, since your not discriminating in a negative manner against a race, or discrimination at all really, racist is not the correct word.

When talking about South America, you would say you are South American. When talking about living in North America, you would say North American. Why? Because they are two entirely different continents, and the population of them are not thrown into one pot. So you use different terms for each.

When grouping both North and South America, you refer to it as the Americas. Not as America. Even though its a silly single letter, it makes all the difference. By using it without the s, you would be talking about the United States.

In relation to U.S.A being the only Americans. America is short for United States of America, as you know. So technically American would be politically correct.

I could be entirely wrong, and stuff, but this is just what I think.

King Mabel · Before February 2015

Americans 'r Fat

Arceus64 · Before February 2015

^ That's offensive right there.

Zoey2070 wrote:

You used the term, 'U.S.' several times. Aren't you being racist to people who live in the United Mexican States, also known as Mexico?

Hardly, I never the mentioned the United States of America as the only United country in the Americas.

Last edited by Arceus64 (Sep 23 2012 11:46:46 am)

Nou · Before February 2015

Please stop using the word 'racist' if you don't know what it means.

Zoey2070 · Before February 2015

Arceus64 wrote:

^ That's offensive right there.
Zoey2070 wrote:
You used the term, 'U.S.' several times. Aren't you being racist to people who live in the United Mexican States, also known as Mexico?
Hardly, I never the mentioned the United States of America as the only United country in the Americas.

And no one's said that the USA is the only place that uses the world 'America' either.

@ Nou: I agree.

Arceus64 · Before February 2015

Nou wrote:

Please stop using the word 'racist' if you don't know what it means.

Offensive is probably a better word.

Jaybm wrote:

When talking about South America, you would say you are South American. When talking about living in North America, you would say North American. Why? Because they are two entirely different continents, and the population of them are not thrown into one pot. So you use different terms for each.
When grouping both North and South America, you refer to it as the Americas. Not as America. Even though its a silly single letter, it makes all the difference. By using it without the s, you would be talking about the United States.
In relation to U.S.A being the only Americans. America is short for United States of America, as you know. So technically American would be politically correct.

If I was lived in Panama, I would also call myself Central American, but there are many words with American in it refered to United States, such as American football.

People might say, "Why not call American football 'North American football'?"
That wouldn't work because Canadian and Mexican football, which is soccer, is more popular than throwing football in those respective countries.

Last edited by Arceus64 (Sep 23 2012 12:16:02 pm)

Ratburntro44 · Before February 2015

I don't really care what people call themselves. If someone from Mexico tells me they want to be called American, I will. If they don't, I won't.

King Mabel · Before February 2015

Idk but Americans are obese they eat fastfood sorry bro thats true 30% of America are over weight or obese by studies

Ratburntro44 · Before February 2015

King Mabel wrote:

Idk but Americans are obese they eat fastfood sorry bro thats true 30% of America are over weight or obese by studies

Fact: 100% of people on this forum named King Mabel submit posts that, if not spam, are barely above it.

Jaybm · Before February 2015

King Mabel wrote:

Idk but Americans are obese they eat fastfood sorry bro thats true 30% of America are over weight or obese by studies

Sorry bro, but that is the most stereotypical, annoying, and lack of evidence based thing I may have ever seen in my life.

If you look at some actual evidence, obesity is more of a world problem, America is just ahead of everyone by a few percentiles. Yes, it'd be nice if america dropped a few pounds, but it would be nice if the entire world did.

Notice how the higher you get on the list, the richer the country. All the top countries have more obese people. Why? Because being fat is expensive ****. So looking at the big picture, I'd rather be obese and rich than skinny and barely scrapping by, but that's just me. So before you critique the American way, lets keep some perspective in mind. Whatever the heck we're doing in America, it seems to be working pretty well, huh?

Now that I have dismissed your, out of context, statistic, let's begin with your stereotypical ways.

You've never been to America, as I can tell. If you were to come to America, what would you expect to see, a bunch of fat people everywhere? Well it depends where you visit, but for the most part, no. The fact that you would even consider suggesting that all Americans have the same qualities, you're so wrong you should be ashamed of yourself. There are tons of people who aren't overweight.

I'm overwhelmed by your proposal that Americans eat fastfood. I don't even know where to start, but I'll just jump right in. Not all americans eat fastfood. That statement is so beyond worthless, I'm not sure why I'm even correcting it.. Millions of people in America don't. Why? A lot of fastfood places are unhealthy. Same reason you don't. And, for the record, america isn't the only place with fastfood.

And just to be an prick:

You clearly did not read the op, you just said "lulu im gonna post some BS and tick some people off cause i can lulz." Stop being such a baby behind your computer and insulting others. Clearly you can't take the heat by yourself, so you just sidestep what everyone says, like in your other topics.

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I apologize for going so off-topic here Arceus64.

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Edit: ugh dangit he's banned, now he'll never see this massive essay I wrote

Last edited by Jaybm (Sep 23 2012 2:49:14 pm)

SilverStar · Before February 2015

Arceus64 wrote:

People might say, "Why not call American football 'North American football'?"
That wouldn't work because Canadian and Mexican football, which is soccer, is more popular than throwing football in those respective countries.

Ironic though... In the Spanish language, (Which by the way is used in most "American" countires) The way to say United States football is fútbol north americano.
Don't try to translate that though, because translators don't work well.

Ironic also, the word Hispanic comes from the word Spanish, but Hispanic is used to describe many South Americans.

Also, Native Americans are commonly called "Indians". Indian means from India if you didn't know, but of course they aren't from India. They were called Indians because of a mistake by Christopher Colombus, so why do some people still call them Indians?

The moral of this post is that names are often inaccurate, and most of the time people just know what you're talking about anyway. Like when your mom calls you your siblings name.

AzurePudding · Before February 2015

It's because the other countries have their own names. If the USA had a different country name, it would be called.. well, that, instead. If someone is Canadian, you call them Canadian. If someone is in the US, you call them American. Though technically I can see your point.

You could make other arguments like white people aren't white, and black people aren't black. However when these terms are used, we know what the person means.

JadElClemens · Before February 2015

I honestly prefer to say "Citizen of the United States of America" or "USA citizen" and I call the entire North and South continents of America "America" collectively, but I do agree that it is logical that USA citizens are the only people living in a country with America in the name (that, is, in North or South America), so "American" is an accurate adjective. I still think that calling both North and South America "America" collectively whenever you need to refer to it is sound practice.

Echo! · Before February 2015

I don't mean to be racist, but this comment is not racist, and worthless, and spam.. O_o

Last edited by Echo! (Sep 24 2012 8:57:18 am)

Arceus64 · Before February 2015

Jaybm wrote:

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I apologize for going so off-topic here Arceus64.
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Don't worry, I'm fine with that

32OrtonEdge32dh · Before February 2015

Do New Guineans (New Guinea is part of the Australian continent) get mad at people who live in the country Australia for calling themselves Australian? No, because it's their country and their demonym.
Residents of the United States of America are called Americans. Do you have something better to call us?
Residents of Mexico are called Mexicans.
Residents of Canada are called Canadians.
Residents of North America are called North Americans.
Residents of Central America are called Central Americans.
Residents of South America are called South Americans.
Combinations of North, Central, and/or South America are "the Americas". Why? Because they all have America in their name. The same way the United States of America has America in its name.
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SilverStar29 wrote:

Arceus64 wrote:
People might say, "Why not call American football 'North American football'?"
That wouldn't work because Canadian and Mexican football, which is soccer, is more popular than throwing football in those respective countries.
Ironic though... In the Spanish language, (Which by the way is used in most "American" countires) The way to say United States football is fútbol north americano.

It's actually fútbol norteamericano.

Shift · Before February 2015

Um, no. First of all, anybody in South America would be a South American. Second of all, what else would Americans (from the United States, mind you) be called? United Statians? Every ethnicity derives from the country, not the continent. There are Mexicans, Canadians, Brazilians, French, and Chinese, not Americans, Americans, Americans, Europeans, and Asians. Although admittedly most people do generalize Asians...

By your logic, your using the term "US" to describe the United States of America is as racist as it gets, for numerous countries around the world are made up of united states.

And for the record, it's fútbol americano, not fútbol norteamericano nor fútbol north americano.

iPwner · Before February 2015

My debate is simply as follows - who cares? Live with it. You ain't changin' anythin' boi! We call ourselves Americans from our perspective, but who knows, maybe some Mexicans or Brazilians or whatever the joo out there call themselves Americans! But, having taken a Spanish course, I know that they don't always call us "Americans" as "americanos," but alot of the times call people who live in the United States "estadounidenses"! ;p

Last edited by ipwner (Sep 23 2012 6:34:35 pm)

Tako · Before February 2015

This is why we have country names, so you can easily distinguish between different societies.

Continent names are more of a geographical tool than a social boundary, and should not be recognized as a characteristic in a person. Each continent varies so much within itself, it's not reliable at all.

If for some strange reason a person wants to know the continent you live in, you would say "North American" or "South American", not just "American". Not because it's often confused with a US citizen, but because North and South American vary so much.

Summarized: It's not a problem because you're just saying what country you are from. It's not arrogance, it's proper English. People from Canada, Mexico, Argentina, or Chile who refer to themself as "American" are being superficially vague and might as well say "I'm from over there. Not there."

Basically I'm reiterating what everyone else said.

Tako · Before February 2015

King Mabel wrote:

Americans 'r Fat

Here's another warning for being off-topic.

Notsobad · Before February 2015

My question is, wouldn't only Canadians be offended by this if at all? Any other country is the Americas is Latin America therefore people living there are Latin Americans, not so much Americans. So, calling citizens of the United States Americans could logically only offend Canadians. If people from Latin American countries are offended, just give the counterarguement that they are Latin Americans. If they are somehow upset by that, just ask if they are proud to be a Latin American, because I'm proud to be an American.

Just my perspective. No harm or racism meant.

JadElClemens · Before February 2015

TakoMan02 wrote:

King Mabel wrote:
Americans 'r Fat
Here's another warning for being off-topic.

I was under the impression that he/she'd already been permabanned. I mean, it was only two warnings and a ban the last time I Czeched.
I did something there. Do you see it?

Koto · Before February 2015

AzurePudding wrote:

It's because the other countries have their own names. If the USA had a different country name, it would be called.. well, that, instead. If someone is Canadian, you call them Canadian. If someone is in the US, you call them American. Though technically I can see your point.

Haha, I was going to post something similar to this, but people also go by what continent they came from, too. I'm sure you've heard people refer to themselves as Europeans, here on the forums before.

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