In the lunch room several years ago, one of my colleagues corrected herself after using the word “Americans” to refer to well, some Americans. She then changed it to North American. Something borders (pardon the pun) on silliness about this whole thing.
First of all, the idea that using American is somehow inaccurate or elitist just plain ignores the facts. I am a citizen of the United States of America. No other country uses America in its official name that I am aware of. It is not Canada of America, Brazil of America or Mexico of America. Latin America is not a country.
Second, her correction was no correction at all. If citizens of the US were to start calling themselves North Americans, the Canadians could then object.
Third, do the people in Mexico really want to think of themselves as Americans when the Iranians or Saudis pile into their streets chanting “Death to America” or the Europeans march with their signs condemning those awful “Americans”? I think not.
Fourth, it is too late. If somebody wanted to start complaining about this they should have started a couple hundred years ago.
Fifth, it is strange to see Americans self-flagellating over this when those fuss-budgets rarely offer a reasonable alternative. USAer? United Stateser? USist?
Sixth, if other Latin American countries want to use American, let them have at it. When I use “American” it is not done with any sort of exclusivity in attitude. I do mean citizens of the USA. But if others want to use it, who is going to stop them?
Seventh, This has been tried numerous times before and it has failed every time.
You May Also Like
When You Lose Income You Cut Spending Right?
At least that is what most sane households would do, but this…
John Hendrickson: The best economic policy can be summed up by tax cuts, budget cuts, and limited government, or to phrase it in simple terms: Constitutional government.
Poll: Millennial Women Are Largely Disinterested in Midterm Elections
Shane Vander Hart: A new poll of Millennial women show they are politically disengaged. What this means for the blue wave some are predicting remains to be seen.
