Flare Sci-Fi Forums: Why folks from the U.S. are called "Americans"...

This is topic Why folks from the U.S. are called "Americans"... in forum Officers' Lounge at Flare Sci-Fi Forums.

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Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

Ya know, I've heard a lot of folks wonder, sometimes with a bit of annoyance (Canadians, mostly), why people from the United States of America are called "Americans". Why not call us "United Staters" or "Yoo-Essers" or something like that? Well, something occurred to me a few days ago. Let me run it past you and see if it makes sense.

"United Staters" does not properly differentiate us from certain other Americans. Specifically, I speak of the folks who hail from Mexico. Why Mexico? Well, technically, Mexico is the United States of Mexico. The United States of Mexico is more often simply referred to as "Mexico", just as the USA is usually referred to as "America". If Mexico is populated by Mexicans, it logically follows that America must be populated (largely) by Americans.

That makes sense, does it not?

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"A firm belief that you are right does not constitute proof that you are."
-- Me
http://www.geocities.com/cyrano_jones.geo/

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

I think it's usually the "United Mexican States", though that's probably just an artifact of the translation.

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--
M. Doughty

Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :

Ehehehehe.......

This from the United Provinces and Territories of Canada (not states, mind you.......)

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Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :

Well, isn't our name technically just Canada?

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-D. Kelly

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

But doesn't that make me, Monty, Orion et al, er, Kingdomers?

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Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

Actually, I don't follow that logic, since America is a larger whole and "United States of" is the more distinguishing characteristic.

Mexico ("The United States of Mexico," IIRC) is not a larger whole.

Canada isn't either (even though the entire official name is "Canada" and formerly "The Dominion of Canada").

America is. But all this could've been avoided if you lived in the United States of Vespuccia.

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"Warning: The contents of this Physics lab are 100% matter. Should the lab come in contact with antimatter in any way, a catastrophic explosion will occur."

Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

I can hear the National Anthem now:

"God bless Vespucciland...!"

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"A firm belief that you are right does not constitute proof that you are."
-- Me
http://www.geocities.com/cyrano_jones.geo/