Why do people from South America and Canada get mad at the term "Americans" (best, life)

[seixal]

Originally Posted by Aztecgoddess

Every day there's something new to learn, thank you

You're very welcome

[Pueblofuerte]

Originally Posted by rosa surf

People take this waaaay to seriously. People from the U.S.=Americans, people from all of the Americas=Americans. Whoever chooses to use what is pretty much based on local culture and changes and fluctuates too. And no one is wrong.

You're preaching to the choir my loverr

[Haukur]

Originally Posted by TKO

I'm not one to criticize most examples of what some people would call PC. I think it behooves all of us to be considerate of other people's feelings.

However, we have America in our name and no other country in the Americas does (as mentioned previously). In addition, to use the cliche, possession is 90% of the law. We saw the name, we took the name and now it's ours.

Well, there is only one continent whose name is America. No other continent is called America and this predates the foundation of the US.

[TKO]

Originally Posted by Haukur

Well, there is only one continent whose name is America. No other continent is called America and this predates the foundation of the US.

United and States are a hard thing to call people and there's not much else to work with. It works for the country fine and I say US frequently.

Since the United States are within one of the two American continents, if they going to be of something it would America.

Other countries were free to use America in their name too, and they would have a legitimate beef if they were first, but none chose to do so.

[Haukur]

Originally Posted by TKO

United and States are a hard thing to call people and there's not much else to work with. It works for the country fine and I say US frequently.

Since the United States are within one of the two American continents, if they going to be of something it would America.

Other countries were free to use America in their name too, and they would have a legitimate beef if they were first, but none chose to do so.

There is no reason for American countries to add "America" to their names to validate the fact that they are American countries.

And America is a single continent; not two.

[TKO]

Originally Posted by Haukur

And America is a single continent; not two.

Only on Asian maps. They rest of us look at North and South America as two continents.

[Botev1912]

Americas are two continents at least according to European textbooks.

[415_s2k]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

Americas are two continents at least according to European textbooks.

All English speaking countries, China, India, Japan, Russia, and most of Western, Northern, and Eastern Europe... the one continent model is used mainly in Latin/South America and the Mediterranean nations.

[Haukur]

Originally Posted by TKO

Only on Asian maps. They rest of us look at North and South America as two continents.

The 7 continent model is the US invention. However, you must understand that the US came to exist much later when the concept of America was already estalished officially so the US has no authority to re-write history just to fit its own taste. That is disrespectful and that is the very reason why most Americans feel upset with the US.

If there are countries that teach the 7 continent model it is not because it is the correct one (which is not); it is only because of the power the US has had around the world to influence the notion of certain concepts. If people hear "This is America" in movies all the time it is then obvious that people who have never studied American history will end up thinking America us a country when the fact is that it is a continent.

[Botev1912]

There is no continent called America. Get over it.