Calling All Imaginative AH Irregulars

[Rumple Foreskin]

Now what irks me is the use of "American" here. America is not the U.S. alone, but I see no Mexican, Argentinian, Bolivian, Canadian, etc. directors on that list.

Xarumphtl, Perdita

Perdita,

I feel your irkedness, honest. But you and all the other residents of the western hemisphere who echo your complaint need to either cut "American" citizens some slack or come up with a better term.

"United States of Americans" is a tad wordy. "USA'ers" sounds silly. "North Americans" would include folks in Mexico and Canada, an inclusion which would, understandably, get them all riled up. And for me at least, "United Statesians" is a total none starter.

Maybe the AH irregulars, with their unique imaginations, will be able to come up with a term for citizens of the USA other than the irksome "Americans." Then again, maybe not.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Guest]

Re: Calling All Imaginative Ah Irregulars

But you and the other residents of the western hemisphere who echo your complaint need to either cut "American" citizens some slack or come up with a better term.

I don't give slack easily, Rumps. It's not for me/us to come up with. I do not mind citizens of the U.S. calling themselves Americans, as long as it's not meant to be exclusive. But the way our government uses it usually is that, and certainly the way the article on the 10 best American directors used it was exclusive.

Me, I think of "you" as gringos or yanquis, and my state the former Mexico. There is a comic irony in that we (Californians) are once again being ruled by an Austrian.

Perdita

 

[KillerMuffin]

Popular usage dictates language.

Deal.

 

[Couture]

Sorry, we just get a little ahead of ourselves sometimes. Don't worry, it won't be long until Bush sets up puppet governments for you people north and south of the border as well.

 

[MathGirl]

I feel your irkedness, honest.

Dear Rumple,
Just relax. Perdita is touchy about being a we... person of sub international boundary ancestry. She's pure Castillian Spanish all the way back to the conquistatores, though.
MG

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Peridta,

I knew you were a "fast woman" but not that danged fast. I didn't even get a chance to PM you about this thread.

The "American" tag is a problem but gingoism aside, it is what most folks around the world call us. Well, that and "war mongering, money grubbing, cultural imperialists."

And speaking of states, are you getting any of the monsoon-type rains afflicting the southern part of the Golden State? Your neck of the woods is starting to sound like the setting to an old James Taylor song, "I've seen fire, and I've seen rain."

Ruimple Foreskin

ps: As for calling me a "Yankee" well you're really getting personal. Unless they live in Atlanta or play major league baseball, most folks down here take exception to that term.

 

[Guest]

Popular usage dictates language. Deal.

Popular usage among the ethnic majority of Californians (and a few other U.S. states) is gringos and yanquis.

fin,

Perdita

 

[The_Fool]

Popular usage in some countries is Yanks, or Yankees. That will get you shot in some states....such as Alabama, Mississippi, etc.

 

[whispering_surrender]

Perdita.....you can call me a yankee all you want hon. It's so much better than the Ice Queen. *grin*

Whisper

 

[Xelebes]

Thirteenonians (and Gang?)

 

[Linbido]

Let's see...

It's kind of difficult to come away from US citizens calling themselves Americans, simply because it's something that can be pronounced in a general conversation. a 'United Stater' sounds just weird. New Zealanders call themselves Kiwis, can't you come up with something like that?

But why refer to the country as America? 'USA' or 'United States' sounds just about right to me. Too bad there isn't one huge, dominating state. Everyone and their mother called all Soviet citizens Russians...except they themselves, of course.

Ok, Bush and the boys are all about defending their American Border, and I guess their border is totally American, since both sides of it are America.

South North America, perhaps?

 

[Guest]

Bollocks! I just posted a message about the Internet in the wrong thread. I've never done that before!

Oh, and btw, I call 'em all 'Yanks'.

Lou

 

[Chicklet]

I'm an Oregonian = )

 

[Alex De Kok]

I'm a fascinated bystander.

Alex

 

[Icingsugar]

I call them Bob.

/Ice - in short-dumb-post mode

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Re: Re: Calling All Imaginative Ah Irregulars

I don't give slack easily, Rumps. It's not for me/us to come up with. I do not mind citizens of the U.S. calling themselves Americans, as long as it's not meant to be exclusive. But the way our government uses it usually is that, and certainly the way the article on the 10 best American directors used it was exclusive.

Me, I think of "you" as gringos or yanquis, and my state the former Mexico. There is a comic irony in that we (Californians) are once again being ruled by an Austrian.

Perdita

I would think, with the current world climate that most countries in the Americas are very happy with the exclusivity that people in the United States have take with the term.

When Ossama says he intends a Jihad against America, it isn't high rise buildings in Mexico City, Caracas, Montreal, San Palo or Cuzco that his homocidal lemmings are aiming hijacked jets at.

When U.S. policy incences the "Arab Street" and they pour out into the streets demanding war with America, they arn't thinking of storming the Chilean, Guatemalan, Venuzealan or Aregentinian embassy.

When the EU under that incredibly Pompous would be Napolean Chiraq calls for economic sanctions against America he isn't threatening Belize, Honduras, Paraguay, Bolivia or Nicaraga.

Perhaps it is a little irksome to people south or north of our borders when we call ourselves Americans and exclude them, but I think it is probably a relief to them when others say America and the know they are excluded from the term.

-Colly

 

[Guest]

I call them Bob.

- - - - - -

OK, I'm as guilty as anyone, but I've just realized (more) how difficult it is to speak of some things on-line. Colly helped me see that, thanks.

Of course I don't mind that America = U.S. to the terrorists (on behalf of my distant relations that is). I may be irked at the exclusivity of this nation's name, which I do not see changing, nor particularly care about it changing, but I'm not going to start a movement for a change; look at what some native americans have gone through re. sports names and icons (sheesh!)

But like what those native people protest, it is what belies a use, how it came to be, how it can still exlcude. Isn't that easy enough to understand?

It's only one thing, a small thing, but it (the claim to being what an American is or signifies) means something to those who feel excluded.

I made my point on the directors thread. Rumple took a stand. Now we're here.

The only offense I take is a statement like KM's "deal". It is an attitude I and my majority minority have been hearing for an awfully long time, just not from the direction of a place like the AH.

Perdita

 

[Quasimodem]

If Maths is a representative specimen, perhaps we should consider "Colon-ists"

 

[*Catbabe*]

Re: Re: Re: Calling All Imaginative Ah Irregulars

Perhaps it is a little irksome to people south or north of our borders when we call ourselves Americans and exclude them, but I think it is probably a relief to them when others say America and the know they are excluded from the term.

-Colly

I am one of those people north of you. I have never heard or read about any Canadians, who are bitter about people from the U.S. using the word "American" to describe themselves. I don't think we (speaking for millions of people now) find that irksome at all, Colly. Just because a term could apply to us, doesn't mean that we want it to or feel left out if it isn't.

I imagine most people who live in Europe would rather be identified as being French, German etc. and not just as European. I, personally, would always rather be called Canadian rather than North American.
Cat

 

[MathGirl]

If Maths is a representative specimen, perhaps we should consider "Colon-ists"

Dear Quaz,
You're the only one who understands me. <sniff>
MG

 

[Uther_Pendragon]

Well, it ain't imaginative, but I often use "Yank."
|
OTOH, citizens of the "United States of Brazil" are called
Brazillians, and those of los "Estados Unidos Mexicanos"
are called Mexicans, so cut us some slack.

 

[sanchopanza]

er what about: Neoterrarumites? Or neotes for short.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Greetings,

First of all, I apologize to anyone I've upset. I thought this might be fun, not controversial.

IMHO, this semantic problem stems from "United States of Amierica" being more of a description than a name. But for the life of me, I've never been able to come up with an alternative to calling the country's citizen's "Americans". It is, of course, an exclusive term. But then so is Brazilian, French, Spainish, Japanese, etc.

Historian Shelby Foote observed that one outcome of the American Civil War was citizens began calling the country, THE United States, instead of THESE United States.

For what it's worth, to call all Americans "Yanks" or "Yankees" is similar to calling everyone in the old USSR "Russians" or all UK folks, English. Both my Scots & Irish ancestors would come back to haunt me if I ever pulled the latter stunt. On the other hand, my Choctaw forebearers probably wouldn't give a damn.

Rumple Foreskin

edited to add this ps: My favorite lines from a movie come from "The Deer Hunter". One of the characters has just visited a friend in a hospital in Viet Nam. A doctor notices his name tag. I can't recall the name in question, but the doctor asks, "Polanski, that's a Polish name isn't it?" The character, a burned-out GI, replies, "No, it's American." RF

 

[Quasimodem]

I don't think there is any problem with calling the citizens of The United States of America, Americans.

The problem arises when people erroneously refer to Americans, when they really mean citizens of North America, or even the American Continents.

Just to add more confusion, can they still be considered The United States of America, even now, after one of those states is Hawaii?

Just checking.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Re: Re: Calling All Imaginative Ah Irregulars

I don't give slack easily, Rumps. It's not for me/us to come up with. I do not mind citizens of the U.S. calling themselves Americans, as long as it's not meant to be exclusive. But the way our government uses it usually is that, and certainly the way the article on the 10 best American directors used it was exclusive.

Me, I think of "you" as gringos or yanquis, and my state the former Mexico. There is a comic irony in that we (Californians) are once again being ruled by an Austrian.

Perdita

Perdita,

My boyfriend gets so irked, because I go on a rant everytime someone says, "Mexican Americans"

Mexicans are Americans, they live on the American Continent!!!!

Glad to know I'm not the only one who notice