Wrong to call the USA, America

[Blitzed]

Well Ive noticed that lots of people call the states, America. But when i think america, i think of the US of course, but what about all the other countries, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, etc. There are plenty of countries on the continents of North and South America, but how come none of them get called American. I dunno, somtimes i think the states and "Americans" are just too full of ourselves.

[rebgirl420]

Well they distinguish it by calling it northern america I suppose...

[make it legal]

I don't think it's really a matter or us being full of ourselves to call it America, It's just what most people call it. Therefore you tend to do the same thing and it is common for everyone. It's also much easier to say than "The United States." I actually don't like our name. It's not even really a name at all, is it?

[Blitzed]

Well they distinguish it by calling it northern america I suppose...


Yeah but even then, we arent the only country in North america, and ive never heard anyone say Im North American, only American.

[happiestmferoutthere]

somtimes i think the states and "Americans" are just too full of ourselves.

:thumbsup:

[OLDE ENGLISH '800]

well i could go in to this but i really dont feel like writing a history lesson

[Psycho4Bud]

I dunno, somtimes i think the states and "Americans" are just too full of ourselves.

And when people from a foriegn country say, "Those damn americans!".....what's the meaning behind the nickname there?

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[I Justburn 247]

others aren't called 'Americans' cause people don't refer to people by their continents.. and besides that they all have unique official names. We're not just 'the states' or even 'United States"...it's "United States of America.. named after Amerigo Vespucci (sp?) a map maker who discovered the land mass that is now North America..

Stay high

[HighTillIDie]

actually america isn't named after amerigo vespuci...



NO ONE ACTUALLY KNOWS, there are lots of theories why we are america....

research people

[JaggedEdge]

The actual reason is because were are the bestest most awsomest country in the world.

At least if you asked most Americans, I think thats what there answer would be...

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

It's the USA, United States of America. America's just the short form. And they did form the economic, democratic, military, medical, technological, and industrial powerhouse of the North American continents.

[tha_green_ghost]

Shit....it doesn't really matter what we call it , we call it United States too. We call it the U.S. for short, and America for short. If you think about it, no other countries actually have the word "America" in it, only South America as a continent. What the F*CK! does it matter?

[psteve]

no other countries actually have the word "America" in it
American Samoa is a country.

[tha_green_ghost]

That doesn't count! LOL

[tha_green_ghost]

By the way ......NO it is not "wrong" to call USA America.... why would it be?

[dean0000]

I usually call USA 'The US'. If someone says America everyone knows what they mean. When I am talking about the whole of America (Canada, Mexico etc) I call them 'The Americas'. Thinking about it I dont even know if 'Americas' is good English.

[tha_green_ghost]

Yeah ,the "Americas" is generally used for the continents together..North, Central and South.

[growwatcher]

actually america isn't named after amerigo vespuci...

NO ONE ACTUALLY KNOWS, there are lots of theories why we are america....

research people

OK. That is contrary to what I have always heard and from what I learned in school, so I headed over to wikipedia to see what it says.

From the Wikipedia article on Amerigo Vespucci (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amerigo_Vespucci):


Vespucci's voyages became widely known in Europe after two accounts attributed to him were published between 1502 and 1504.[1] In 1507, Martin Waldseemüller produced a world map on which he named the new continent "America" after Vespucci's first name, Amerigo.
So can you point me to something that disputes that?

Grow

EDIT: Ok, after a little more reading I did come across some "alternate theories" on the name, but none are or have been widely accepted.

[smokerofweed420]

Actually you're absolutely right. There are plenty of other countries on the American continents. In north america you have Canada, US, Mexico, and then all of the countries south of mexico but north of South America. And then all the South American countries. Pretty much everyone living in the western hemisphere save for those in the caribbean could call themselves American. Actually my spanish teacher was saying that it kind of bugs mexicans and other latin americans that the US calls itself America. They actually have a word that means someone from the United states and the word is Estadounide which comes from Estados Unidos, spanish for United States. The literal translation would be something like Unitedstatsian.

[halfassedjediknight]

Its funny but I actually call it the states, and im here in California.

[chris420]

Funny that most "Americans" don't know where their other american neighbors live. Ive heard a lot of times that Honduras and guatemala lies in africa... and they call themselves americans ey

[halfassedjediknight]

well, most 'americans' or whatever youd like to call people that live in north america couldnt show you lots of things on a map, or globe.

most of the population loses its knowledge of history, math, science, etc. it depends on their lifestyle and career.

theres a quote albert einstein has about this and its very valid to an extent. ill find it in a sec.

edit..I was wrong about the quote, but it here it is anyways.

"Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves."

[chris420]

and the quote is still valid today to an extent:thumbsup:

[halfassedjediknight]

The progression of Science and potential 'scientific breakthroughs' have been hindered through Capitalism.

I feel really radical saying that, but I dont know what to tell you.

[Old Stoner]

Let's just call it the United States of America Where Marijuana Is Illegal.

Then we could call it Pot for short.

That's be a whole lot easier than the United States of America, or even America.

Pot... MMMMM ... I kinda like that!

[halfassedjediknight]

Im actually alright calling it the states. call it what you will. the states, the united states, the us, the usa..every abreviation, every other way of putting it is the same universal thing.

whatev.

[chris420]

I agree lad. manipulated to suit private interests.as well as religion being involved in scientific breakthrough is beyond absurd. freedom of religion but no freedom of scientific study... something smells funny

[halfassedjediknight]

whatever happened to separation of church and state?

I cant help but question..because we, as humans, want to know 'why'. that is just a natural predisposition.

[higher4hockey]

its because we have general motors the NRA and 49 million nuclear weapons.

[halfassedjediknight]

i like general motors (I have a Buick) and the right to bear arms..

..I could care less for the nuclear weapons. Any of them used will end up in total nuclear war and then nuclear fallout, then nuclear winter, then extinction of the human race.

thats another thing that is intense, the cold war.

[chris420]

the unresolved legacy of the 21st century... i cannot believe the new cold war the papers are beginning to hypothesize... spread panic then devour. atleast one main value that is purely present in nature still lies unadulterated in our present mental condition and that is predator frigin nature. just so who would of thought our govt reps would be using it against their votes directly,indirectly, long-term,short-term, w/e