I didn't want to change the "American Mutt" thread so I started another. Ppl were saying ppl in other areas apparently don't like/prefer ppl from the united states of america to say they are from america. I looked up the meaning of American & it said "of or pertaining to the united states of america or it's citizens.

It seems like there is a presumption of a certain pomposity assigned to those who either defend or are offended by what is an implied "limited" use of the term.

Compact Oxford English Dictionary:
American
• adjective relating to the United States or to the continents of America.

• noun a person from the United States or any of the countries of North, South, or Central America.

— DERIVATIVES Americanize (also Americanise) verb.

The OED does not recognize "America" or "america" as a term in and of itself.



Online Etymology Dictionary:
American
17c., from America (q.v.); originally in ref. to what are now called Native Americans; the sense of "resident of America of European descent" is first recorded 1765. American dream first recorded 1931. Americanism "attachment to the U.S." first recorded 1797 in writings of Thomas Jefferson.

America
1507, in Cartographer Martin Waldseemüller's treatise "Cosmographiae Introductio," from Mod.L. Americanus, after Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) who made two trips to the New World as a navigator and claimed to have discovered it. His published works put forward the idea that it was a new continent, and he was first to call it Novus Mundus "New World." Amerigo is more easily Latinized than Vespucci. The name Amerigo is Gmc., said to derive from Goth. Amalrich, lit. "work-ruler." The O.E. form of the name has come down as surnames Emmerich, Emery, etc. It. fem. form merged into Amelia. Amerika "U.S. society viewed as racist, fascist, oppressive, etc." first attested 1969; the spelling is Ger., but may also suggest the KKK.

Cindy, As a noun we all know that all Americas are Americas

Yes, that one is a definition too.

LOL Lor

It was MY fault that girl in Finland rolled her eyes at me. I was young and had never traveled abroad. I was raised to believe the U.S.A. was the best country in the world. I figured everyone else felt that way too. I thought it would impress her.

I'm sure she knew I was from the U.S.A., but my pride came off as boastful to her. I suspect it looked like I was implying my country was better than hers. In a twisted way, it sounded like I was implying my life in the U.S.A. was more important than her life in Finland.

She had too much fun knocking me down a peg for it to be anything different. If I had simply said "America" as a location in answer to her question, without all that pride, I doubt she would have grilled me.

how about earthling?

Kathy, I was thinking that since that 1st one I put, has those graphics someone might think I'm 'saying' the USA is the greatest. I put those up for others. As a matter of fact ppl should be 'proud' of where they are from. What might happen to that place if no one there liked it & didn't even try to make it always likable

Lor

You're right. There's nothing wrong with being proud of who you are and where you are from, but it can be off-putting to outsiders when you wear it on your sleeve. It can be dangerous if you take it too far.

Look at all the people nowadays who get turned off when people with Mexican heritage display their flags and pride. The black/white issue is another good example. White people get frightened when they hear a group of black people proclaim "Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud." I feel threatened when I see someone wearing "White Pride" symbols.

My trip to Finland was in 1972, at the height of the VietNam war, and America wasn't very popular at the time. I suspect that might have had something to do with it too.

If anyone asks what I am I just tell them I'm "a human being".

When I say I'm from the Mother Ship, I get the best reactions. Nobody's angry, or put off, or feels put down..They back away a little, but it's all good!

ROTFLMAO, Polar Express