It Drives me Nuts to hear Pols and News Talkers Refer to "America" when meaning the US

[dballance]

I'm not sure when it happened but of course I'm not surprised. The politicians, the news talkers and just about everyone else now refers to the US as America. That is so wrong and so arrogant.

When did we forget that Canada and Mexico, at the very least, are part of "America?" Then there is Central America where we've been fucking with the people for years and either sending them weapons or using the CIA to overthrow their governments. Often both at the same time so we could hedge our bets.

"America" didn't vote for Romney or Obama. The US electorate did. I don't recall seeing any polling results from Regina, New Foundland, British Columbia, Jalisco, Veracruz or Chihuahua in the Presidential race.

So can we possibly get over our complete and total arrogance? I doubt it.

[WCGreen]

1. But we are the only true Americans because out country...

is, after all, named the United States of America.

We are of America which means we can rightfully call ourself Americans.

[99th_Monkey]

2. ...

[Raine]

3. Yes but the name of Canada and Mexico is Canada and Mexico

just like Brazil, Argentina etc. America is part of this country's official name ... the United States of AMERICA. It bothered me too but when I took a college class on History of the America's my teacher made a big deal about it being our name etc etc. I try to keep my blood pressure down by not getting all worked up on stuff like that when there's a logical reason for it.

[rDigital]

4. I'd say it's just shorthand. Words are at a premium on air. Less is more. No biggie. nt

[DemocratsForProgress]

5. Yes, that is... uh... um... well... uh...

pretty outrageous. Thanks for sharing.

[justanidea]

6. I often say America.

Friends of mine say America. Professors I have say America. People I have met on foreign exchange from other countries even say America.

It's a very common and acceptable way to refer to the United States. Even though it isn't "technically" correct, I don't see what the big deal is.

[vilify]

7. Don't let it drive you nuts.

[melody]

8. Give me a break

I'm sorry, but the name of the country is the United States of America. "America" and "American" are merely variations of it. There is no Indo-European word to describe this continent -- all of them are arbitrary. Canada and Mexico chose to call themselves by names not including "America" in them. The only reason people carp about "America" now is because they like hating on us.

[MrScorpio]

9. A few Thoughts

One, I wonder which other country on these two continents have the word "America" in its name.

And Two, I figure that America can refer to both the US as a country and also as the northern and southern continents… Inside which we don't call ourselves "The United States of North America", which would be more technically attuned with your point, right?

"Central America" really doesn't exist, it certainly isn't a continent. It's actually the southern most point of the North American continent, is it not?

And true, Canadian and Mexican citizens have not voted in our election. I think that as a nation of immigrants, that our America is, perhaps many of these people will immigrate here, become citizens and vote in future elections. To those people, the legacy of whomever is elected president belongs to these new Americans too.

[BlueMTexpat]

10. While technically you are correct,

my nationality is recognized throughout the world as "American" - that is the only box that I can tick on forms, etc. Because I live/work/travel abroad, this happens to me all the time.

When I'm asked rather than having to tick a box in a form, I always clarify that I mean the "United States of America" because "American" can technically refer to anyone in the Americas. But the nationality "American" is universally understood to refer to the "United States."

What other noun/adjective might you suggest that the world would recognize more than it recognizes "America" and "American" already?

Surely there are one or two things that are more worthy of your ire than this. Yes, we in the US can be arrogant about many things, but in this particular designation, the world not only supports but enables us. Forcing the world to change its terminology would indeed be arrogant.

[Spider Jerusalem]

11. People have been referring to the US as "America" since there's been a US

This is nothing especially new.