Well I guess that ends that particular argument-Page 4: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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April 28, 2011 6:27 p.m. SkinnyG HalfDork

16vCorey wrote:

SVreX wrote:

z31maniac wrote:

^Do you call yourself an American?

It's not my race, it's my nationality.

"African" isn't a country either.

Not to knit-pick, but "America" isn't a country either. We are from the United States of America, and technically anyone who lives in north or south america is "American".

I don't agree with your comment. I would never, ever, EVER say I am "American" because I live in North America. I am Canadian. I am just as offended to be labelled an "American" as you would be being labelled a "Canadian."

But, being Canadian, I would do so politely. (grin)
April 28, 2011 7:04 p.m. Jay SuperDork

Not to mention that NOBODY called your country "America" before 9/11. It was always "the U.S.", or "the States", or "the USA". It still is in a lot of the world for that matter.
April 28, 2011 7:19 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

Umm...

"America the Beautiful" was written in 1895. Don't think I can agree with you on that one.
April 28, 2011 7:19 p.m. tuna55 SuperDork

Jay wrote:

Not to mention that NOBODY called your country "America" before 9/11. It was always "the U.S.", or "the States", or "the USA". It still is in a lot of the world for that matter.

I agree. I always hates it when Jeremy Clarkson goes on and on about how bad Americans are at geography. I'd like to show him that page of the atlas so he can see that America consists of several very different countries...
April 28, 2011 7:24 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

"America" (My Country 'tis of Thee)

"God Bless America "

"America" (From West Side Story)

etc, etc, etc

There were thousands of references to America as a reference to the United States of America LONG before 9/11
April 28, 2011 7:30 p.m. Jay SuperDork

Okay, fair enough. What I meant was that nobody in common speech or popular media did. Then suddenly all the chest-thumpers pulled the idea out of those old patriotic songs because why? They thought the colloquial name was beneath them? But somehow now it's standard.

I'll just counter my own argument here and mention that Mexico is also officially the United States of Mexico but nobody ever calls it anything other than just Mexico... Or do they?
April 28, 2011 7:32 p.m. z31maniac SuperDork

United Mexican States
April 28, 2011 8:05 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

Jay, are you saying that West Side Story was not part of popular media?

Gotta love these young people.
April 28, 2011 8:25 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

The word "America" first showed up on a map in 1507.

In English it has been an acceptable reference to the United States of America since the 1800's. In recent years, the PC crowd has suggested some alleged "offense" to other countries in the Americas.

It was used by both Alexander Hamilton and James Madison in the Federalist Papers as a reference to the United States of America.

It's not about racist 9/11 chest thumping.

But I guess if we say something contrary to that enough times on the int3rn3t, or blame Jeremy Clarkson's map reading skills, it might become truth.

Sorry. I get a little pissy with revisionist history and half truth.