Daniel Carrera wrote:
With the exception of a few itty-bitty Carribean islands, the following is a listing of every country in North and South America from the CIA Factbook ( http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ ). I have listed the common name, the "Official" name, and the nationality (what they are called).Chad Smith wrote:
You know, as an AMERICAN, this so-called "friendly discussion" is annoying and at least slightly offensive.
You fail to realize that there are over 20 other countries that have just as much right to the term "American" as yours does. People should be named after the country, not the entire continent. The Germans might have a beef if the French call themselves "European" and expects no one else in Europe to use that term.
Argentina - Argentine Republic - Argentine(s) Belize - Belize - Belizean(s) Bermuda - Bermuda - Bermudian(s) Bolivia - Republic of Bolivia - Bolivian(s) Brazil - Federative Republic of Brazil - Brazilian(s) Canada - Canada - Canadian(s) Chile - Republic of Chile - Chilean(s) Columbia - Republic of Colombia - Colombian(s) Costa Rica - Republic of Costa Rica - Costa Rican(s) Cuba - Republic of Cuba - Cuban(s) Dominica - Commonwealth of Dominica - Dominican(s) Dominican Republic - Dominican Republic - Dominican(s) Ecuador - Republic of Ecuador - Ecuadorian(s) El Salvador - Republic of El Salvador - Salvadoran(s) French Guiana - Department of Guiana - French Guianese Greenland - Greenland - Greenlander(s) Guatemala - Republic of Guatemala - Guatemalan(s) Guyana - Co-operative Republic of Guyana - Guyanese Haiti - Republic of Haiti - Haitian(s) Honduras - Republic of Honduras - Honduran(s) Jamaica - Jamaica - Jamaican(s) Mexico - United Mexican States - Mexican(s) Nicaragua - Republic of Nicaragua - Nicaraguan(s) Panama - Republic of Panama - Panamanian(s) Paraguay - Republic of Paraguay - Paraguayan(s) Peru - Republic of Peru - Peruvian(s) Suriname - Republic of Suriname - Surinamer(s) United States - United States of America - American(s) Uruguay - Oriental Republic of Uruguay - Uruguayan(s) Venezuela - Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela - Venezuelan(s)
As you can see, the US is the only country in the hemisphere, and of course the world, with the word "America" in the country name. You will also note that the word for the people of a country is quite sensibly simply derived from the name for the country itself. The pattern is so simple and consistent you could almost write a computer program to make the derivations.
When viewed in this context it seems quite clear to me that the *only* people on the planet with any sensible claim to the title "Americans" are, in fact, citizens of the United States of *America*.
Tell me, are you equally adamant about changing what citizens of the country of Australia call themselves? Haven't they also co-opted the name of the continent to the detriment of New Zealanders?
Frankly I find this whole thread ridiculous. And, like Chad, just a bit offensive. The only possible motivation is either jealousy or hatred of the USA and it just wears thin after a while. I don't go around bashing Venezuala or Venezualans. I certainly don't do it while enjoying the benefits of living in their country and attending our institutions of higher learning. I get a little sick and tired of constantly being on the defensive because of where I was born.
Rod
