Scrameustache's Journal: America: The definition

America [for Amerigo Vespucci], the lands of the Western Hemisphere--North America, Central (or Middle) America, and South America. The world map published in 1507 by Martin Waldseemüller is the first known cartographic use of the name. In English, America and American are frequently used to refer only to the United States.

Source: The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 2004, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

You wouldn't believe the long winded bullshit people will come up with to cover up their ignorance of this simple fact.

But then again: why?

[Jerry Smith]

South Washington, Central Washington, North Washington: together they are Washington. Same goes for America. The fact that a lot of USA-ers consider themselves the only Americans, is not the problem of the rest of the world. Shrug, it's weekend!

yeah

[St. Arbirix]

I only hear complaints about calling myself an American from French friends. The only people I know well who aren't from the States are Russians, Canuckistanis (aka Canadians), and Spaniards and pretty much none of them have ever had problems with calling US people Americans.

And really, what else are we supposed to be called?

Re:yeah

[Scrameustache]

I've heard mexicans bitch about it... but there isn't something better to use (some people say "USians... that's not much better).
My gripe isn't about peple using it, it's clearly fallen into such widespread use, my gripe is with people who claim that this is how it's always been and should be.

Hell, I should have a similar gripe with people who's language refers to themselves as "human", meaning that we aren't (Inuits, Gypses, etc.). Then again, they never send me pages and pages of complete and utter bulls

I'm a Kwakiutal first

[Marxist Hacker 42]

And my country has been under military occupation by the United States of America for at least 150 years now. 200 years if you go from the first invasion, which failed to establish a permanent fort and started slinking their way back east 200 years ago this month.