America is NOT a Country

Question

Don't you think we should respect the other countries that are also located in America (which is a continent)?

Answer 1

Having many friends in other Western Hemisphere countries - latin and south Americans,  I understand this frustration and introduce myself as from the USA or EEUU or US rather than simply America in their company.

  However the USA is the only nation with "America" in its name, so naturally  its shortened in conversation and I dont see an issue with it.  

Answer 2

I would tend to agree with you! It always bothers me when i hear people referring to them (or themselves) as 'americans'.

America IS NOT a country. The proper name of the country "United States of America" has a particular historic and geographic meaning that many have apparently forgotten!

Answer 3

1) America is not a continent. North and South are.

2) USA is the only country int he western hemisphere thats has the word america in it. So it is naturally shortened. What do you want it to be? Unites States of AMERICAnian?

3) If you think everyone in north and south america are americans, how come mexican, canadian, and latin american countries dont introduce themselves as americans? Because everyone but you knows that USA=America=United States, its all the same!! Dude!!

Answer 4

America IS a country.

The problem is envy.

One word can be used by multiple places. There are counties and cities throughout the US called "Washington".

Mexico is a country, a city, and a state.

I don't care who doesn't like it, but my country is America, located in North America, part of the American Hemisphere.

And I am an AMERICAN.

Call yourself what you like.

But the problem is just a word problem. If we called our country "Bob", people around the world would say: "Hey! We're bob too!"

Answer 5

Thats exactly what I think.  Canadians are American, Brazilians are American, Costa Ricans are American.

Answer 6

What is your point? What are citizens of Canada called? What are citizens of Mexico called? Now, what are the citizens of the United States called? You are arguing semantics as some form of disrespect. Don't we have better things to worry about?

Answer 7

My father, who was in the National Guard at the time, went to a convention in Pert Rico some years ago. While staying there, he told the hotel clerk he needed to call "the United States". They let him know he was IN the United States already ---where he probably wanted to call was "the mainland".  What SHOULD an inhabitant of the United States call oneself when traveling in Mexico and points south? Suggestions? (I doubt Canadians would call us on it.)

Also, to address the issue raised about America being a continent ---that's not quite accurate. America is TWO continents--- North America and South America--- and a land bridge (Central America). There are four countries on North America --- the Dominion of Canada, the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Guatemala (which connects North America to Central America).

TO RAIST: In Spanish, the official name of Mexico is "Estados Unidos Mexicanos", which translates as "United Mexican States".

Answer 8

Your right - it is NORTH America, CENTRAL America & SOUTH America are the continents. However the United States of America is one of the countries on these continents.

Don't people from Canada describe themselves as Canadians?

Don't people from Brazil describe themselves as Brazalians?

Then why can't people from the United States of American describe themselves as Americans??

Answer 9

um... first off america IS a country

north america and south america r continents

everybody should respect everyone no matter were they come from

Answer 10

yeah. If you said 'Soy Americano' in Mexico they hate that.

Answer 11

First off, you're right. America is NOT a country. The country is  called 'United States of America' or 'United States'  

America is a lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, which is a combination of two continents, North and South America.

Everyone should respect everyone no matter were they come from.

Answer 12

America is NOT a continent.  What about Latin Americans?  Should we do away with that term?  African Americans?  "American" is a cultural reference to the United States of America.  Most of the world refers to citizens of the United States as "Americans" because it is the only country that ends with the word America.  Does "United Statesans" sound better?    

The countries of North America and South America already have names they are proud of.  Canadian, Mexican, Argentine, Brazilian ect.  Why should any country in the Americas care if U.S. citizens are called Americans?  

Answer 13

i like your question!. i have allot of European friends and they say i am from America. they find it weird that most Americans refer to it as "the US". when they asked about it, i had to think for awhile. it is because America is the name of two continents not a country.

PS isnt Mexico really the "Untied States of Mexico"? that is what is says on pesos.