wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja) (05/17/85)
> Geo-politigraphically (yikes!) speaking, anyone who lives in the > Western Hemisphere is an American. For instance, the treaty council > for West Hemisphere countries is called Organization of American > States. > I'm not sure how USA people got to be called Americans, we're not > the first country here. Probably because "United Statesans", "United > States of Americans", and "Youessaians" sound silly. > Seems to me that "American" is a natural nickname. What other Western Hemisphere countries have "America" in their names? If the offical name of Canada was "Canadian Provinces of America," or "Canadian States of America," they would have a valid point. Maybe they didn't because a) few of them were accountants, and b) CSA was taken :-). What do YOU call people from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics? Soshies? Unies? Republicans? :-) I bet you all call them Russians, even though those of Russian descent are in the minority. It might be interesting to trace back, and see where this term really came from... might be, at the time it was invented, the USA was the only area in the hemisphere that considered itself separate from the mother country. Ron Wanttaja (ssc-vax!wanttaja) "Why, Doctor Blood, you're speaking treason!" "I hope I'm not obscure..."
rick@siemens.UUCP (05/18/85)
First of all, we may call people from the U.S.S.R. Russians but they are more properly addressed as Soviets. (Just as people from the Irish Republic are Irish). Secondly, when I am asked for my nationality on any forms I put U.S.A. Grammaticaly more correct to put an adjective (American) but I think it's more precise than Americans
paul@umich.UUCP (Paul Killey) (05/20/85)
> It might be interesting to trace back, and see where this term really came > from... might be, at the time it was invented, the USA was the only > area in the hemisphere that considered itself separate from the mother > country. Well, the United States part of USA post-dates the America, certainly. That is, colonies, then Articles of Federation, then United States. The earliest Puritans spoke of being on the "American strand" for example. This was not just an area, it was the American desert, the howling wilderness, etc. the New World where the chosen people might build a city on a hill. Let's not confuse the geographers' America with a location independent of time (and probably place) that was laboriously created by Puritans and over 200 years of American literary and artistic effort. --paul
paul@umich.UUCP (Paul Killey) (05/20/85)
> Secondly, when I am asked for my nationality on any forms I put U.S.A.
As John Dos Passos noted, USA can be an address on a postcard
when you are a long way from home, but mostly USA is the speech
of a people.
--pauldavidl@orca.UUCP (David Levine) (05/20/85)
In article <32900001@siemens.UUCP> rick@siemens.UUCP writes: > ...we may call people from the U.S.S.R. Russians but they are more >properly addressed as Soviets. (Just as people from the Irish Republic are >Irish). Sorry. A "soviet" is a legislative body. It makes no more sense to call a citizen of the Soviet Union a "Soviet" than it does to call a citizen of the United States a "Congress." Evidence for my claim: The American Heritage Dictionary defines "soviet" (n) as a legislative assembly. It then defines "Soviet" (adj) as "of or pertaining to the USSR", while "soviet" (adj) is "of or pertaining to a soviet." On the other hand, "American" (adj) means "of or pertaining to" several parts of the Western Hemisphere (as described in a previous posting), and "American" (n) is 1) an inhabitant of America or 2) a citizen of the US. I think that one calls a citizen of the Soviet Union a "Soviet citizen." Or perhaps "Comrade." :-) David D. Levine (...decvax!tektronix!orca!davidl) [UUCP] (orca!davidl.tektronix@csnet-relay.csnet) [ARPA] P.S. I'm cross-posting to net.rumor and net.nlang. This debate began with a discussion as to whether or not Canadians are Americans, and has gone quite beyond the scope of net.rumor. I therefore propose that the discussion be moved to net.nlang (which I don't read. Ha!). - DL whether
m1b@rayssd.UUCP (05/23/85)
From <748@ssc-vax.UUCP>: > Seems to me that "American" is a natural nickname. What other Western > Hemisphere countries have "America" in their names? > > What do YOU call people from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics? > > Ron Wanttaja > (ssc-vax!wanttaja) Actually, Mexico's 'real' name is something like Mexican States of America (I could be wrong). Also, there hasn't been a Russia since 1917; the people that live in the USSR are Soviets. Joe Barone, {allegra, decvax!brunix, linus, ccice5}!rayssd!m1b Raytheon Co, Submarine Signal Div., Box 330, Portsmouth, RI 02871
rl@ucsfcgl.UUCP (Robert Langridge%CGL) (05/26/85)
<--- As an irregular reader of rumor, I came to the "Re: We're really all Veccupians..." discussions without seeing the origins of it. I infer that it concerns names for inhabitants of the Americas, and maybe this has been said before, but the reference should surely be to Vespuccians. Amerigo VESPUCCI was the Genoese explorer, sailing for Spain and Portugal, after whom the Americas were named. No matter. I am English, so you Americans, Vespuccians whatever are all foreigners. :-)
wilde@apollo.uucp (Scott Wilde) (05/29/85)
>In article <32900001@siemens.UUCP> rick@siemens.UUCP writes: >> ...we may call people from the U.S.S.R. Russians but they are more >>properly addressed as Soviets. (Just as people from the Irish Republic are >>Irish). > >Sorry. A "soviet" is a legislative body. It makes no more sense to call a >citizen of the Soviet Union a "Soviet" than it does to call a citizen of the >United States a "Congress." > >Evidence for my claim: ... Try again. According to Webster's II , under soviet: ...2. Soviets. The government and people of the Soviet Union. Scott Wilde ...!decvax!wanginst!apollo!wilde
north@down.FUN (Stephen C North) (05/30/85)
this certainly is an exciting rumor. i can't wait to tell my friends about it. they probably won't even believe me. no wonder net.rumor is my favorite newsgroup.
mp@allegra.UUCP (Mark Plotnick) (05/31/85)
Is it true that some Veccuppians own the Washington Times? They do seem rather right-wing.