I'm an American too!

[DavidW]

What could be an alternative name for your country? 

Graceland?

[ChamberNut]

Graceland?

There you go, Gracelander 

[DavidW]

I'm all shook up.

[Harpo]

You just might consider thanking your lucky stars that you're in Texas! 

The stars at night are big and bright!

[DavidW]

The stars at night are big and bright!

Deep in the heart of Texas!!

[drogulus]

Yet, the USA is the only country that calls themself "Americans", exclusively.

     What?? What people call themselves and what other people call them is not subject to a rule of fairness, or any other rule I can think of other than custom. Another thing: Canadians call us American, too. Mexicans call us "North Americans" which isn't better, is it? It's best not to see custom as logical and orderly about names. Any way, names are only good for picking out what's named. If I call you Lord Sir ChamberNut because that's what you call yourself the International Naming Commission will not arrest us. For diplomatic and commercial reasons names do take on a formal role (see "Democratic Kampuchia"). I prefer informal naming like "rotten Belgian bastards" or "Yanks".

[karlhenning]

Mexicans call us "North Americans" which isn't better, is it?

Isn't Mexico part of North America?  Or am I missing something here? 

[Sergeant Rock]

Because, you have two continents, North and South America, that cover all countries including all the countries that are a part of Central America.  So, we (everyone that lives in both continents) are by definition "Americans".  Yet, the USA is the only country that calls themself "Americans", exclusively.

No, you (Canadians or Bolivians) are not Americans. You (as a Canadian) are a North American (like a German calling himself a European because he lives on the continent of Europe, North America is the continent you belong to...not America...there's no such continent called America).

We Americans are called Americans because that's the name of our country. I suppose we could call ourselves Statian or Unitian but we prefer American. It has nothing to do with arrogance or an attempt to marginalize the other countries that share the continent.

Sarge

[Opus106]

We Americans are called Americans because that's the name of our country.

I had always thought you were a German, Sarge. You currently live in Germany, am I right?

[Sergeant Rock]

I had always thought you were a German, Sarge. You currently live in Germany, am I right?

I am an American although my roots are thoroughly Kraut  My father's ancestors came to America in 1743 (from the Saarland); my mother's parents in 1930 (from Magdeburg/Hildesheim). My mother was born in America...just (DOB 1931)

I enlisted in the army in 1969 and had my first tour of Germany in 1973-77. I met and married Mrs. Rock then. I had two more tours of Gemany (1980-83 and 84-87). When I retired in 1991, we decided to settle permanently in Germany. I've retained my American citizenship and Mrs. Rock never gave up her German Ausweis.

Sarge

[Opus106]

I am an American although my roots are thoroughly Kraut   My father's ancestors came to America in 1743 (from the Saarland); my mother's parents in 1930 (from Magdeburg/Hildesheim). My mother was born in America...just (DOB 1931)

I enlisted in the army in 1969 and had my first tour of Germany in 1973-77. I met and married Mrs. Rock then. I had two more tours of Gemany (1980-83 and 84-87). When I retired in 1991, we decided to settle permanently in Germany. I've retained my American citizenship and Mrs. Rock never gave up her German Ausweis.

Sarge

Ah. Thanks for sharing.

[Dr. Dread]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW-KDP2OeU0

[Sergeant Rock]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW-KDP2OeU0

Sarge

[drogulus]

Isn't Mexico part of North America?  Or am I missing something here?  

    You're missing the part where the Mexicans call us "North Americans". See, it isn't better. If I adopted ChamberNut's idea I'd have to say "why are they calling us North Americans when they are North Americans, too?" These things don't have to make sense and it doesn't bother me that they don't. It never really bothered me that Ernie was my middle name, either. Ernie still worked, and I refuse to get upset that "American" has the pragmatic meaning "USian".

[Diletante]

No, you (Canadians or Bolivians) are not Americans. You (as a Canadian) are a North American (like a German calling himself a European because he lives on the continent of Europe, North America is the continent you belong to...not America...there's no such continent called America).

I won't mess with you guys' language, but I just wanted to clarify that practically any Spanish speaker will tell you that América is a continent. Norteamérica, Centroamérica and Sudamérica (or some variation thereof) being subcontinents, regions, whatever. The thing is, I am an americano, sudamericano, boliviano and many other things.

Oh, and no one calls the USA América, but Estados Unidos. And its people are gringos.  0:)

[eyeresist]

Yes, even though I'm Canadian, I am indeed an American, along with Mexicans, Guatemalans, Brazilians, Chileans, et al!

Hawaiians are not Americans.

Therefore they are un-American.

.
.
.
.
.
.
Nuke 'em!

[Herman]

Hawaiians are not Americans.

Therefore they are un-American.

.
.
.
.
.Nuke 'em!

Very funny, gringo

(Maybe it's just me, but I keep thinking it says "I'm an American tool"

[matti]

Hawaiians are not Americans.

Therefore they are un-American.

.
.
.
.
.
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Nuke 'em!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGO42gvCSPI

[Sergeant Rock]

I won't mess with you guys' language, but I just wanted to clarify that practically any Spanish speaker will tell you that América is a continent. Norteamérica, Centroamérica and Sudamérica (or some variation thereof) being subcontinents, regions, whatever. The thing is, I am an americano, sudamericano, boliviano and many other things.

So the Spanish world only recognizes six continents, not seven?    That's interesting if true.

Oh, and no one calls the USA América, but Estados Unidos. And its people are gringos.  0:)

But seriously, what do the Spanish call a person who is a citizen of the USA? What do they call a Canadian? Germans calls us Amerikaner, and we are from America (aus Amerika). Canadians or Bolivians are never called Amerikaner by Germans.

Sarge

[karlhenning]

So the Spanish world only recognizes six continents, not seven?    That's interesting if true.

Five; similarly, there is no distinction between Asia and Europe, the latter is simply the westernmost peninsula of the former