Where is America, and who are the real Americans?
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“…that ambiguous area of culture where something unfailingly political, though separate from the political choices of the day, infiltrates judgment and language.”
― Roland Barthes, Criticism and Truth
As good men can we please come to an end of using “America” to refer to a single country, and “American” to refer to the people and culture of that single country?
Since 1507, two continents have been referred to as America, named after the explorer Amerigo Vespucci. Today we refer to them as North and South America, as well as Mexico and Central America. They are all America, and thereby all the people who reside on the continents of America are by default Americans.
I learned this lesson from a man on the street in Merida, Mexico in 1996. I had just set foot outside the U.S.A. for the first time. As I was walking around to absorb the heat of the Yucatan town, a voice from under a shady overhang called to me. I stopped to say, “hola” and shake his hand. He introduced himself, then he asked my name. I replied in turn. He asked where I was from. I proudly stated, “America!” “Me too!” the man from Merida responded without missing a beat. My moment of surprise was left to stew for just the right time before he dropped, “Central America. Now, where are you really from?” Our conversation continued for a couple more hours from there.
Since 1776, The United States of America has existed, or to form an acronym, the U.S.A., or even shorter the U.S., or a bit more informally, the States. However, confusion could arise if there is a potential mix up with the Federated States of Micronesia. There are always possibilities of confusion, or domineering communication where the use of generalities is concerned. The words, ‘America’ and ‘Americans,’ by definition and history, refer to very general places and people.
It may seem like a focus on trivial vocabulary choice, but it is a signifier of a much deeper cultural-centric nature in U.S. society. This sign conveys the idea of speaking for, or representing, the various diverse cultures of two entire continents. This is not a conscious communication on the part of U.S. Citizens, but it is an interpretation that exists in the minds of those who hear it. Especially when you are in Central or South America.
“Where are you from?”
“America.”
When you are responding to the second most common question asked when meeting for the first time, why start imposing cultural dominance in response?
“Where are you from?”
“The U.S.A.”
Historical precedence is a globally respected thing; U.S. citizens might set a better first impression abroad if they introduce themselves as coming from the U.S.A. instead of America. With this, there is a hope to gain more respect for your home country, and yourself.
We, the people of the United States of America, are collectively referred to as U.S. Citizens. That is actually the official terminology used on U.S. government documentation. If U.S. Citizens can start thinking of themselves as “citizens of one country” instead of ‘Americans,’ it just might start resonating outwards to the attitude of global dominance that U.S. foreign policy has a nasty habit of presenting.
How we choose to communicate, particularly our vocabulary choices, can betray cultural bias. Instead of communicating bias, wouldn’t it be much more equalizing to give an impression of precision and consciousness?
Photo: AP Photo
i want to know honestly who gives a shit? the first thing i usually say to someone is how are you?, i really dont recall anyone asking me ” where im from”? i think the obsessive mentality to always want to categorize people into race, nationalities, religions, caste, wealth, decree, whatever they come up with next to segregate peoples differences, is a poison. living in malaysia now for sometime i always love to shock the hell out of people when they ask me where im from, my response? ” cheras” then comes the banter, ” cheras, cannot be”! why the… Read more »
While I think the assessment of referring to one’s self as being from “America” is a fair criticism, U.S. citizens are internationally referred to as “Americans”. This dates back to when the U.S. were simply “the American colonies” of the British Empire. I don’t think dropping “American” is necessary, as I question whether or not any other nations from the American continents object to our appropriation of the term. As for using a state name, I think that’s also further confusing for those who don’t really know U.S. geography. I’m from Nebraska, for instance, and my family in Germany has… Read more »
Heh, ya think?
I expect that the world will go on calling us Americans, short for “citizens of the United States of America”, causing absolutely no confusion to anybody anywhere. That descriptive label is the best name for the nation because it is a federal entity, and the states have their own political identities. So, yes, if people choose to be offended by a derivation of the descriptive label, then I would ask that they use the well-known and established place names that we identify ourselves by instead of making something up to force on us.
Citizens of the former British north American colonies turned U.S. of America have been CALLED Americans since before the Revoluntionary War. Now in the name of political correctness, self-flagellation to same bitter people who love calling Americans gringos and other America- haters, we Americans have to give up our name, which once again we have been called for centuries by non U.S citizens. This like so much political correctness is about emotionally and psychologically dominating someone who you envious of and blame for your problems. It is not about fighting real oppression or problems
Comedian Ralphie May said it best:” If you were born in Africa, then came over here to live, then you are African-American. Otherwise you are just black.”
The people with no name…
Well since we’re on the subject, could someone tell me where “Hispania” is? People refer to my wife as “Hispanic” where in reality she sees herself and “American.” Hispanic is kind of a slam in that as we all know, A Mexcan is nothing like a Puerto-Rican or Spanish.
OK, point taken. Now that people who reside in the U.S.have been duly chastised for their cultural insensitivity, what adjective are the people who reside in the U.S. to use as citizens of this hemisphere? We have Mexicans, Canadians, Brazilians, etc. as adjectives currently in use. Not something tongue-tripping. Just a simple one word adjective. Certainly, once the people who reside in the U.S. and their neighbors in the Americas have been released from this onerous example of cultural imperialism, we should be able to use utilize this now freed up brain power to devise a simple, one word adjective… Read more »
No, that won’t work, since the official name of the country that we informally refer to as “Mexico” is Estados Unidos Mexicanos, or, in English, the United States of Mexico. So Unitedstatesians or USians is still insensitive cultural imperialism. Besides, both are cumbersome and hard to pronounce, which defeats the purpose of a one-word noun and adjective. Furthermore, since we’re being all culturally-sensitive, everybody is entitled to be referred to by the proper noun based on the political entity in which they reside, we who live in the United States of America ought to be referred to by the demonym… Read more »
Lol. When someone says they are American we already know they are from the US. Everyone else is proud of their country and likes to refer to themselves by their countries name Ie Brazilian, Mexican, Canadian.
It’s only you US folk who seem to be a little ashamed and want to hide your identity across two continents.
That was my reaction to this.
Other American (as in American continental) nationals just use the nation’s name when referring to it.
I’ve always taken people from the USA referring to themselves as American as just an abbrevation of United-States-of-America.
Every time someone from the US say they are American, anyone not from the use hears this as “nothing else in this hemisphere is worth anything. Only the USA has the honor of being Americans. The other millions of people don’t matter.”
Personally I find it insulting and a massive demonstration of ignorance and self-centeredness.
So when someone says they are from France or Italy instead of Europe, is that being ignorant and self-centered? Climb down from the cross. Someone else needs the wood.