Can we please say "Usanian" instead of American!!!?

Question

Hey, I'm from the US and it's stupid that many ppl from the US call themselves American and don't even think of all the other American countries...
I would be so pissed if I was from Mexico and I heard Americans say they're American as though I wasn't too..
Why don't we call ourselves Usanian? What's so hard about that?

I'm going to start calling Canadians Americans. They are from America.
Also, I'll call Mexicans Americans. They're from America too. Hell! Everyone can be American... why not??

Answer 1

The spirit of this question is laudible. It is true that America is comprised of many more nations than simply the United States. As a Canadian, however, I would not like to be referred to as an American. The actions of America internationally have tarnished that name beyond repair. As many Americans now travel abroad under the pretext of being Canadians, to avoid the negative consequences of their own reputation, I would be accepting those consequences despite not having incurred them. I will remain Canadian, thank you.

Answer 2

Because we're the United States of America and our country is in North America. Canada & the USA collectively are called North America. Mexico is generally considered to be in Central America. We chose a long time ago to be called Americans because it's in our name. It's not stupid and Usanian isn't actually a word in the English language.

Answer 3

A) Mexicans do consider themselves American. They call us norteamericanos--when they're being nice. Interestingly enough, that's generally understood to mean Usanians, though both Mexico and Canada are significant parts of the continent. (Such an arbitrary desgination anyway, continents--I mean, what continent is Cuba a part of?)

B) Mexico is technically called los Estados Unidos de México, yet they are Mexicans, not Usmians.

C) Tradition. It's basically understood what "American" means, be it by those from other hemispheres or our neighbors to the north or south. I don't think they worry about it much anymore.

Answer 4

There once was a contest of betters- all the countries in all of the Americas were invited and the prize was: Whoever wins gets to call themselves "Americans." So everyone put down a hand- it could either be rock, paper, or scissors. Venezuela beat Honduras like rock beats scissors. Mexico took out Canada like paper takes out rock. But it was quickly becoming apparent that USA and Virgin Islands where taking the lead. Head to head the two countries sat at the table, eyes locked together. This was definatly a contest to be remembered throughout the ages. They slammed their fist into their palm- once...twice...AND SCISSORS BEATS PAPER---VIRGIN ISLANDS BEATS USA!!! The crowd goes WILD. Everyone in the room shouts; "AMERICA! AMERICA! YAY FOR AMERICA!" Then out of no where a shot is heard and Virgin Islands lays dead on the floor. USA puts his gun back into his holster and stares coldly at everyone in the room. "THERE! USA WINS! Now you will ALL call me America or this will happen to YOU!" They all turn their gaze and mumble an affirmative. USA stormed out of the room and slammed the door shut behind them. And from then on everyone else hated America.

Answer 5

You're right. The USA, perhaps in its nationalistic arrogance, claimed the term "American" as if people from Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America are somehow less American than USAnians.

USAniacs?

Answer 6

I had a Social studies teacher that used to say the same thing! You are not alone. When I am out of the country I make sure to say that I am from the U.S.
Have you ever heard anyone say that they speak American, instead of saying English? Now that is an insult to our country too. So selfish and ignorant.

Answer 7

the other countries all call us american. have you ever been to mexico or canada? I have. The rest of the world pretty much call us Americans. Just like we still call people from many of the old world russian countries, russian.

Answer 8

United States of AMERICA - therefore - Americans

Answer 9

how about North American

Answer 10

We these individual states are called the United States of AMERICA!!!