2006-10-29 06:17:26 · 4 answers · asked by lmatador10 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
The USA is called "America" because that's short for "The United States of America," In the same way that "China" is short for "The Democratic People's Republic of China" (or whatever it is now) and in the same way that "Mexico" is short for "Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos," which, translated, means "The United States of Mexico." You see, Bob, "America" has two meanings. One meaning is simply the continent(s). The other is short for the USA. Have you got that all that straight now, Bob?
2006-10-29 06:29:53 · answer #1 · answered by yahoohoo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are absolutely right. Americans are just about anyone in the western hemisphere. I happed to be a citizen of the the United States. The reasoning was that nationalism can be so destructive that it's better for this country to be seen as a melting pot. While flawed in some small ways, the idea that anyone from anywhere at any age can become a part of what is the United States was a wonderful thing in the world. The american label is designed to promote nationalism, and to give the pundits a whine point. If you are Mexican, or Bolivian, or Haitian, or German, or Irish, it places a label on you that includes certain discriminatory aspects, US citizens were every country, every race, every ethnicity, so we didn't have the issue. Now, in order to garner sympathy, and to make US citizens feel like they are in a discriminated group, the American label was attached. Unfortunately, the rest of the world lapped it up. Now we have a nationality, we have a specific label, we have a people to hate. It gives the republicans fear mongering weapons that they use to their delight, and our misfortune.
2006-10-29 06:34:47 · answer #2 · answered by Ice 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Do you know how many times this freakin' Q has been asked?
Get over it already!!
YES we have heard of Cananda, Mexico AND South America (and each of the Central American countries!)!
Go argue about toilet paper - over the roll or under the roll, or refolding the newspaper after use, or who gets to hold the TV remote!
2006-10-29 06:25:39 · answer #3 · answered by zen 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
because US has no meaning such as america.
when u say US in arabic, for example, some one will say......Ok, inteligent.....Go away
but when saying america, yes that lies at the west of the atlantic ocean....and all people knows this country with that name
2006-10-29 06:27:07 · answer #4 · answered by mozakkera 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋