UK looking for outside production facilities

[Frank McGrath]

I've always called Canada Upper U.S.

[arrogcow]

So apparently we're Unitedstatesofamericaians.

Adam

[rickmac15]

Contact Sarah Lee in Winston-Salem NC they could point yopu in the right direction,maybe

[Ian.MacAllan]

. . . I guess I fail to see the confusion or chauvinism in calling citizens of the USA, Americans.

. . . The idea that only the USA is America is a bit of chauvinism that it's time we outgrew.

Maybe I should have put "only" in bold italics. My point is that there are many other countries whose residents have as valid a claim to be called "Americans" as residents of the USA do, and excluding them from consideration is an instance of chauvinism.

.

[TheKiltedWonder]

I think chauvinism is a bit harsh. There are two meanings to the word American and it can get confusing without context. If it's clear that a speaker is referring to inhabitants of the United States, then I don't believe that saying a Canadian is not American is an example of chauvinism.

[Makeitstop]

I think chauvinism is a bit harsh. There are two meanings to the word American and it can get confusing without context. If it's clear that a speaker is referring to inhabitants of the United States, then I don't believe that saying a Canadian is not American is an example of chauvinism.

You are correct sir. A word may have multiple meanings. America may refer to a country or 1 of 2.5 continents.

So in this case we have America(1) (country) and America(2) (continent) and I think it is disrespectful (or at least a significant misunderstanding) to say that Americans(1) cannot refer to themselves as Americans(1) because it excludes other Americans(2). If we have to refer to ourselves as citizens of the USA, then they can go ahead and refer to themselves as residents of North America. Americans(2) have no more right to the word than Americans(1).

If you are not citizen or resident of America(1) you are not an American(1). I'm sorry if that offends people, but it is not an insult or some dismissive attitude. It is a simple statement of fact.

[pbpersson]

We have a similar problem over here in that England is often used as a catch all for the whole of the United Kingdom.

People are ignorant about countries on the other side of the world. We in the United States used to think that Russia and the USSR were just different names for the same thing.

I bought a kilt from Wales, told someone on this forum that it came from England.....and was REALLY embarrassed when the owner of the company posted that England and Wales are NOT the same thing. Well.....I got online and did a little research. Great Britain is totally different from England. I learned something important that day.....

Anyway, I would have no problem with UKs made in Canada. I once bought a Pontiac made in Canada and it was probably the best GM car I ever had.

[Freedomlover]

I think Rex has the right idea. "America" is not just one nation, it's two continents. The idea that only the USA is America is a bit of chauvinism that it's time we outgrew.

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"America" and "USA" have by common usage over a long time period become synonymous. Neither Canadians, Central Americans, nor South Americans refer to themselves, ever, as "Americans". If the suggestion is that goods made in some other country (however high quality) ought to be considered the same as Made in America then we might as well toss out every other definition that doesn't suit the feeling of the moment.