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I discovered not too long ago that my great grandfather came to the USA from Canada. I think the border was pretty porous back then and there was a lot of movement back and forth.</p>
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I’ve noticed a lot of Europeans use the term ‘America’ when referencing the USA. It seems that a lot of other areas use the term as well including when we see the ‘down with America’ signs. But to answer the question, I think I usually would say the ‘United States’ or the USA.</p>
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<p>The use of “America/Americans” by U.S. citizens has been cited as evidence of the arrogance of the U.S. since other countries are located in the continents of North America and South America. I find this to be a frivolous argument, especially since in American vernacular we use hyphenation to show the country of origin (e.g., Italian-American, Asian-American, etc.) Our lack of fluency in languages other than English is another oft-cited but stupid reason foreigners use to argue that Americans are uncultured and self-absorbed. As others have pointed out, the U.S. is a large country and people do not often interact with others who use languages other than English as a first language.</p>
<p>On the term ‘America’ - The USA is the ‘United States of America’ or "US’, ‘USA’, or ‘America’ for short. Although Canada and Mexico are on the continent of North America they don’t have the term ‘America’ as part of the name of their country. Ditto for the countries in Central and South America. It makes sense and s/b acceptable to anyone that the term ‘America’ (or US’ or ‘USA’ or ‘United States’) is used to reference the USA and even if it bothers them they’re out of luck since it’s become convention. There are probably very few people who’d respond to the question with ‘United States of America’ - it’s too long and cumbersome to use in this context.</p>
<p>It took me awhile to understand what the controversy was about using “American” in this thread, but now I get the controversy but still don’t understand why it is controversial. As GladGradDad pointed out, no other country in the world has “America” in its name. Are there people living in non-US countries who want to be called “Americans?” Why would they want that?</p>
<p>^^^^^^Even 25 years ago when I lived in France, French friends would introduce me to others with “This is Polly. She’s American.” Not once did anyone respond to this by asking for further clarification.</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s much, if any, controversy. I don’t think that most Canadians have any desire to be known as Americans.</p>
<p>zoosermom, thank you for the kind words. Your beautiful city is one of the places we have lived in the U.S. and we still visit our actor friends there several times a year. As you probably know, it’s one of my favorite places and you’re right, it’s not necessary to say anything more than that you’re from New York. :)</p>
<p>I think we’ve gotten a bit off track in the discussiion, which isn’t a criticism because I think these twists and turns can be enlightening but in an attempt to get back to the original question, here we go. One discussion that I often have with friends and acquaintances from the U.S. is how well Canada does public education. So many Americans who move here automatically search out the private school options because that’s what they’re used to in the U.S. They’re always surprised to learn that the situation in public education is very different here and that it is almost always their best option. This is the case regardless of whether you’re in the middle of a large city or in an affluent suburb.</p>
<p>Whenever I’m asked what Country I’m from, I always answer “I’m from New York”, because it essentially answers the question and provides the answer to the inevitable next question.</p>
<p>As for Rick Mercer, I’ve never seen any of his shows, so lack context. It probably makes little difference, because I very rarely find humor at the expense of others to be funny. Logically, I understand the “It’s all in good fun” concept, but can’t get over the fact that in the end, it is at someone’s expense. </p>
<p>I don’t remember learning about Canada when I was in public school, but do remember learning about Europe and Asia. There is nothing wrong with that. Just because Canada is our geographic neighbor doesn’t mean their history and politics are more significant to Americans. In fact, it can be easily argued Europe and Asia are FAR more significant politically to the United States and therefore much more valuable to study than Canada. </p>
<p>And let’s not forget that many Americans trace their lineage to Europe. That alone would tilt the scales away from Canadian studies.</p>
<p>As for comparing the number of Canadians traveling abroad, I’d hazard a guess that more US Citizens travel internationally than any other population of the Western Hemisphere. That’s just an unqualified guess based on my own experiences over the past few decades. Percentages of the populations aside, in terms of raw numbers it feels overwhelming. Hmmm… would an accounting of the flights abroad (not counting to/from each other) be statistically meaningful?</p>
<p>When I traveled around in Europe in the 70s, I saw young Canadian travelers with a red maple leaf on their clothing or backpack. Do they still do that? I didn’t see anyone advertising that they were from the US in the same way.</p>
<p>A few years ago, there was a large protest on the steps of the NY Public Library on Fifth Avenue. It was a group of Canadians holding signs that said “US Out of North America.” I don’t hold them against my Canadian friends.</p>
<p>In the '70’s we had one of those oval “USA” stickers on our car, a “Simca”. I can still remember driving through neighborhoods with kids running after the car shouting "oou, ess, ahh! “oou, ess, ahh!!”</p>
<p>Those were different times. Americans were beloved by a large segment of the population.</p>
<p>My family visited my dad’s “home town” of Pancevo, Northeast of Belgrade. Even though Yugoslavia was a communist country, they rolled out the red carpet for us. We were invited to tour the local beer factory. The mayor gave a speech about Americans saving the people of Europe from the Nazi’s. It was great! My dad was a veteran of the 82nd Airborne, so they looked at him as a “home town boy” that came back and gave the Nazis what what they deserved.</p>
<p>If asked where I’m from, I say “the U.S.” either in English or in the local language. </p>
<p>My son is completing his 4th year in Montreal, as a McGill student. I kid him about becoming a Canuck, but I only <em>wish</em> it were true. 4 years of International Student Tuition have been rough! He does say “super” all the time, and talks about the going to the Dep…do I get any Canadian cred for giving my kid up to the Great White North?</p>
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<p>I usually say “I’m from California,” when I don’t say “I’m from the US.” California’s population is 37 million, which is more than all of Canada’s population (34 million).</p>
<p>memake, there are several parents of McGill kids here on CC. Has he enjoyed his time in Montreal? It’s a beautiful city. “going to the Dep” must be a Montreal thing, I’ve never heard of it. Care to share what it means? </p>
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<p>Gee, Bay, it’s really not a contest. Don’t be so defensive!</p>
<p>When we were in South Africa, I would refer to “the United States,” but I noticed our hosts always said “America.”</p>
<p>When I told people I was from Maine, it was fun to see the confused look on their faces! Most of them had no idea where it is.</p>
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<p>I can’t help it. I felt like we Americans were being chastised for not knowing enough about Canada and Belgium, when here we have one state out of 50 with a population greater than your entire country! How are we supposed to know so much about all the little countries in the world when we have so much we need to learn about ourselves! It stresses me out. :)</p>
<p>I wonder if the guy who lived in Belgium could have picked out Uganda on a map when he was in junior high. </p>
<p>I think the lack of interest in Canada by Americans is primarily due to the fact we think of it as very similar to America.</p>
<p>It’s also a question of interest. French students learn about all the French-speaking countries, Spanish students about the Spanish-speaking countries, for a start. When I meet someone from another country, I’m curious about where they might be from (Polish worker in a hotel, Salvadoran roofer, Ethiopian taxi driver, soldier just returned from Okinawa, etc.). </p>
<p>Our kids were always encouraged to learn about other parts of the world. The atlas and encyclopedia were the most consulted books in our household (this was mostly pre-Google). A colleague from the U of Georgia once called our house and S1 (in middle school) answered and took a message. All he could tell me was that I had a phone call from Greece. It took me about an hour to figure out that the caller had told him is was Friend from Athens. I thought it was pretty impressive that S1’s first thought was Greece, and he had no clue there was an Athens, GA.</p>
<p>I’m skipping page 15 to page 18, but have to share a thought; I am always thinking of some old western where the “Indian” guy says to the “white” guy, “what do you mean, we”? when surrounded by…URM’s. I’m sure there is a “we” out there in America somewhere, but I don’t know a majority who see everything a certain way, especially with regard to US history. Again, I wonder how many other countries share this diversity of perspectives.</p>
<p>OK shrinkrap, do URMs have a very different notion of Canada than other Americans?</p>
<p>Of course I cant speak for all URMs; I was thinking of a certain movie. </p>
<p>But I think it’s fair to say minorities, and not just college under represented ones, have a different view of US history, not Canadian history (that was the theme on page 15; knowledge of US vs world history). I know many West Indians in my and my husbands family ended up in Canada, instead of the US. Not sure of the details, but I would say “prejudices” are not more about Canadian or US, but whatever island the family came from, or just the Caribbean in general. </p>
<p>My question is, what other country is made up of as many immigrants? Perhaps I have always lived in very diverse communities (NYC, DC. LA, N. Cal), but to me, we are as different as we are the same. </p>
<p>Does anybody know this movie I am thinking of?</p>