Comments on: Argentine President Calls Americans ‘Americanos’

By: Frank Almeida

Frank Almeida — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 01:31:06 +0000

Thanks for the factual statement, however your argument is looking like someone banging their head against a wall. I won’t repeat myself, but basically, when I speak in Spanish I use the term Estadounidense and when I speak in English I use American.

Yeah, it’s crazy I know, but I also notice that most people in Argentina just use Americano when they refer to my nationality. I could really care less.

Just try to make a Brazilian or Uruguayan or Chilean refer to themselves as an Americano instead of a Brazilian, Uruguayan, or Chilean (Brasileiro, Uruguayo, o Chileno).

I doubt they would prefer Americano as a nationality…

I am pretty sure I get it.

By: me

me — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 22:07:21 +0000

Americanos = Brazilians, Uruguayans, Chileans… ¿Get it?

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 04:25:52 +0000

“You Americans think you rule the world. We’re all Americans. But you wouldn’t know that, would you, because you think you’re the center of the world.”

It’s true, we do call tend to sort of hog the term. To be fair, the word “America” is included in the name of our country. Calling ourselves “United Statesian” doesn’t really work. I just read a study discussing opinions of Americans abroad. I’ll preface this by saying that it’s pretty old; 34% of Argentines view us in a positive way. Germany = 61%. Only four countries ranked lower: Turkey, Jordan, Pakistan, Egypt.

It should be said that there are Americans and Amurikans.

* http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=amurikan -

By: Lola

Lola — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:21:26 +0000

Beth I agree totally with your post except I don’t believe the “rest of the world” tries to change our name. People I know from other countries living here in the states use the word “American”. From my personal experience I have heard only Argentinians (and not all) whining about this topic. An Argentine friend of mine here in the states flew to Bs. As. to fly with her sister to see relatives in Italy and when my friend gave her elderly aunt a present she had bought in Bs. As. the aunt (who knew she lived in the USA) was not happy because it was not from America! Her family said yes it was from Argentina but she explained “La America, La America no Argentina! I’m sure Argentinians would never call Mexican citizens “estadounidense” why not? Envy finds its way into the hearts and minds of ignorants and intellectuals alike.

By: Beth

Beth — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:43:57 +0000

American is our Nationality, it’s the only term that exists in the English language to refer to the people from the United States of America, United States is a common nickname for our country but we are not United Statians. frankly I think it’s offensive that the rest out the world tries to change it. We call each country what they have named themselves, I wish they would respect us enough to do that too.

By: Ale

Ale — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:53:17 +0000

Peter, Peter, Peter… funny analogy, the one about West Side Story. Too bad you didn’t get the sarcasm in the song.

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:26:31 +0000

There is no other country in the world with the word “America” in its official name. Americans are called such because that’s what they are, just like Mexicans, who are from the United States of Mexico, are called what they are.

In Leonard Bernstein’s great Broadway show, West Side Story, one of the better tunes is called “America” — not “United States.” One of the verses says, “Everything’s fine in America,” not “Everything fine in los Estados Unidos.”

If you want another odious comparison, think about “Russia” vs. “Soviet Union.” Think hard.

It makes no difference to me if people are angry or not about the name “American.” It’s everyone’s right to disagree or be angry or resentful or whatever.

However, what’s official is official, and as far as I know, the USA doesn’t plan to change its name anytime soon.

For my part, I think it’s fine if people of other nations resent the name “American” for people from the USA, and if it makes them angry, that’s okay, too.

Liking it or not liking it is not the issue. Being officially correct is, perhaps, the only issue. But it isn’t going away.

By: Hernan

Hernan — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:28:50 +0000

In Argentina is not OK to say Americano to a person from the US. If The president did called like that, does not mean we all do.

As I am concerned, when she referred the tourists that came to Calafate were Americanos, she could have referred to other Americans beside Argentina… Chile, Paraguay, Brazil, US, Mexico… etc…
As stated, culturally we don’t do that… maybe in the rest of the spanish speaking world is acceptable, but in Argentina is not.
I think it’s ok for them to call themselves as they please, and if you tell me that you are “An American” I will understand that you are from the US… but we would never call you American.

By: Hernan

Hernan — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:01:39 +0000

About the topic: I think there is a little of arrogance (or ignorance) by some or most people from the United States: I run into so many people that considered Mexico part of South America. So From Texas down it would be Mexico, or South America… they USA would be THE USA, America, or North America… and then Canada. When I was watching TV as a child, growing up in Buenos Aires, I asked so many times why people from Central America called MCGyver, the Americano (The American) since I considered myself American too.
I think that if you are in Argentina, and you speak spanish, you should say where you are from how the locals knows it. if you are corrected, then learn that in Argentina is not correct to say it that way.
I had so many times asked why North America was a different continent… it’s funny that I wasn’t the only one.
Plate tectonics are the ones who supposedly determine Continents… that’s why Europe and Asia, and Africa though are together they are different continents. And perhaps the argument that North America it’s in fact a different continent would be valid then.
But if so, then India should be it’s own Continent too… and Central America, formed by volcanic land, should perhaps be on it’s own…
I think that Continental division is part of a Political division more than geological. When the European arrived to India who trade markets with China (Japan, etc) that area was called the Asia/// But Australia controlled the Islands in the pacific (Oceania)
In America happened the same, The Americas were the new continent, the new land… and then it was subdivided by territories according where the money went.

By: Gus

Gus — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:45:05 +0000

After all of the posts on America-American it seems that almost everyone agrees that if you are from the United States of America, which I am, you can call yourself an American or say that you are from America. But then I realized that when ask that question in other countries I always answer Texas and Texan. Have been met with smiles and many questions about Texas every time. Yes, even in Mexico. Texas, it’s a whole ‘nother country.

By: Doc Conosur

Doc Conosur — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:16:55 +0000

Flor:

Be my guest. Use them any way you please. Everything I have ever written comes from the heart! I do not need recognition. I do not need royalties. I have been a physician for many years. I have seen many people suffer and many people die.
I learned a long time ago what I tried to teach my daughters: “Love people and use things instead of using people and loving thing.”
Go to town Girl!

By: flor

flor — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:39:38 +0000

WOW, what a speech!
U know what Doc, I couldn`t agree more with U. What`s more, If to be an American represents all that u have mentioned before I assure u that I`M AMERICAN!!!
May I borrow ur words for my paper? U put my thoughts in words, and that`s just great!