Quote:
Originally Posted by issybird
What bugs me are the PC types who don't let Americans call themselves what they want, insisting that they can't be Americans because the feelings of the Bolivians and Brazilians will be hurt. Context is everything; moreover I don't care if Peruvians want to call themselves Americans and leave out the defining and logical "South" part. I've noticed that Canadians have no problem with calling us Americans and that it's the last appellation they'd use for themselves, lest they be confused with the evil south of the border.  |
Well, FWIW, I have someone who works here, a Canadian, who does seem to object; she asserts quite seriously that she's an American, too, and she's far, far, FAR from being PC. (Truth be told, anyone who is/was PC would not last too long around here. We don't have a lot of time for delicate sensibilities. Our clients suck up all that delicate sensibility-time.)
So...I admit, I've tried to adjust my phrasing, but it's quite true that if you've said "I'm American," for <mumble> years, it's hard to instantly stop saying that and insert "I'm from the US," instead. There's no good appellation for that, either, unlike "American." I'm a "Unity?" A "Stateswoman?" (Well...)...A "US-er?" (That just goes all kinda wrong places). Hmph.
Hitch