Todos somos AMERICANOS!!!

[Tipo-Con-Suerte]

Warm greetings to all my AMERICAN brothers and sisters who will have the courtesy and have found the time to read these perhaps trivial words. AMERICANS! For several generations, the term AMERICAN has been used in reference to the peoples found within the borders of the United States of AMERICA. I personally take exception to this mistaken term of identity for, what I consider, several undeniable reasons. First of all, the AMERICAN continent was discovered by the Italian explorer Americo Vespucci. It was accordingly christened as the AMERICAS. The AMERICAN hemisphere is comprised of a north, central, south, and caribbean regions. Therefore, the term AMERICAN is, in reality, a generic one. To refer to someone as an AMERICAN, we are in deed refering to anyone who ancestrally decends from the AMERICAN continent, be it from the north, central, south or caribbean regions. In Latin AMERICA, we have been thoughful enough to refer to the people found within the borders of the United States as "Estadounidenses". That is the correct form of reference to those found therein. To back up this argument, it is interesting to consider the following: when we meet someone from the orient, we refer to them as orientals or Asians (a generic term) as we may not be immediately aware of their country of origin. An oriental person may be from China, Japan, Vietnam, etc.. In the case of an Anglo-saxon person, we are inclined to refer to them as a European (a generic term) provided the person is from a country such as France, Germany, Holland, etc..

Why is it then, that we solely apply the term AMERICAN to someone from the United States? This is wrong! Dead wrong!! AMERICANOS somos aquellos quienes provenimos de los paises que se encuentran dentro del hemisferio AMERICANO. Chilenos, Colombianos, Belizianos, Hondureños, Mexicanos, Estadounidenses, Canadienses, Dominicanos, Cubanos.............todos somos AMERICANOS!!!

[LatinoPR]

Yes, you are correct, we are all Americans, but those that live in the USA will call themselves "American". The term "estadounidense" might also be incorrect because there are the "Estados Unidos Mexicanos". They also can be called estadounidenses. Let us go a little farther. There are only three types of "Americans" North American, which consist of all the Carribean islands, USA, Canada, and Mexico. The Central American countries, and the countries in South America. Yep, we are all Americans. Have a great day!

[Poncepr68]

LatinoPR,

Even though you are correct and this very comment I have heard for many years and I believe that I will hear it for many years to come. Now what I have also heard is that Mexico does not call itself United States (Estadounidense), but that it calls itself a district of federal states, now to be honest I am not certain of this, so if you or someone else can please clarify. Now what I do know is that all of the Caribbean islands are not all part of North America because you have the Upper Antilles, (Which are in the North American region) and you have the Lower Antilles, (Which are in the South American region). What is certain of your comment is that we are all Americans, but that Canadians, Mexicans, Cubans, Domincans, Puerto Ricans, etc. hold on more to their ancestral roots than their U.S. counter part.

[Fausta]

The "United States" are the 51 states(I could name them all but you get the point right?), so I can understand why Mexicans would say they are not. They are Mexicans or Mexican-Americans or Mexicans. If I were to call someone Mexican-American, most people would think that the person was born in Mexico and now lives in the United States. When you live in the states for some reason you have to put "american" on the back of what you are? I get it, but it really doesn't make and sense. I think we all are a little confused. All I know is I'm an American and proud of it, and the fact that the term includes everone else doesn't bother me one bit!!!

Question: I re-read your post Ponce, and I may be mistaken. I thought Mexico was one nation or country, is it more than one???? Please explain

[Poncepr68]

Fausta,

"El distrito Federado de" means "The Federate District of" and in Mexico they use this term to identify the different parts of this country. Now I am not completey sure and that is why I asked if someone really knew if this is correct. So my question still stands!

[Nacionalista]

Originally posted by Fausta
The "United States" are the 51 states

What is the 51st state?

[Ecuajey]

Originally posted by Poncepr68
"El distrito Federado de" means "The Federate District of" and in Mexico they use this term to identify the different parts of this country.

People from México D.F. don't even call themselves "Méxicanos," but "Chilangos." They also don't call México D.F, "la cuidad de México," or "el distrito Federal de México," but plain "De Efe." I know some "Chilangos," that's why I know this, lol.