Apparently, I must have been asleep when I slipped into the parallel universe where the country of America has been replaced by the country of The U.S. (This is an example of the idiotic arguments I find myself in the middle of nowadays.) I can understand a non-American being confused over the ambiguous and disambiguous use of the word "America", but when a fellow "American" tells me that the name of our country is NOT America I just have to ask, "Are you fucking high?"
Granted, the word isn't solely used in reference to one country on the North American continent. In one sense (albeit an archaic sense) the word refers to the whole New World ... in the sixteenth century! A few things have happened since then, like it being discovered that the ONE continent is in fact TWO. Our country's name has been America since before 1776. At what point since then did the Sovereign title of our nation replace it? A country's name is not the political abstraction of its nation.
Yes I know our naval ships have the title of United States' Ship, that our international sports teams and athletes have U.S.A. printed on their jerseys, that the world map that hangs on my wall has United States printed over our country, but none of these negate the fact that our country's name is STILL America. I live in the country of America organized into the nation of the United States of America. It exists in the geographic region between the countries of Canada and Mexico on the continent of North America which, along with South America, is part of THE Americas or Pan America. I'm an American- North American- Pan American (though to be honest I've never thought that Pan American was a necessary disambiguation). I am not a United Statesian nor am I a TheUSAn.
I am stepping down from my soapbox. That is all.
Granted, the word isn't solely used in reference to one country on the North American continent. In one sense (albeit an archaic sense) the word refers to the whole New World ... in the sixteenth century! A few things have happened since then, like it being discovered that the ONE continent is in fact TWO. Our country's name has been America since before 1776. At what point since then did the Sovereign title of our nation replace it? A country's name is not the political abstraction of its nation.
Yes I know our naval ships have the title of United States' Ship, that our international sports teams and athletes have U.S.A. printed on their jerseys, that the world map that hangs on my wall has United States printed over our country, but none of these negate the fact that our country's name is STILL America. I live in the country of America organized into the nation of the United States of America. It exists in the geographic region between the countries of Canada and Mexico on the continent of North America which, along with South America, is part of THE Americas or Pan America. I'm an American- North American- Pan American (though to be honest I've never thought that Pan American was a necessary disambiguation). I am not a United Statesian nor am I a TheUSAn.
I am stepping down from my soapbox. That is all.
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As for the tattoo, I think I'd be awesome. I've thought of a similar one but somehow incorporating this masterpiece of my childhood into it.
I back your tattoo idea
i wanted to reply to your blog, but as i am non-usa i really dont understant the problem