DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Who's the American? An American or a Mexican?

**Goksiodiffeli** · 09-13-2011, 04:08 AM

Because a lot of Mexicans (from Mexico) don't see it as innocent to call U.S.Americans 'Americans', but it is associated it with ideologies like the Manifest Destiny and Monroe Doctrine and US imperialism.
To us it is not just a name, or about simple, innocent usage of words, but of underlying political connotations.
Mexicans are after all, also Americans as are Canadians, Colombians and all the rest.

Good point. I can understand that reluctance. But we must also understand that the Americans chose this name for themselves before there ever was a Monroe Doctrine or any thought of hemispheric imperialism - or an independent Canada, Mexico or Colombia for that matter. So they have first use rights on the "American" brand name.

At the same time, I think it is simple respect to refer to a nationality according to their name for themselves. As a Canadian I certainly have no problem doing so with Americans.

09-13-2011, 04:08 AM	#7
Goksiodiffeli Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 440 Senior Member	Because a lot of Mexicans (from Mexico) don't see it as innocent to call U.S.Americans 'Americans', but it is associated it with ideologies like the Manifest Destiny and Monroe Doctrine and US imperialism. To us it is not just a name, or about simple, innocent usage of words, but of underlying political connotations. Mexicans are after all, also Americans as are Canadians, Colombians and all the rest. Good point. I can understand that reluctance. But we must also understand that the Americans chose this name for themselves before there ever was a Monroe Doctrine or any thought of hemispheric imperialism - or an independent Canada, Mexico or Colombia for that matter. So they have first use rights on the "American" brand name. At the same time, I think it is simple respect to refer to a nationality according to their name for themselves. As a Canadian I certainly have no problem doing so with Americans.
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