News Should Great Britain abolish its monarchy?

[hitssquad]

Who is an American

Technically, Canadians and Argentinians are American, too.

America is not a continent, though it is an isolated landmass comprising two continents. Canadians are North Americans; Argentinians are South Americans or Latin Americans; and neither (usually) are Americans.

--
american

1 : an Indian of No. America or So. America
2 : a native or inhabitant of No. America or So. America — usually used with a qualifying adjective <Latin Americans> <North Americans> of all except inhabitants of the United States
3 : a citizen of the United States
--
(M-W Unabridged 3.0)

 

[hitssquad]

the term "American" refers to the old cartographer Amerigo Vespucci

Amerigo Vespucci was a navigator. The cartographer who named America after him was Martin Waldseemüller.

 

[misskitty]

I voted no. Partly because the British Monarchy dates back so far that it is a huge part of their living history. I do, however, tend to agree with Waste because the current family is actually of German descent. The original house wasn't what it is today. It was actually the House of Hanover. Which is in Germany. It was changed in the second world war because the Monarchy didn't think it was a great idea to have the name of the Royal family be the same as the people they were fighting across the English Channel.

I don't think it was so much France and Germany and other countries "got rid of" their Royal families so much as they just died out.

It might be better economically for the Royal family to stay put, mainly for tourism reasons. I think a cou might be an interesting spin on things. How would that be underway. It can't be in the traditional means of a political cou. Mainly because you can't go out and murder the king or queen now and not be charged and tried for murder. I would be interested in how that would work. Good question Waste.

 

[misskitty]

I've actually never ran across anyone who didn't want to be called an American - unless they were ashamed of America's political actions, but never because they thought there was some better way to adress people that live in the USA. Matt seems to be a total anomoly...

I think this is rather amusing. You live in New York and have never met anyone who didn't want to be called an American. I live in the boonies of New Hampshire, which is a beautiful state I might add, and have met a someone who doesn't like to be called an American.

Here's what really gets me, he was born here, as were several previous generations of his family. He actually cringes when you call him an American and he does not stand or say the Pledge of Alligence. I don't have an issue with that, because its his choice and that's fine. As for me that's not my thing. He is so ashamed of America's actions and behavior in modern society that he dislikes being called an American. As soon as he turn 18 he says he is moving to Japan, who, in his opinion, is much more morally sound and stable and not hypocritical like America.

He pretty much has this good riddens to all of you lousy people persona when it comes to this. Whats even funnier is that you would never know it in a regular conversation with him because he doesn't really talk about it. He evades political discussions, even when they are required in class. He's got a pretty interesting view on how badly America has screwed up in the World Theatre.

 

[wasteofo2]

I think this is rather amusing. You live in New York and have never met anyone who didn't want to be called an American. I live in the boonies of New Hampshire, which is a beautiful state I might add, and have met a someone who doesn't like to be called an American.

Here's what really gets me, he was born here, as were several previous generations of his family. He actually cringes when you call him an American and he does not stand or say the Pledge of Alligence. I don't have an issue with that, because its his choice and that's fine. As for me that's not my thing. He is so ashamed of America's actions and behavior in modern society that he dislikes being called an American. As soon as he turn 18 he says he is moving to Japan, who, in his opinion, is much more morally sound and stable and not hypocritical like America.

He pretty much has this good riddens to all of you lousy people persona when it comes to this. Whats even funnier is that you would never know it in a regular conversation with him because he doesn't really talk about it. He evades political discussions, even when they are required in class. He's got a pretty interesting view on how badly America has screwed up in the World Theatre.

Well I said that the only people I've met who didn't want to be called American were people who were ashamed of American society/government, not people who thought there was some better word to call them, so your friend fits in with my statement I guess.

 

[misskitty]

Indeed he does. It doesn't really jive so well with the rest of the student body, who hapens to be patriotic republicans.

 

[Shadow]

I think you do look like lindsay lohan. Wear something skanky and you are her. Do you know how many guys'd be checkin you? word.

I agree.

I've only been alive for the past 16 years, and geopolitics didn't really become interesting to me until relatively recently, gimme a bit of a break.

...you fight hard sometimes but when it is clear you have lost...you use your age?

 

[misskitty]

Age can be a valid excuse for losing and argument

 

[stoned]

British can keep them parasites(royalty), but why Canada or Australia still recognize Queen as their head of state is beyond me.

 

[brewnog]

British can keep them parasites(royalty), but why Canada or Australia still recognize Queen as their head of state is beyond me.

It's a good point. At least we make millions of pounds every year from Americans coming to look at Buckingham Palace. What benefits do citizens of Her Majesty's other states get from her?

 

[stoned]

What benefits do citizens of Her Majesty's other states get from her?

I think Canada prides itself of having Foreigner as a head of state,this way Canadians pretend to be different, more civilized than their American cousins.

 

[Telos]

While it's somewhat outdated, the concept of the US is that I'm a Coloradan, while someone from Virginia is a Virginian, someone from Indiana is a ... uh ... Hoosier?, someone from Connecticut is a ... ... .

lol, that was great. Your post motivated me to look up the list (I guess they're called "demonyms") and cast away the mystery that has plagued us all for so long.

The most comprehensive one I found is at the following link, along with demonyms for cities and other nations of the world.

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1450700

The funniest one is "M*******," which is slang for someone from Massachusetts. It's not necessarily pejorative! [Edit: but the forum filter definitely thinks it is.]


And I want the UK's monarchy abolished if only for the simple joy of not having be exposed to it as the subject of tabloid news.

Oh yeah, and everyone from the UK is British. That's where the confusion about referring to the UK as Britain comes from.

 

[misskitty]

You would have thought that Canada would have seceeded (sp?) by now having its own government and all.

 

[selfAdjoint]

If you ask two Canadians whether the Queen is queen of Canada, really, you will get three different answers.

 

[misskitty]

Three? What are they? I don't have any Canadians on hand to ask.

 

[Telos]

Oh yeah, and it doesn't help that the UK lacks its own soccer team.

When we see "England" play "Germany" we think it's between two countries, and presume that you don't mind all being called "English." ;)

 

[brewnog]

Oh yeah, and it doesn't help that the UK lacks its own soccer team.

Soccer? Oh, you mean football!

When we see "England" play "Germany" we think it's between two countries, and presume that you don't mind all being called "English." ;)

A match between England and Germany is between two countries. Are you winding me up?

The people from England wouldn't mind being called English, but the people from Germany would probably prefer to be called German.

 

[Telos]

A match between England and Germany is between two countries.

So the UK isn't a country?

Oh wait... the UK is a "country of countries." Well, pardon me for being confused by that one!

 

[brewnog]

So the UK isn't a country?

Oh wait... the UK is a "country of countries." Well, pardon me for being confused by that one!

I just didn't understand why you were bringing Germany into it!

 

[Telos]

I just didn't understand why you were bringing Germany into it!

It was a poor example, or at least I wrote it very poorly. I apologize.

I did some more reading on the matter. I honestly didn't realize that England, Scotland, and Wales were also considered countries. I guess I have the lingering US mindset of e pluribus unum, that only one country makes a nation, and forgot that your nation was united under different circumstances.

 

[brewnog]

It was a poor example, or at least I wrote it very poorly. I apologize.

I did some more reading on the matter. I honestly didn't realize that England, Scotland, and Wales were also considered countries. I guess I have the lingering US mindset of e pluribus unum, that only one country makes a nation, and forgot that your nation was united under different circumstances.

Ah, but you forgot about the crown dependencies, the overseas territories, and Northern Ireland!

 

[Telos]

Ah, but you forgot about the crown dependencies, the overseas territories, and Northern Ireland!

Those are all considered countries in their own right as well?

 

[selfAdjoint]

I don't think Wales is considered a country, although they have given it some limited home rule. It was conquered in the middle ages and since then has formed part of the country England. It is a principality, and Charles is its prince. What did you think "Prince of Wales" meant?

 

[Telos]

What did you think "Prince of Wales" meant?

Absolutely nothing; a vacuous false-title of antiquated good-for-nothingness. Why else would we be having the discussion of abolishing a monarchy? It's not like it would be a "revolution."

Would it?

 

[wasteofo2]

It's not like it would be a "revolution."

Would it?

It damned sure would be if the Kennedy's from America worked up a militia and overthrew the crown, and claimed it for themselves.

 

[brewnog]

Absolutely nothing; a vacuous false-title of antiquated good-for-nothingness. Why else would we be having the discussion of abolishing a monarchy? It's not like it would be a "revolution."

Would it?

According to popular opinion here, no, as long as national income wasn't affected. The tories might have something to say about it, but I haven't met any here who are willing to voice an opinion.

 

[motai]

According to popular opinion here, no, as long as national income wasn't affected. The tories might have something to say about it, but I haven't met any here who are willing to voice an opinion.

Wait a sec... the tories still exist? I remember hearing about them in history, but that is about it. Then again, I'm not up-to-date with my foreign affairs.

 

[brewnog]

Wait a sec... the tories still exist? I remember hearing about them in history, but that is about it. Then again, I'm not up-to-date with my foreign affairs.

Urrrm, yes. They were in power until 1997...

 

[Dissident Dan]

Isn't it funny that Great Britain is smaller than Britain (when using Britain to refer to the entire country)?

 

[brewnog]

Isn't it funny that Great Britain is smaller than Britain (when using Britain to refer to the entire country)?

No, because they're the same thing. Keep up! The 'Great' part is redundant in the English language, but the French still need its inclusion to distinguish it from Brittany (Bretagne).