R
Rich
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Much easier just to call them Merkins
Happy Birthday, America
- Thread starter Joe8915
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R
Rich
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I am from North America, therefore, I am an American...
Can I get an American passport then?
Are you mad, would you really want to be called American?
Pauldohert
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WRONG WRONG WRONG, Its unambiguous beacuse you are denying the existence of definitions 2).
It kind of proves my point. Even with the dictionary evidence in front of you - you are unable to see that america can be something other than the USA.
You are just seeing what you want to see - and making up bizarre rules of how a dictionary works to support your ignorance.
I promise you it is you that has it wrong!
I will help you out a bit more - scroll to the bottom of ther referenced page=- there is a thesaurus - Find definition 2: America: Synonym the americas!
(bizarrely you quote the thesaurus for definition 1) and ignore it for definition 2!!!)
I apologise to you for my bad grammer , spelling and typos! I shall learn from my mistakes!
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Pauldohert
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A tidy merkin and a brazilian could be confused though couldn't they!
ColinEssex
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Perhaps we should just say
To all those that have an historical link to the treaty of independence of 1776, and are now an independent community as a result - we hope you have had a happy July 4th independence day holiday.
Col
To all those that have an historical link to the treaty of independence of 1776, and are now an independent community as a result - we hope you have had a happy July 4th independence day holiday.
Col
R
Rich
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R
Rich
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Perhaps we should just say
To all those that have an historical link to the treaty of independence of 1776, and are now an independent community as a result - we hope you have had a happy July 4th independence day holiday.
Col
Or, that trigger happy mob
dan-cat
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In your haste to be a smart-ass, you're actually starting to contradict your original argument...
No, not necessarily. Not if we accept the possible definitions provided by your links.
Well do you accept the multiple definitions or not?
Yes means you are one of these "certain people". You accept America can mean just the USA.
No means you don't accept the multiple definitions either.
Which is it?
Pauldohert
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My position has not changed - there are two definitions - I merely said I wouldn't wish America Happy Birthday - because I prefer what seems the more logical definition of America (the second one) rather than the 1) definition which has usurped it.
gail or whoever it is assures me that I needn't have worried beacuse there is no other definition of america (which is as I am sure you would agree totally wrong)
I do accept multiple definitions (its there in every post - please argue only waht there rather than what you imagine).
I do not accept that you should dictate 1) that there is only 1 definition of america or 2) that although there may be 2 definitions - I am only entitled to use the first.
Happy Birthday America - is only correct if I use the first defintion.
Am I not entitled to use defintion 2??
What you use is up to you, what qailoh uses is limited by ignorance.
gail or whoever it is assures me that I needn't have worried beacuse there is no other definition of america (which is as I am sure you would agree totally wrong)
I do accept multiple definitions (its there in every post - please argue only waht there rather than what you imagine).
I do not accept that you should dictate 1) that there is only 1 definition of america or 2) that although there may be 2 definitions - I am only entitled to use the first.
Happy Birthday America - is only correct if I use the first defintion.
Am I not entitled to use defintion 2??
What you use is up to you, what qailoh uses is limited by ignorance.
R
Rich
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America...
definition
The landmasses and islands of North America, Central America, and South America.
Of course it goes on to say.....
Often used to refer solely to the United States of America, the term has far richer connotations. The most positive of these centre upon liberation, purity, novelty, and separation. A minority of early Spanish writers viewed orderly pre-Columban polities as signs of the uniformity and wholeness of natural creation. However, displacement of indigenous peoples, and the creation of independent republics across most of the continent following wars of liberation between 1775 and 1830, made America synonymous, in the nineteenth century, with the ideal of republican government within open frontiers. For tens of millions of Europeans, chafing at urban industrialism and autocratic rule, free migration and expanding American agriculture permitted some realization of this ideal, most of all in Canada, the United States, and the southern states of Latin America. But the ideal of liberation was always denied by widespread slavery and coerced labour affecting many millions of Africans and native Americans, while that of purity, wilderness, or naturalness also came under stress in the twentieth century as urbanization and unprecedentedly energy-intensive and consumerist patterns of industrialization took hold and frontiers closed. American claims to novelty and separation from a corrupt Old World wore thin. Already, in 1893, Oscar Wilde could jibe that ‘the youth of America is their oldest tradition’.
As the United States emerged as the dominant economic, military, and political power in the world, the notion of America became associated with the aggressive promotion of the interests of the United States through its economic and foreign policy. These policies were justified as measures to promote freedom, peace, and democracy; but could also be seen as a modern imperialism. The Vietnam War, the propping up of the Shah of Iran in the 1970s, and the attempt to undermine the Sandinista government of Nicaragua (amongst other examples) exposed the United States to charges of misplaced intervention with bloody consequences. The advocacy of capitalism and free trade could also be seen as self-serving; directed towards opening up markets for American corporations and ensuring cheap supplies of raw materials. Anti-Americanism became a focus for groups including anti-globalization protestors and those opposed to US policy in the Persian Gulf and its support for Israel (see also West).
definition
The landmasses and islands of North America, Central America, and South America.
Of course it goes on to say.....
Often used to refer solely to the United States of America, the term has far richer connotations. The most positive of these centre upon liberation, purity, novelty, and separation. A minority of early Spanish writers viewed orderly pre-Columban polities as signs of the uniformity and wholeness of natural creation. However, displacement of indigenous peoples, and the creation of independent republics across most of the continent following wars of liberation between 1775 and 1830, made America synonymous, in the nineteenth century, with the ideal of republican government within open frontiers. For tens of millions of Europeans, chafing at urban industrialism and autocratic rule, free migration and expanding American agriculture permitted some realization of this ideal, most of all in Canada, the United States, and the southern states of Latin America. But the ideal of liberation was always denied by widespread slavery and coerced labour affecting many millions of Africans and native Americans, while that of purity, wilderness, or naturalness also came under stress in the twentieth century as urbanization and unprecedentedly energy-intensive and consumerist patterns of industrialization took hold and frontiers closed. American claims to novelty and separation from a corrupt Old World wore thin. Already, in 1893, Oscar Wilde could jibe that ‘the youth of America is their oldest tradition’.
As the United States emerged as the dominant economic, military, and political power in the world, the notion of America became associated with the aggressive promotion of the interests of the United States through its economic and foreign policy. These policies were justified as measures to promote freedom, peace, and democracy; but could also be seen as a modern imperialism. The Vietnam War, the propping up of the Shah of Iran in the 1970s, and the attempt to undermine the Sandinista government of Nicaragua (amongst other examples) exposed the United States to charges of misplaced intervention with bloody consequences. The advocacy of capitalism and free trade could also be seen as self-serving; directed towards opening up markets for American corporations and ensuring cheap supplies of raw materials. Anti-Americanism became a focus for groups including anti-globalization protestors and those opposed to US policy in the Persian Gulf and its support for Israel (see also West).
dan-cat
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Nonsense, you said this...
Which is complete rubbish. It's a categoric statement which is not categoric in the slightest. If I choose to use definition 1), which I'm glad I have your clearance to do (Rich and Col will be delighted too)
, then this statement is completely false.
Pauldohert
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And if I choose definition 2? Its completely true -
Oh yes sorry- although 2 exists in some of the less ignorant peoples minds, I am not allowed to use it, or even to think in those terms. I must think only in your defintion! Sorry.
If you think in the terms that america can be more than the USA - "Wishing Americans happy bithday on July the fourth is the same as wishing the British or Europeans happy national holiday St Georges Day on April 23rd." is completely true.
If you think in terms that america can only mean the USA (ie that definition 1 exists but definition 2) doesn't or that 2) can be ignored) - well then you are ignorant.
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ColinEssex
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Excuse me! - I've kept out of this, I was more than happy to wish you a happy birthday
Col
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ColinEssex
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And I for one salute you, Col.
Did you do anything special yesterday? like eat turkey
Col
KalelGmoon
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Perhaps we should just say
To all those that have an historical link to the treaty of independence of 1776, and are now an independent community as a result - we hope you have had a happy July 4th independence day holiday.
Col
Thank you Col, I really appreciate not logging in and seeing flames and jibes, especially on the $th.
I had an ok day have been fighting a cold or allergies since Monday so I spent my two days off sick in bed. Didn't even get a pint the Mrs. wouldn't let me have one.
and Guys come on it is a holiday (or was) please cant we just get along?
Er, I’d already stated that America=the United States was the American definition of the word:
Another example of being divided by a common language perhaps?
A•mer•i•ca (ə-měr'ĭ-kə) Pronunciation Key
1. The United States.
2. also the A•mer•i•cas (-kəz) The landmasses and islands of North America, Central America, and South America.
ergo America=The United States
I realized I was probably being US centric by assuming that definition, so I checked some UK references…
...I guess going by that there are serious grounds for confusion.
…and had also agreed that there were other definitions as well. My reading of the definitions above were:
America (proper noun, singular)
1. The United States.
2. also the Americas (proper noun, plural) The landmasses and islands of North America, Central America, and South America.
Given your (what I had, in my arrogance, assumed were) numerous spelling, punctuation and capitalization errors I had assumed your reading of the second definition was based on a lack of reading and comprehension skills. Clearly I was mistaken in this assumption and humbly apologize.
I for one welcome this definition of America from the descendent of our vanquished tyrannical English overlords!
Thank you for relieving me of the burden of my ignorance. Could you be so kind as to further enlighten me? I am unfamiliar with this usage:
When you use an article with the uncapitalized singular form, to what does that refer?
As for other things, I celebrated the day by briefly trading shots online with one of our former oppressors, in the spirit of the revolution, and then enjoying a day off from work in the middle of the week.
dan-cat
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Not meant as a dig, just illustrating that referring to the USA as America is quite common regardless of what country you're from.
Paul seems to think it's some kind of abstract American trait
dan-cat
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Nonsense, the truth of the statement depends on how you actually define 'Americans', not whether you're aware of the more obscure definition of 'America'.
It's perfectly possible to be aware of both definitions and to interpret this statement as false. All you have to do is presume the most commonly used definition. Which you're not for the sake of nit-picking.
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Rich
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Not meant as a dig, just illustrating that referring to the USA as America is quite common regardless of what country you're from.
Paul seems to think it's some kind of abstract American trait
America mean a continent, not a country that's grabbed the name for itself
