Re: CHAT: silly names, prepositions

All right, here's the solution: We start calling ourselves Columbia
(an old poetic name for the US) and Columbians. This way, us oh so
prideful Americans - oops, sorry, Rob - Columbians won't be coopting
the name of a whole continent; and has the added benefit of only
ticking off the Colombians. But then again, we had the name by the
1790s, and they only got started in 1810; and we have the District of
Columbia, so all's fair. Thus, in retaking a name that's rightfully
ours, we won't be stepping on all your toes. And you crackerjacks
that can't leave well enough alone boxes marked "Pandora's Emporium"
can end this thread. Has the added benefit also of keeping Conlang
as free as possible from political rubbish like has been dumped here
recently. So, speaking as a _REAL_AMERICAN_ - oh, sorry, a _REAL_
COLUMBIAN_: CAN IT, YOU PEOPLE!!!!!!

On Fri, 23 Mar 2001, Robert Hailman wrote:

>David Peterson wrote:
>>
>> In a message dated 3/23/01 2:25:43 PM, robert@APEXWOOD.COM writes:
>>
>> << You've got three good words in the name of your country (if we ignore
>> "of", that is) that you can use, and the other two wouldn't cause as
>> much trouble as "American", so there are other terms available. I agree
>> that it's not deliberatly arrogant. I don't think the people who came up
>> with the term said "How many people can we piss off today?" - but to
>> outsiders, especially American outsiders (the real Americans) it seems
>> especially arrogant. >>
>>
>> I'm sorry, you just have no basis.  This should really stop.  Someone already
>> said there's a "United States of Mexico", because there is.  So, again, we
>> can't use either "United" or "States" or "of", for that matter.  It remains
>> that "American" refers to people in the U.S., "Southern American" is for
>> people from the South, "South American" is for anyone from South America
>> (though who on Earth would prefer to be called "South American" as opposed to
>> the country they're from?), and if you've got a problem with it, it's your
>> problem.
>
>I'm not saying people would prefer to be called "South American" as
>opposed to their nationality, but as a blanket term "South American"
>means citizens of South American nations, no?
>
>"South American States" - if "American" means "of the USA" then Texas
>should be one, where as Brazil should not. But it's the other way
>around.
>
>Anyways, there may be a United States of Mexico. Granted. So there are
>two countries that are "United States". There are more than two
>countries that are part of America. For great justice, go with the
>lesser of to evils, IMHO.
By the way, there are also the United States of Brasil, if I'm not
entirely mistaken. So that's _THREE_ countries with "United States"
in the name, but - hmm - only _ONE_ with "America" in the name. Looks
like a winner to me.

>
>But, after all this, moot it is and moot it shall stay.
>
THEN DROP IT ALREADY!!!!!!

Regards,
The American - oh sorry - the _Columbian_.

>--
>RJEH.
>

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