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From: wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja)
Newsgroups: net.rumor
Subject: We're really all Veccuppians...
Message-ID: <748@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-May-85 19:28:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.748
Posted: Thu May 16 19:28:45 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 18-May-85 00:41:58 EDT
References: <14412@watmath.UUCP> <2072@sdcc6.UUCP>
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
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> Geo-politigraphically (yikes!) speaking, anyone who lives in the
> Western Hemisphere is an American. For instance, the treaty council
> for West Hemisphere countries is called Organization of American
> States. 
> I'm not sure how USA people got to be called Americans, we're not
> the first country here. Probably because "United Statesans", "United
> States of Americans", and "Youessaians" sound silly.
> 

Seems to me that "American" is a natural nickname.  What other Western
Hemisphere countries have "America" in their names?  If the offical name of
Canada was "Canadian Provinces of America," or "Canadian States of
America," they would have a valid point.  Maybe they didn't because a) few
of them were accountants, and b) CSA was taken :-).

What do YOU call people from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?
Soshies?  Unies?  Republicans? :-)  I bet you all call them Russians, even
though those of Russian descent are in the minority.

It might be interesting to trace back, and see where this term really came
from... might be, at the time it was invented, the USA was the only
area in the hemisphere that considered itself separate from the mother
country.

				   Ron Wanttaja
				   (ssc-vax!wanttaja)

"Why, Doctor Blood, you're speaking treason!"
"I hope I'm not obscure..."