I feel compelled to re-address a “pet peeve” of mine. It is the habit of folks from the U.S. to always refer to their homeland as “America” and to themselves, in an exclusive manner, as “Americans.”
A Little Geography and History
The fact is that “America” or “the Americas” consists of the continental land mass with three divisions, being North America (of which Central America is actually a part), the Isthmus of Panama and South America. The name America first appeared in the early 1500′s and is often attributed to the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who explored the east coast of Brazil from 1499 to 1502 (although attributing the name to him has been disputed). This great land mass covers 8.3% of the surface of the earth, 28.4% of its entire land mass and 13.5% of all earth’s inhabitants. It is also referred to as the “New World.” Before the explorers from Europe arrived on the scene it was entirely inhabited by native Indians.
Who is an American?
So when, where and how did the U.S. suddenly arrive to become widely known as “America” and solely the citizens of that one particular country (out of the 55 that exist) as “Americans?” I can tell you from experience that it is offensive to the folks here in Costa Rica to hear a person from the U.S. refer to his country, or to himself, “exclusively” in this way. What is meant by it anyway? Is it just a lazy, or ignorant, habit? Or is there some underlying motivation?
Do we who are from the U.S. truly believe that we are so exceptional that we embody 100% of what it means to be “American” and that all those poor schleps to the North and South of us just don’t quite “cut the mustard?”
Long ago I wrote about Obama’s speech at Cairo University and of the quote in which he stated, “any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail.” Throughout the course of human history, nations, and groups of people within them, have done just that and it hasn’t generally led to good things.
Anyone who calls home the northernmost reaches of Canada to the southernmost of Argentina, as well as all points in between, has the right to call him or herself “American.” It’s just a geographical fact.
We’re all Americans
There is a degree of resentment, however, among the folks that inhabitant the southern region of the Americas. They seem to have often gotten the “short end of the stick” when it comes to being part of America. They are often portrayed in U.S. culture as being of a lower class or social order (as in the gardener, house keeper, or drug cartel member). In short, they have often been looked down upon (and even exploited) from those to the north.
The habit of referring to oneself, if you happen to be from the U.S., as American to me is indicative of a major impact blinder. I admit, I did the same thing when I arrived to Costa Rica 12 years ago and was often scolded for it. It was a habit that took some time to shed. But shedding that habit of speech, or, worse, of thought, was the right thing to do.
Yes I am American, but so are my brothers and sisters from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and all other countries that make up the Americas. If it sounds like I am lecturing, well, I guess I am.
So, the next time you become conscious that you are about to refer to the U.S. in a way that connotes the one true embodiment of America, think before you speak, especially if you are in the audience of someone who might feel a bit excluded. Remember, Costa Ricans are Americans too!
To a nation that originated almost entirely of immigrants, that should be understandable.
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