Because other countries have an original name that doesn't include the name of the continent (except for South-Africa).
Are you kidding; a few more years of global warming and most of canada will have the same climate as south florida Hotwater
I met 2 dudes who work on cruise ships, and they said that there are 3 groups of people who are hated on the ships. French, Russians, and especially Americans. Apparently they're all douches.
Because of its imperialist tradition, starting from its colonial birth, all the way to the expansion westward, followed by the turn of the century imperial conquests of the Philippines, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, among others. Current U.S. neo-imperial policy (Vietnam, Iraq, world "human rights" police status, etc.) keeps that tradition alive.
Well they were named after the explorer Americo whateverhisname. I dunno, was the idea of the United States of America that its founders wanted "everything to be part of the US of A". ( hmmm yeah like thats changed sooooo much since...) Mexico was next door and marginalised in their view.As was Canada. Then there were "Latin Americans" or "South Americans" ie "not particularly important people" in their view. ---------------------------------------- "American", like "European" is an ethos, a state of mind.Not just a geographical thing.British people are European, but "not European".As are Russians, some TUrks etc.
Amerigo Vespucci http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amerigo_Vespucci from now on.. i think americans should be called "vespuccians"