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> Wait, what? I'm American... South American, to be precise. Just to be precise, being American means you're from the United States of America. I don't call my
by ericmay 5y ago
> Wait, what? I'm American... South American, to be precise.
Just to be precise, being American means you're from the United States of America. I don't call myself North American, for example. Neither does anyone else. When you introduce yourself you don't say "Hi I'm the_af and I'm from America". That would be confusing, unless you're actually from the United States.
> The US as world police doesn't exactly fill me with confidence, given their track record in our part of the Americas.
Compared to what?
> Whether this world policing is a "US liberal" or a "US right-wing" thing is of no interest to me. Both camps will call anyone who disagrees anti-American, anyway. (I think right now it's more of a "US liberal" thing but it used to be "US center-right/neocon". US politics are confusing!).
The "let's get America out of international organizations" rhetoric are right-wing talking points propped up by countries that seek to divide democracies. Brexit is another good example. It's not that you're being called "anti-American" it's just that you're incorrect. The rhetorical talking points that discredit our international institutions and create anti-American sentiment seek to destroy those institutions (because they're maintained by the United States) to get the US to withdraw from those organizations to collapse them.
- the_af 5y ago> Just to be precise, being American means you're from the United States of America. I don't call myself North American, for example. Neither does anyone else. When you introduce yourself you don't say "Hi I'm the_af and I'm from America". No, this is false. I call myself American. We're from the Americas. (North)American exceptionalism is bullshit. But my point is that disagreement over US policy and their role as world police, and disagreement with their Manifest Destiny, is not "being anti-American". Even the phrase "anti-American" reeks so much of exceptionalism it should be avoided at all costs. I'm not anti-American. Being American is about cooperating with all of America, not being a bully who doesn't have to comply with the rules unless you're the one writing them.
- ericmay 5y ago> No, this is false. Ok. I don't really think I have anything else to add from this point on. Have a good day/evening.
- refurb 5y agoSorry you’re not American. At least not in the way the word is used today.
- the_af 5y ago"Sorry" how? Don't feel sorry for me, I'm happy to remain American and will also always be considered so by my fellow countrymen. But the point is that using these words, "American" and "anti-American", to refer to how people across the world choose to bow down -- or refuse to -- to the way things are handled by the US, is absurd. If you don't look up to the US you're not anti-American. Nobody is "anti-American" just because they don't think the US is (or even should be) the guiding light of freedom and morality in the world. Nobody is anti- or un- American because they think the US is not above the rules. "You're either with us or against us" -- a ridiculous and jingoistic mindset.
- refurb 5y agoI’m sorry in the sense you’re using the word “American” incorrectly. American = Citizen of the USA I mean, you do you, but don’t get mad when people don’t understand what you’re trying to say.
- ngc248 5y agoThat is how American should be used, its like saying "I am European". Only thing is popular usage of "American" refers to US citizens.