# America sucks! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 5, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655 "2003-09-05T03:52:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/61 "2003-09-05T16:19:04Z")
I apologize, **kingpengvin**. I did not mean to imply that Quebec was a conquered nation; rather, that someone can feel allegiance to a (province|nation|country|land) without living there. I’m sorry for the poor comparison. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/62 "2003-09-05T16:34:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Fortunately I managed to remember my biggest pet peeve. Why the heck do United State’s Citizens insist on calling themselves Americans? Why does the rest of the world insist on calling them Americans? > > HELLO? America is a C O N T I N E N T (technically three continents.) Not a COUNTRY. Quit whining at us. We didn’t come up with it. Its because all those people in Europe called us that, and ther name stuck. We’re not going to change it now; its ours. You can’t have it back - no Indian Giving! _ducks and runs from all the people attacking him for bigotry_ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/63 "2003-09-05T16:43:08Z")
Expats are more than allowed to be “patriotic” - and yes, as a Franco-Ontarian, I feel more strongly about the plea of Quebec wanting its own distinct society to be fully recognized. > [@](#): > > I did not mean to imply that Quebec was a conquered nation I kinda did. Ask most separatists, or pro-distinct-society people in Quebec, and you’ll probably bet the same answer. History is rooted both in facts and interpretation. Canadian history textbooks used in french schools in Ontario are very different in tone (and sometimes content) than those used by english schools. And then, Quebec’s a whole different ball of wax. > [@](#): > > Elen, what kind of secessionist lives in Ontario? If Quebec up and kissed off - or drifted off into the Atlantic in accordance with the prayers of many anglo-Canadians - you’d be left behind. This makes about as much sense as calling in an airstrike on your own position. Right now, I’m an expat. If I ever head back up to Canada, especially if I have little wee ones, you can BET YOUR ASS I’ll be moving to Quebec (probably near the old city, too). Franco-Ontarians who are militant and/or really care about their language and culture understand the plight of Quebec - and I can bet you that a lot of them would likely just cross the border and happily drift off with Quebec. Some would not, and that’s fine by me. To each his own. And you’re right, the others would be left behind. They’d probably lose their french services and schools, too. Wouldn’t that be swell. ☹ But that’s another debate for another time. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/64 "2003-09-05T17:08:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by msmith537 \* > \*\*This thread embiggens us all. \*\* Why that poster was perfectly cromulent. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/65 "2003-09-05T17:10:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weirddave \* > \*\*And then using it as a slogan to sell beer. Not that there is anything wrong with selling beer, mind you, but it’s hardly on the order of housing the homeless or healing the sick. \*\* Well it depends on the beer in question now, doesn’t it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/66 "2003-09-05T17:22:40Z")
God, in those early posts I’m such a typo-writing non-italicizing rube. But at least I’m not an American. Phew. Them guys is nuts. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/67 "2003-09-05T17:24:14Z")
uh… that would be Molsen Canadian. There was an “I AM Canadian” campaign that was quite successful. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/68 "2003-09-06T00:30:58Z")
Sure, take all the fun out of a simple off-hand comment, dorks. Sheesh. Canadians. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/69 "2003-09-06T01:03:44Z")
Underpants. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/70 "2003-09-06T01:12:44Z")
Well, I wouldn’t mind suckin’ on Florida. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/71 "2003-09-06T01:47:53Z")
**And now, two of the finest posts ever to be covered in soiled cedar chips. Brought to you uncut and in context:** > [@](#): > > - > > ``` > OP: A good first post is witty.* > > ``` > > _Monstre_: > **This just in. Brevity found not to be the soul of wit. Story at 11.** > [@](#): > > - > > ``` > MEBuckner: East America? West America? What's the third continent that ends in "America", anyway? * > > ``` > > _Happy Lendervedder_: > **Cummindue. There’s even a song about it.** Props to the new chick, I believe my first post was about some stupid-ass hand tool my uncle probably used as an electrician. Again I find myself totally unacceptable. BTW: **Zoff** has a crush on **Monty**. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/72 "2003-09-06T01:52:11Z")
I’ll call you a Chicagotian, **Jar** (pronounced “Shigoshun”). And if Europe can call itself a continent, then Central America can too. ---
**Author:** ![RoundGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/90ced4/32.png) [@RoundGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoundGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/73 "2003-09-06T01:56:26Z")
> [@](#): > > How else are people supposed to flame me for my glaring spelling mistakes and my lousy coding? Actually, the only reason you got a 2.2 grade from me was because of the quality of your formatting. The actual substance of your OP sucked. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/74 "2003-09-06T02:13:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Meteorshower \* > **Why the heck do United State’s Citizens insist on calling themselves Americans?** Because we’re better than anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/75 "2003-09-06T04:07:20Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Meteorshower_ > Why the heck do United State’s Citizens insist on calling themselves Americans? While some posters have attributed it to laziness or sense of superiority, it could just be an example of [synecdoche](http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-syn1.htm). ---
**Author:** ![g8rguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@g8rguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/g8rguy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/76 "2003-09-06T04:44:27Z")
I, for one, would like to join those taking the opportunity to welcome the new person. We’re not \*all \* unfriendly, as you’ve no doubt noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/77 "2003-09-06T05:54:56Z")
While the rant was weak, I’ve gotta chime in and agree that the OP **does** get bonus points for reading the rules of the board first. [gives 30 seconds of golf clap applause] ---
**Author:** ![Hanayatori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8baadc/32.png) [@Hanayatori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanayatori)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/78 "2003-09-08T06:45:57Z")
[http://www.abroaderview.com/guide\_education\_5.htm](http://www.abroaderview.com/guide_education_5.htm) There seems to be a tendency to reduce the official names of countries by dropping the “Republic of” or the “Principality of” or the “Islamic State of” from the name. The result is that rather than call the country the Islamic State of Afghanistan, we say Afghanistan. Rather than the Republic of Albania, we say Albania. This isn’t always the case, but it does seem frequent, and by this reasoning, the United States of America becomes simply America (although oddly enough, the above website lists America under “United States”). ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/79 "2003-09-08T14:31:46Z")
The real reason is that 1. we Americans are more argumentative than Canadians, 2. we hog up all the good stuff (like names) for ourselves, 3. Hi Opal, and 4. While Canada may have more actual land space, most of the space is pretty empty. If you really want to be ‘Americans’, you should have more children to fill up all that empty space and then be mean to them so they will be more crabby and demanding. Alternately, we could come take over your country and share our name with you. Let me know what you decide. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655/80 "2003-09-08T15:15:09Z")
I thought it was pretty funny. I also took it to be a joke. Anyone remember what that is? Put down your cardboard number signs too. What is this? A figure skating competition? Unbelievable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-sucks/199655.md?page=5)