I suffer no prickly affects from the word AMERICA. I am an American.
I grew up singing “AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL”, as frequently as the National Anthem, and learning in public school of WWII and the Ellis Island years. Those were the immigrants who knew all about what “coming to America” meant and they knew exactly what “America” meant to them and for them. Count me in on their sentiments.
The rest of the argument is mis-direction out of the politically correct playbook, of which I pay no attention whatsoever. (Personally, I use USA interchangeably as my many replies on FR will prove.)
On your second inquiry, I don’t see how it remotely relates to my little comment above, so I don’t get what it is that you’re even driving at. (Hate to end with a preposition, but..)
No doubts! I use America, United States, US, U.S., USA and U.S.A. interchangeably. It mostly depends upon how much I want to type at the time.