What then would we substitute for “American” in defining ourselves?
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I know, right???
I never could figure it out either. The South Americans would say “Yankees” or “North Americans”.... without taking into account that Canadians are “North Americans” too...as, really, are the Mexicans as well.
But nevertheless, it is a definite point that Cletus makes.
I think American works for us because it is part of the name of our country. Although others are “Americans” as in living on American continents, their countries have other names and thus can be referred to by them. Just my two cents.