Hey Americans...
- Thread starter Staiduk
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Linguofreak
Well-known member
Be a bit careful using the term "American" in that way in Latin America, though. They can be a bit touchy about it, and I've heard of people having trouble with Brazilian customs and immigration officials after referring to themselves as "Americans" or the US as "America".
Anyways, in any discussion about whether "America" should be used to refer to the US, the following link is obligatory:
(Chuckle) For anyone getting worked up about the name 'American'; just remember Columbus (according to popular history anyway; the reality is likely different) named it after his friend and fellow explorer Amerigo Vespucci. Just be glad Chris used his friend's first name rather than his last - how much would you like being called 'Vespuchians'? :rofl:
Enjoy your day! :hello:
Enjoy your day! :hello:
(chuckle) thought I'd add this quick vid. Americans have an almost messianic devotion to Old Glory; their national flag. And so they should - it is a beautiful, brave and distictive flag; worthy of that great nation. Listen - really listen to their National Anthem sometime. Can you blame any American for being devoted to his/her country? As a Canadian I am almost tempted to state that Old Glory is equal to our own magnificent Canadian Flag; but...not quite. 
This short vid details the development of Old Glory from Mrs. Ross's original design into the glorious symbol of the modern era. Old Glory might not be as 'old' as Americans think but it is glorious. It has changed to reflect the changing nature of the great United States and serves as a magnificent symbol of American freedom.
As a Canadian soldier, I initially resented Old Glory; I disliked America and her citizens. I had little trust in her armed forces. I am a Canadian Soldier; and am not ready to accept the skills of other allies Especially the cowboy-and-gangster-infested United States Marine Corps; or so I thought of them in my twenties. It wasn't until I fought beside Americans in Bosnia that I began to change my opinions. I was never impressed by your soldiers' skills (After Afghanistan that has since changed, in spades), but I always appreciated the loyalty and devotion you held to your country and flag, and the determination you showed to protect your allies. By my third tour I knew that if I or my Section ever wound up in terrible trouble, US Marines or Army WOULD respond; as they did in two separate incidents.
This video describes the development of Old Glory. A fitting tribute to the United States' proudest holiday, I think.
This short vid details the development of Old Glory from Mrs. Ross's original design into the glorious symbol of the modern era. Old Glory might not be as 'old' as Americans think but it is glorious. It has changed to reflect the changing nature of the great United States and serves as a magnificent symbol of American freedom.
As a Canadian soldier, I initially resented Old Glory; I disliked America and her citizens. I had little trust in her armed forces. I am a Canadian Soldier; and am not ready to accept the skills of other allies Especially the cowboy-and-gangster-infested United States Marine Corps; or so I thought of them in my twenties. It wasn't until I fought beside Americans in Bosnia that I began to change my opinions. I was never impressed by your soldiers' skills (After Afghanistan that has since changed, in spades), but I always appreciated the loyalty and devotion you held to your country and flag, and the determination you showed to protect your allies. By my third tour I knew that if I or my Section ever wound up in terrible trouble, US Marines or Army WOULD respond; as they did in two separate incidents.
This video describes the development of Old Glory. A fitting tribute to the United States' proudest holiday, I think.
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PhantomCruiser
Wanderer
"She's a grand old rag" - attributed to a veteren at Gettysburg
You're not the first Canadian that I've heard that from. We took a vacation cruise a few years ago and had a Canadian family as table-mates. The Dad was an vet and was(still is) a policeman, the mom was a school teacher. He said he'd found a hefty respect for the US armed forces in Iraq (the 90's). The mom, while she knew that the United States was gained from conflict and aggression, still got chills when she heard our national anthem.
As a poem, our anthem is a pretty good piece of writing and the 2nd verse is a good (maybe better?) than the first. I find it funny that it's set to the tune of an English drinking song.
As Johnny Cash wrote "I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag".
You're not the first Canadian that I've heard that from. We took a vacation cruise a few years ago and had a Canadian family as table-mates. The Dad was an vet and was(still is) a policeman, the mom was a school teacher. He said he'd found a hefty respect for the US armed forces in Iraq (the 90's). The mom, while she knew that the United States was gained from conflict and aggression, still got chills when she heard our national anthem.
As a poem, our anthem is a pretty good piece of writing and the 2nd verse is a good (maybe better?) than the first. I find it funny that it's set to the tune of an English drinking song.
As Johnny Cash wrote "I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag".
Codz
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It's a fairly nice day here in Seattle. Plenty of fireworks going off everywhere.
Nothing funny about it. Oh yes, I laugh too, but 'The Star Spangled Banner' is much greater than that old English drinking song. You Americans took the British Colonial traditions and made them your own. You didn't develop a history, you wrote one. Marvellous.
Codz
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Well, this is certainly a change from Georgia Independence Days where airborne fireworks are illegal. Airborne fireworks are going off in every direction.
Mantis
Member
You did indeed and it didn't work out too well for you!
Quick_Nick
Passed the Turing Test
I don't remember writing anything! Although, I am a descendant of the national anthem guy. :hmm:You Americans took the British Colonial traditions and made them your own. You didn't develop a history, you wrote one. Marvellous.
(for the record, he's not responsible for the music, just the lyrics
)
PhantomCruiser
Wanderer
You didn't develop a history, you wrote one. Marvellous.
"The Myrtle of Venus, with Bacchus's wine."
Well, to be honest we don't have a whole lot of history (outside the neolithic, and we surely can't take credit for that) to begin with when compared to European countries.
Compare that with Egypt (5000+years) and India (my pulmonologist is from India, says his region has 12,000 years of history). We 'muricans have just started out really.
Cosmic Penguin
Geek Penguin in GTO
"The Myrtle of Venus, with Bacchus's wine."
Well, to be honest we don't have a whole lot of history (outside the neolithic, and we surely can't take credit for that) to begin with when compared to European countries.
Compare that with Egypt (5000+years) and India (my pulmonologist is from India, says his region has 12,000 years of history). We 'muricans have just started out really.
Surely not?
:rofl: :facepalm:
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RacerX
Donator
lol Are you kidding me? 2013 years old? :rofl:
Athena
Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen
Another indictment of the American public school system. And to think, teachers claim they need to be paid more.
Pffft.
PhantomCruiser
Wanderer
I really, really, really hope those people were just funning around.
As for culture, we're kind of like the Romans, we just (ahem) "borrow" the cultures of others.
As for culture, we're kind of like the Romans, we just (ahem) "borrow" the cultures of others.
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