Why is there an "American" civilization??

[Varelse]

America, or USA - whatever you want to call it - is one of the most dominant cultural entities of all time. That is why it's a "civilization" in the game. Whos currency and language is the worldwide currency of business? Whos culture is the most immitated and borrowed from? Guess which 2nd languages we learn in American schools? Zero (if you study other languages as I did it's entirely optional). How many Europeans and others learn english? How many Europeans post on this forum in english? It surely isn't because of England.

We're not entirely lacking for military might either (one of the most powerful, and likely the most advanced, militaries on the planet able to strike anywhere, anytime, and a decent track record of military effectiveness).

The good ol' USA may not control the world via military conquest but its influence (and spread of culture) is undeniable - and that's why it's worthy of being a civ in the game.

Debate, doubt, or be jealous all you want. It doesn't change reality.

Obviously you don't have to have roots in ancient times or have existed forever to be a "civilization" in game terms. Many of the civs in the game are most well known for relatively short bursts of extreme behavior (conquest, achievement, whatever) even if they lingered forever. America, or USA if you prefer, has accomplished quite a bit in its relatively short existence.

Oh yeah, the people that made the game we all love happen to live here too.

I think he was quiblling about the name not questioning the appropriateness of including America in the game.

 

[Jonathan]

How many Europeans and others learn english? How many Europeans post on this forum in english? It surely isn't because of England.

Historically, it is because of England. The USA speaks English because of England. So do Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and large chunks of Africa. Plus, or course, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland...

This is a relatively minor correction. I realize you're talking about the modern reasons to learn English. But it seems worth mentioning anyway.

 

[Jecrell]

Oddly enough, Mexico is considered the United States of Mexico.
United Statesians won't work either.

And is the title "United States of America" including Mexico because Mexico is part of the North American continent?
You're all argueing semantics and it's stupid.

 

[Mujadaddy]

Yanqui go home!

 

[wilycoyote]

I'm convinced that only the name US or USA or America needs to be mentioned by one person for any thread to degenerate into a hopeless argument about national superiority.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

The answer is as King Jason said. Well, that and the vast majority of people (including those at Firaxis) have enough sense to not get upset over what someone else calls themselves. Like it or not, most (United States of) Americans don't really care what the rest of the world thinks about what we call ourselves.

If it really bugs you that much, I suggest reciting the Serenity Prayer once a day.

 

[Alistic]

Its like saying someone from england isnt English because English is a language.

See the word English has multiple meanings too. Just like American does. I can't belive you guys are still trying to re-write the language.

 

[trotskylite]

people from the united states of america are called americans. people from other countries on the two american continents can be referred to as americans, but are more often referred to by their nationality (mexican, brazilian, canadian, etc.). the word american has different contexts, and it's generally not hard to tell when one is talking about someone from the united states instead of someone being referred to as american in a general, continental sense. this discussion is meaningless.

and to whoever said "god bless america, especially the natives and true americans", grow up.

 

[Gazaridis]

People from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are generally called British, not United Kindomsians. People fromt the country of South Africa are called South Africans, even though other parts of Africa are in the south too.

Also, note that there is no continent called America. There are two continents - North America and South America. Brazilians are not Americans, they are South Americans.

 

[elrfag]

Time to close this argument forever. Being a civilization has nothing to do with race.

Nations or regions determine civilizations not race creed or color.

Ah, great. I've been arguing that point with a friend of mine for ages. He simply refuses to agree. Maybe this link will help

 

[TerraHero]

honeslty i dont see how a 3th parties opinion could really matter in a discussion without a real argument, thats like saying. "Its true because he said so"

How many have died with these as there last words?

 

[Jecrell]

Are we even discussing the topic anymore?

 

[elderotter]

Oddly enough, Mexico is considered the United States of Mexico.
United Statesians won't work either.

And is the title "United States of America" including Mexico because Mexico is part of the North American continent?
You're all argueing semantics and it's stupid.

Excellent point - I gift Jecrell 1 msketeer that I recieved on another post. Enjoy.

 

[Blazer6]

There are enough topics on this, i advise the use of the search option and check archives.

 

[warpstorm]

People from the USA call themselves Americans. The game was made by said Americans, therefore they will call the people of the USA Americans.

 

[Jecrell]

People from the USA call themselves Americans. The game was made by said Americans, therefore they will call the people of the USA Americans.

Please let the thread die.

 

[jkp1187]

It is a fact most people in Latin America considered themselves Americans up till the Nineteenth Century when I guess the USA Hogged up the name for themselves. It was written on several declarations of Independence to spain that all "Americans" have the right to Self government and blah, blah, blah.
In fact many people down there do refer to people from the U.S. as "Estadounidenses" which is United Statsians.

So lilke I said on another post, EVERYBODY from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego are 100% American.
God Bless America!
Especially the Natives The True Americans.

Just as many Latin Americans (of whom I owe half of my own heritage) refer to us as "norteamericanos".

I grow weary of these troll threads. "The True Americans"? Come on. These disputes over who constitutes "true" ethnic group/civilizations are more appropriate for an Apartheid-era racial court -- or Hitler's own racial laws. I don't think Americans need lectures from the Old Worlders, jealous about our success, about who constitutes what race/class.

That's all I have to say about that.

 

[Lord Shadow]

One final correction!

Also, note that there is no continent called America. There are two continents - North America and South America. Brazilians are not Americans, they are South Americans.

You couldn't be more wrong. The whole continent IS called America, and named that after the latinization of the name of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci (Americus Vespucius). It's subdivided in three subcontinents: North America, Central America and South America. Everyone living in the continent has the right to call themselves Americans.

The use of the term America for the United States of America in English and colloquially in other languages is seen by some as politically incorrect (it may be seen as cultural imperialism). In a sense, this is also illogical (for example, it would place South America outside America), although the context usually makes clear which 'America' is meant. This led to the emergence of the term Americas to take away the ambiguity (in English), if not the illogicality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americas

 

[Jecrell]

You couldn't be more wrong. The whole continent IS called America, and named that after the latinization of the name of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci (Americus Vespucius). It's subdivided in three subcontinents: North America, Central America and South America. Everyone living in the continent has the right to call themselves Americans.[/url]

I hope you got that out of your system, because we already know. But arguing over known common facts and taking it into semantics just for the sake of arguement isn't really nessicary.

 

[Lord Shadow]

I had to clarify that since Gazaridis apparently didn't know of the existence of a continent called America.