As a popular journalist and a Democratic spokesperson I'd like to make a verbiage suggestion. Please do NOT refer to citizens of the US as Americans and do NOT refer to the US as America. I don't know when this became the norm, but it plays to the Republican talking points. America is so big it was divided into 3 continents!!! All people living in the Americas are Americans. Using that title for US citizens only, applies exclusivity, elitism, and superiority. That is exactly what Republicans want everyone to believe. But America extends from Alaska to Cape Horn and the term should imply inclusion. The US is but a small drop in the bucket that is America. Tom Hanks is currently narrating a show called The Americas, which is promoting how the vast countries and ecosystems are intertwined and dependent. I believe journalistic verbiage could also foster a sense of inclusivity. Please consider making a conscience effort to change your thinking and writing concerning this vast difference and please make the same suggestion to your colleagues. Thank you
I appreciate your comment. My concern is that an attempt to change the word American as our identifier at this time would be used as another divider by the cynical power grabbers surrounding Trump. Labeling the attempt to change common language as "radical left woke" is one of the dividers used by Trump and his cronies. To save (or recover) our democracy, we need to find common ground with more folks who have come to realize the disaster that is evolving because they believed Trump's BS story. I'm talking about the working class/rural folks, the folks that author Andrea Pitzer* says "did not fully understand what would happen" when they voted for him. She says that rather than trying to change their minds, we can take small steps within community to solve common problems and find common ground. "I'm proud to be an American" has been an anthem for many of them - and that's just one example of the word American used as an identity. Trying to change that at the same time as working towards building a larger number of caring communities might distract from the most basic needs for understanding and hamper rather than support our efforts. Blessings,
I have pondered this very thing and totally appreciate where you are coming from. I can't say when it became the norm, but I do think I know the "why?". We describe people who live in any other country as Japanese, French, Italian, Canadian, Swedish, Ukranian, etc., but we have no moniker for U.S. citizens, due to the structure of our country's name. Even every other country in the world calls us their own version of "American". Probably because we have always denoted ourselves that way. Movies, songs and books about the United States use American or America in their titles. Think of "The Ugly American', 'An American in Paris', 'America the Beautiful' and 'God Bless America'. Those are just a few examples from among hundreds of others. I think a new designation would be great. I guess we could be USAn, USAnian, or United Statesian. However, I think it would be impossible to get any one of those to gain common worldwide usage, or even here.
One small point- While America is designated as 3 *regions*: North, Central, and South, it is considered 2 continents, not 3. There are 7 continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. 🙏
Jessica, if you have a way of contacting the BigTentUSA folks, would you PLEASE encourage them to move their zoom meetings an hour or two later? 7pm on the East Coast is only 4pm out here on the West Coast, and I know a LOT of people who don't get out of work until 5:00 and can't participate. I don't see any way to contact them on their website, so I'm hoping someone who actually will be able to be on the Zoom might be able to pass on the word.
😊The problem with all of the time zone stuff in the USA is that someone suffers. 6pm on west coast is 9pm on the east coast which is late in the day to get all fired up. There is no time based win win in our vast country.
Debra I agree with your request but a friendly reminder, America is 2 continents, not 3. Central America is considered part of the North American continent.
As a popular journalist and a Democratic spokesperson I'd like to make a verbiage suggestion. Please do NOT refer to citizens of the US as Americans and do NOT refer to the US as America. I don't know when this became the norm, but it plays to the Republican talking points. America is so big it was divided into 3 continents!!! All people living in the Americas are Americans. Using that title for US citizens only, applies exclusivity, elitism, and superiority. That is exactly what Republicans want everyone to believe. But America extends from Alaska to Cape Horn and the term should imply inclusion. The US is but a small drop in the bucket that is America. Tom Hanks is currently narrating a show called The Americas, which is promoting how the vast countries and ecosystems are intertwined and dependent. I believe journalistic verbiage could also foster a sense of inclusivity. Please consider making a conscience effort to change your thinking and writing concerning this vast difference and please make the same suggestion to your colleagues. Thank you
I appreciate your comment. My concern is that an attempt to change the word American as our identifier at this time would be used as another divider by the cynical power grabbers surrounding Trump. Labeling the attempt to change common language as "radical left woke" is one of the dividers used by Trump and his cronies. To save (or recover) our democracy, we need to find common ground with more folks who have come to realize the disaster that is evolving because they believed Trump's BS story. I'm talking about the working class/rural folks, the folks that author Andrea Pitzer* says "did not fully understand what would happen" when they voted for him. She says that rather than trying to change their minds, we can take small steps within community to solve common problems and find common ground. "I'm proud to be an American" has been an anthem for many of them - and that's just one example of the word American used as an identity. Trying to change that at the same time as working towards building a larger number of caring communities might distract from the most basic needs for understanding and hamper rather than support our efforts. Blessings,
*https://youtu.be/-v7W57Gq9qg?si=7ql4U0YUyhuKYfVn
I have pondered this very thing and totally appreciate where you are coming from. I can't say when it became the norm, but I do think I know the "why?". We describe people who live in any other country as Japanese, French, Italian, Canadian, Swedish, Ukranian, etc., but we have no moniker for U.S. citizens, due to the structure of our country's name. Even every other country in the world calls us their own version of "American". Probably because we have always denoted ourselves that way. Movies, songs and books about the United States use American or America in their titles. Think of "The Ugly American', 'An American in Paris', 'America the Beautiful' and 'God Bless America'. Those are just a few examples from among hundreds of others. I think a new designation would be great. I guess we could be USAn, USAnian, or United Statesian. However, I think it would be impossible to get any one of those to gain common worldwide usage, or even here.
One small point- While America is designated as 3 *regions*: North, Central, and South, it is considered 2 continents, not 3. There are 7 continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. 🙏
Jessica, if you have a way of contacting the BigTentUSA folks, would you PLEASE encourage them to move their zoom meetings an hour or two later? 7pm on the East Coast is only 4pm out here on the West Coast, and I know a LOT of people who don't get out of work until 5:00 and can't participate. I don't see any way to contact them on their website, so I'm hoping someone who actually will be able to be on the Zoom might be able to pass on the word.
😊The problem with all of the time zone stuff in the USA is that someone suffers. 6pm on west coast is 9pm on the east coast which is late in the day to get all fired up. There is no time based win win in our vast country.
The Big Tent events are always recorded.
Love this!! Can’t thank you enough Jessica!
Can't tonight but next week for sure+
Yay!
Here is the link for the Big Tent events if you can’t make the time they are on live: https://youtube.com/@bigtentusa?si=JM4i-E49IDswnuId
You can check out their previous events there too!
I'm so sorry I didn't see this until too late. I look forward to more. Please take good care of you!
Debra I agree with your request but a friendly reminder, America is 2 continents, not 3. Central America is considered part of the North American continent.
Hi Jessica - I just read that public comments are open for 18 more days on a rule that would greatly affect Obamacare https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/03/19/2025-04083/patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-marketplace-integrity-and-affordability. Could you help amplify and explain to your awesome readers? Here is a NYT article too https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/business/obamacare-changes-2026.html?campaign_id=12&emc=edit_my_20250324&instance_id=150833&nl=your-money®i_id=51873238&segment_id=194281&user_id=4481002486f4e1a312561265c5011262
See you at 8, Virginia time!