Hello Michiel,

>> >> They why do you insist on using it if it isn't to annoy
>> >> and make falst claims?
>> > I have already explained that: to avoid ambiguity.
>> If you are really interested in avoiding ambiguity, you
>> would ask the residents of the places in question how they
>> identify themselves, and given their answers, use that
>> information in addressing those people..

> I would consider that /if/, as usual, it wasn't a one way street.

Then it's _not_ a matter of trying to be consise or trying to avoid ambiguity.

> I have repeatedly asked the people that object to the use of
"USAian" to
> refrain from use the name "Holland" to refer to my country
as it is wrong.

You haven't asked me and I do object to you using "USAian", 
neither have I ever called the place where you live, "Holland".
As a matter of fact, I haven't seen anyone here do that.  Some people may
use Holland since that is the way they were taught to identify your
country.  As another indication that these terms may be used
interchangeably, your government's home page
(http://www.holland.com/ncb/gb/)  states:

          Welcome to the website on international meetings,
          incentives, congresses and exhibitions in Holland. On this site we
          will show you what we, the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions
          (NBTC), are all about and what we can do for you.

I've always refered to it as the Netherlands since that's how I was taught
to identify where you live. My husband's family is from there and that's
how they've always identified it, as well... but your own country refers to
your location as "Holland". We, on the otherhand, do not use
"USAian" as an alternate form of "American".

>But they refuse, among other things, on the ground thet they know better how m
> country should be called than I do.

I think you are just too hard-headed to admit that you would rather
antagonize people than be precise.

Take care,
Janis

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