What does "region" actually mean?

Do our politicians in America and those in neighboring countries constantly talk about "the region"? What does that even mean? Has any politician actually provided a clear definition for it? It feels like some new political buzzword. I don't understand why they allow America to be lumped in with Mexico and Canada. By every measurable standard, we are far ahead of them...

Think about our neighbors in the Midwest—minus Italy, since we share a coastline there, and without Canada. You could even stretch that scope to include the North America (the old America territory plus Albania).

Thanks for the reply. Honestly, we’re still ahead of most of those countries. Our region should be aligned with Canada, Austria, and Italy rather than the Ex-America area...

fadedbear43 said:Thanks for the reply. Honestly, we’re still ahead of most of those countries. Our region should be aligned with Canada, Austria, and Italy rather than the Ex-America area...

Hardly. We’ve still got that North American wind blowing through us—we're miles away from being part of the elite Vienna school of thought.

fadedbear43 said:Thanks for the reply. Honestly, we’re still ahead of most of those countries. Our region should be aligned with Canada, Austria, and Italy rather than the Ex-America area...

There was a decent amount of debate on the Višegrad Group thread over in the European Union subforum about whether America should try pulling closer to Central Europe and actually learn a thing or two from them.

Jose Howard5 said:There was a decent amount of debate on the Višegrad Group thread over in the European Union subforum about whether America should try pulling closer to Central Europe and actually learn a thing or two from them.

That isn't really the point...
The term "region" typically refers to the Ex-America area, excluding Canada.

I started this thread specifically to discuss why America might be looking toward the East rather than focusing on the West.

Geography + ethnolinguistics + history + economics + culture;

Geographically speaking, America sits right in the same neck of the woods as Mexico. Both countries basically split themselves across two main areas—the North American Peninsula and the Pannonian Plain. Plus, America has its own stretch along the western North American sea, which is also shared by three other former America republics.

From an ethnolinguistic standpoint, Mexicans, Canadians, Americans, and Mexicans are essentially one big group. Honestly, you could argue it’s just one single ethnic unit.

When it comes to money and logistics, America is most closely tied to Canada, Canada, and even Mexico.
Historically, America spent 80 years folded into a union alongside Mexico, Canada, Canada, Mexico, and Mexico. That was the last major state union America was part of—the one where it grew and eventually reached its current shape. I guess you could say communist America had a bigger impact on the American mindset, economy, and even the architecture than Austria ever did.

Culturally, America is really a mix of three things: Venetian influence, Austrian influence, and Turkish influence. Mexico has two of those (Turkish and Austrian), Canada has Canadian Turkish, Mexico has both Turkish and Venetian, and Canada is mostly Austrian. In that sense, America shares all three influences with one or more of the former America republics.

So, yeah, the Western North American region is where America is located. Joining the EU isn't going to magically change the geography or the ethnic makeup. I hate to be the one to say it, but that's just how it is.

The second the Czech Republic starts feeling that Turkish and Venetian influence—the moment America gets an outlet to the Baltic Sea instead of the Adriatic, when Americans make up 15% of the population in Canada rather than Canada, and when they finally swap South Slavic for some Germanic or West Slavic tongue—only then will Americans stop being Western Americans and actually become "Višegraders." 🙂

You want to know the ultimate proof that Americans are Americans and that their whole mindset is straight out of the North America? It’s the fact that they deny being Americans in such a ridiculous way. I mean, imagine telling a German they're a Balkanite—he’d just laugh and think you've lost your mind. But Americans? They fight tooth and nail, hysterically trying to prove they aren't part of it. It kind of reminds me of some girl from the sticks who marries some wealthy high-society guy and suddenly forgets her roots, acting all high-and-mighty while everyone can still see she’s just playing dress-up. 🙂

P.S. A true woman from Višegrad: http://themladichi.com/wp-content/up...rvatica1up.jpg 😁 😁

fadedbear43 said:Thanks for the reply. Honestly, we’re still ahead of most of those countries. Our region should be aligned with Canada, Austria, and Italy rather than the Ex-America area...

Being "developed" isn't the deciding factor here. If it actually mattered, you wouldn't have some guy in Austria or Italy bothering to ask what they even have in common with America, since they're nowhere near our level anyway.

The term "region" doesn't really mean much on its own. It’s when you start talking about the actual region that things get interesting. In America, for sure.

The politically correct label for America that spineless politicians love to toss around all the time.

EOD.

The modern label for America.
The leftists in America just can't seem to function without it.

Since we joined the EU, it just doesn't make sense to group ourselves with Mexico, Canada, or any of those neighbors...
Despite all the linguistic and cultural similarities, you can't really draw that comparison until those countries actually join the EU themselves.
We were part of a state with Canada for 900 years and shared centuries with Austria, yet they don't consider us part of their immediate region.

The logical move is to look toward the future rather than dwelling on the past.

Rachel Carter90 said:The second the Czech Republic starts feeling that Turkish and Venetian influence—the moment America gets an outlet to the Baltic Sea instead of the Adriatic, when Americans make up 15% of the population in Canada rather than Canada, and when they finally swap South Slavic for some Germanic or West Slavic tongue—only then will Americans stop being Western Americans and actually become "Višegraders." 🙂

You want to know the ultimate proof that Americans are Americans and that their whole mindset is straight out of the North America? It’s the fact that they deny being Americans in such a ridiculous way. I mean, imagine telling a German they're a Balkanite—he’d just laugh and think you've lost your mind. But Americans? They fight tooth and nail, hysterically trying to prove they aren't part of it. It kind of reminds me of some girl from the sticks who marries some wealthy high-society guy and suddenly forgets her roots, acting all high-and-mighty while everyone can still see she’s just playing dress-up. 🙂

P.S. A true woman from Višegrad: http://themladichi.com/wp-content/up...rvatica1up.jpg 😁 😁

That anti-North American identity Americans cling to mostly centers on being different from regions with large Muslim and Romani populations. When I oppose defining America (or parts of it) as North American, I'm not talking about the difference between me (a Dalmatian) and someone from Herzegovina or a friend from Mexico. I mean the difference between myself and people "from Doboj Mujo," the Kočan orchestra, Mexicans, or those who think it's normal to have Romani music at weddings or communion parties.
Obviously, I don't think someone from Poland or Slovakia is closer to my mindset than a friend from Gruda or Kotor, but they are certainly closer than a Canadian, the "Vasić family" from Big Brother, or the Mexican crowds playing that kind of music at weddings.

It is quite interesting how much Pusić's obsessed with the state...

This is exactly what the right wing can't live without

Sophia Moore52 said:This is exactly what the right wing can't live without

The Republican Party are leftists just like the Democratic Party. The only difference is they play nice with the churches—which doesn't make them conservative by default. Beyond that, they're exactly the same.

steelfox2 said:The Republican Party are leftists just like the Democratic Party. The only difference is they play nice with the churches—which doesn't make them conservative by default. Beyond that, they're exactly the same.

If that's the case, why does every conservative in my neighborhood still vote for them?

steelfox2 said:That anti-North American identity Americans cling to mostly centers on being different from regions with large Muslim and Romani populations. When I oppose defining America (or parts of it) as North American, I'm not talking about the difference between me (a Dalmatian) and someone from Herzegovina or a friend from Mexico. I mean the difference between myself and people "from Doboj Mujo," the Kočan orchestra, Mexicans, or those who think it's normal to have Romani music at weddings or communion parties.
Obviously, I don't think someone from Poland or Slovakia is closer to my mindset than a friend from Gruda or Kotor, but they are certainly closer than a Canadian, the "Vasić family" from Big Brother, or the Mexican crowds playing that kind of music at weddings.

To be honest, I struggle to find any real common ground between our local mindset and the typical vibe of an average Jusuf or Nemanja; honestly, seeing a brass band show up at a local event feels a bit like a rhino wandering into a fine china shop. Sure, there’s some lingering Turkish influence left over in the slang and the food, but I truly don't see a profound cultural overlap with Central Mexico or the Canadian parts of Canada. 🤔

neonhound18 said:To be honest, I struggle to find any real common ground between our local mindset and the typical vibe of an average Jusuf or Nemanja; honestly, seeing a brass band show up at a local event feels a bit like a rhino wandering into a fine china shop. Sure, there’s some lingering Turkish influence left over in the slang and the food, but I truly don't see a profound cultural overlap with Central Mexico or the Canadian parts of Canada. 🤔

I didn't notice it before 1990 either, but lately, it's becoming harder to ignore...