Little Hawk,

It goes even further than that. When they first set up these United States of America, it was in a loose confederation of what they considered seperate states (as in nations). Back then, someone from Viriginia would call themselves a Virginian, not an American. It wasn't until our War Between the States, which we Yankees refer to by a different name, that the question was settled.

In most places that I have lived here in the US, people STILL mostly identify themselves by their state (or city) first, although we all consider ourselves Americans.

Then, there's the whole hyphenated American. That's a different story. I would be considered an Irish-, English-, Armenian-American. I prefer the term Hiberno-American, or Eurasian-American.

My observation is that there is a similar mind set in Canada. I happen to live and work near the border of NY State, Ontario and Quebec. The Quebec situation greatly confuses many of us 'mericanos. I am sure it confuses y'all, too!

I love living here, and being able to go to Canada. It gives me a greater range of music listening choices. I am an hour or so from Ottawa, and 2 hours from Montreal. There are some GREAT musicians up this way, and the cross border influences make it even better.

Oh, and I get to eat poutine!