You're welcome, John. All heart-felt. Your question is actual a reasonable one. On Mudcat, I usual refer to us types as Amuricans, in my best John Wayne imitation(don't particularly like John Wayne, but Madison Avenue seems to have adopted him as being a true "American." I'm more pleased to have Jimm Carter recognized as an American, meself.

When I refer to America, I either use "America" or the United States." Never gave any thought to any reason why I'd use one or the other. If rarely use "U.S.A.", just as most Irish probably don't refer to Ireland as "The Emerald Isle." I never refer to America as the land of Infidels or Satan's Backyard. :-)

Jerry