Why Amerika?

[Pogue]

Why do some users on here insist on refering to America as Amerika? Why not spell it correctly or just say USA?

[ZeroNowhere]

"Amerika, alternative political spelling applied to the United States of America, often used as a comment, implying that America has become, or is becoming, either a fascist or communist country."
Its origins were in using the German spelling of America, implying that the USA was fascist (it isn't) or something of the sort. So basically, an old and pointless attempt at satire or political commentary. Your mileage may vary.

[Pirate Utopian]

Everyone knows you spell it like United $nakkke$ of Amerikkka

[Patchd]

It's just little kids trying to act more commie-than-thou. Something like: "oooh you spelt America with three k's, you must be soooo communist."

[Sasha]

if i do it (and i supose other "germanic" users) its just because that how you spell it in our native language.
on top of that, some dutch leftist activists have an habbit of spelling everything how it sounds and so refuse to use the c as an k but thats mostly so with the older generations and normaly only in dutch.

[AvanteRedGarde]

Why do some people get so twisted up about it?

To me, when someone complains about the spelling Amerika or Amerikkka, it probably means that they have an implicit or latent affinity for the USA. Of course, I'm not really surprised when this includes members of the so called Rev Left. Its really funny when so-called leftists act like the language police, which is exactly what would happen if I used 'Amerika' as opposed to 'America', (even though America is approriated to mean a fraction of Americans at the exclusion of the rest, you chauvinists)


The history of it goes back to the Black Panther Party for Self Defense and previous black revolution organizations. The Weathermen and the more radical of the 60's movement adopted this spelling.

Today, it seems like White people get the most upset by this. Ice Cube, in the 90's, had an album called Amerikkka's Most Wanted. Is Ice Cube just making "useless political satire," or is this an expression of the oppressive nature of Amerika against oppressed nationalities?

[teenagebricks]

It's a pretty great way of spelling it to be honest, even if it is old and overused.

[Pawn Power]

I believe it was 'popularized' in the left by US Maoists- though they seem to be the only ones who use the alternative spelling.

[STJ]

They are just trying to be cool.

[Patchd]

To me, when someone complains about the spelling Amerika or Amerikkka, it probably means that they have an implicit or latent affinity for the USA.

Well you're very wrong, and you can't just back up your point by calling us all chauvinists :lol: Good try, but it won't work, also it doesn't make you look more controversial when you spell it like Amerika or even with three k's. In fact, if you go on another online board trying to convince someone of our politics and you do so, all I can imagine is that people will receive what you're saying and look at it as a joke instead.

Become a commie and you'll have to start spelling badly. It just makes us all look like a bunch of loonbags.


Of course, I'm not really surprised when this includes members of the so called Rev Left. Its really funny when so-called leftists act like the language police, which is exactly what would happen if I used 'Amerika' as opposed to 'America', (even though America is approriated to mean a fraction of Americans at the exclusion of the rest, you chauvinists)

Yeah, but on a leftist site, if you write down the name of a country, people on here take that to mean the state/government of that country anyway, not the people itself. Your spelling of the United $nakkke$ of AmeriKKKa doesn't make it clear either, it just looks like you're trying to look more radical and controversial than the rest of us, at a detriment to yourself :lol::lol:

Also, I don't think any of us here are upset, just confused why people do it, and find it quite hilarious at times.

[Pirate Utopian]

Ice Cube, in the 90's, had an album called Amerikkka's Most Wanted. Is Ice Cube just making "useless political satire," or is this an expression of the oppressive nature of Amerika against oppressed nationalities?
Ice Cube can do anything because he's Ice Cube damn it!

[LOLseph Stalin]

United $tate$ is the more accurate way. :p

[hugsandmarxism]

United $tate$ is the more accurate way. :p

I prefer to call it "The REAL Evil Empire," paying homage to this charming guy:
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:LlkE2JtO3OVsKM:http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/reagan.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/reagan.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/002452.php&usg=___Gl6-TQ6bktgfTig6EUEK2evyYE=&h=362&w=373&sz=23&hl=en&start=2&sig2=S1IxUYHchqKYmkPArYCg6w&tbnid=LlkE2JtO3OVsKM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dreagan%26imgsz%3Dsmall%257Cmedium%257 Clarge%257Cxlarge%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff %26sa%3DX&ei=hAPuScDEI5iPsAa93a2DBw)

[LOLseph Stalin]

I prefer to call it "The REAL Evil Empire," paying homage to this charming guy:
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:LlkE2JtO3OVsKM:http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/reagan.jpg (http://www.anonym.to/?http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/reagan.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/002452.php&usg=___Gl6-TQ6bktgfTig6EUEK2evyYE=&h=362&w=373&sz=23&hl=en&start=2&sig2=S1IxUYHchqKYmkPArYCg6w&tbnid=LlkE2JtO3OVsKM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dreagan%26imgsz%3Dsmall%257Cmedium%257 Clarge%257Cxlarge%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff %26sa%3DX&ei=hAPuScDEI5iPsAa93a2DBw)

Of course. Reagan is a true American hero.:lol:

[Pogue]

Why do some people get so twisted up about it?

To me, when someone complains about the spelling Amerika or Amerikkka, it probably means that they have an implicit or latent affinity for the USA. Of course, I'm not really surprised when this includes members of the so called Rev Left. Its really funny when so-called leftists act like the language police, which is exactly what would happen if I used 'Amerika' as opposed to 'America', (even though America is approriated to mean a fraction of Americans at the exclusion of the rest, you chauvinists)


The history of it goes back to the Black Panther Party for Self Defense and previous black revolution organizations. The Weathermen and the more radical of the 60's movement adopted this spelling.

Today, it seems like White people get the most upset by this. Ice Cube, in the 90's, had an album called Amerikkka's Most Wanted. Is Ice Cube just making "useless political satire," or is this an expression of the oppressive nature of Amerika against oppressed nationalities?

I don't see how its neccesary or useful to say Amerikkka or Amerika though. Its just going to make people think your a bit wierd. Why not just actually express your arguments? I.e. make clear you eblieve the USA is racist?

I don't have an 'implicit affinity' for the USA, whatever thats meant to mean, I just wonder why you'd purposefully mispell a word, especially on a forum full of people who are all anti-racist.


Today, it seems like White people get the most upset by this

Sure, if you're a racist bigot you might think this.

[Wanted Man]

Why do some people get so twisted up about it?

To me, when someone complains about the spelling Amerika or Amerikkka, it probably means that they have an implicit or latent affinity for the USA. Of course, I'm not really surprised when this includes members of the so called Rev Left. Its really funny when so-called leftists act like the language police, which is exactly what would happen if I used 'Amerika' as opposed to 'America', (even though America is approriated to mean a fraction of Americans at the exclusion of the rest, you chauvinists)


The history of it goes back to the Black Panther Party for Self Defense and previous black revolution organizations. The Weathermen and the more radical of the 60's movement adopted this spelling.

Today, it seems like White people get the most upset by this. Ice Cube, in the 90's, had an album called Amerikkka's Most Wanted. Is Ice Cube just making "useless political satire," or is this an expression of the oppressive nature of Amerika against oppressed nationalities?
I actually agree with you here. It's pretty damn funny when people say: "Oh yeah, it's only white American maoists who use this spelling", which is evidently false. But without that blatant lie, other people might start thinking that they are trying to tell black people that they are not allowed to attack white-supremacist America.

Incidentally, I was just listening to this, and wondering what people on RevLeft would think of it, what a coincidence:

37Afc5mcKSk

Although at least on this one, you could legitimately complain about the line "Punk gay sensitive little dick bastards"... But no, the real problem must be that 2pac was "anti-American" and "anti-white". :crying:

[Os Cangaceiros]

I don't really see the point in it, personally. Well, I suppose I do see the point in it, it's just that I don't see how it benefits anyone. It's the same way when I see the word "womyn" or "persyn". Obviously this indicates that there's a raving nationalistic misogynist somewhere in my subconscious.

The best use of the word "Amerika" was by Rammstein in that song "Amerika": "We're all living in Amerika, Amerika, is wunderbar!" :lol:

[LOLseph Stalin]

The best use of the word "Amerika" was by Rammstein in that song "Amerika": "We're all living in Amerika, Amerika, is wunderbar!" http://www.revleft.com/vb/why-amerikai-p1421639/revleft/smilies2/laugh.gif

Gah, I hate to get off-topic but Rammstein is cool. I like that song.

[Dóchas]

does it really matter :rolleyes:

cant people just do whatever they want when it come to spelling a tiny insignificant part of information about themselves. sure if it makes them feel good or big or whatever but who are we to tell them to change it? it is kinda annoying but im sure there are bigger issues to discuss than if they spell "america", "amerikkka" or "amerika". :rolleyes:

[Trystan]

'Amerika' was the title of one of Franz Kafka's books, although I think it was his friend/publisher Max Brod that gave it the name. I don't really get why it's used in the way it is. I guess people just think 'K' is a cooler letter than 'C'. :confused: But I think Abbie Hoffman used it in the 60s. Maybe he thought America was Kafkaesque or something.

[AvanteRedGarde]

No, Abbie Hoffman thought America was racist. Didn't a couple of us just explain this a few posts ago?

[Wanted Man]

I don't really see the point in it, personally. Well, I suppose I do see the point in it, it's just that I don't see how it benefits anyone. It's the same way when I see the word "womyn" or "persyn". Obviously this indicates that there's a raving nationalistic misogynist somewhere in my subconscious.
Must be. ;) It's apples and oranges though. "Womyn" and "persyn" are considered irrelevant distractions with a questionable linguistic basis by almost everyone except a very specific group. Whereas "Amerikkka" is a satiric misspelling that's meant to attack the inherent racism of society. I don't think it is any worse than calling it "America", as if the USA is "America" rather than the whole American continent...


The best use of the word "Amerika" was by Rammstein in that song "Amerika": "We're all living in Amerika, Amerika, is wunderbar!" :lol:
Agreed. :)

[Invincible Summer]

'Amerika' was the title of one of Franz Kafka's books, although I think it was his friend/publisher Max Brod that gave it the name. I don't really get why it's used in the way it is. I guess people just think 'K' is a cooler letter than 'C'. :confused: But I think Abbie Hoffman used it in the 60s. Maybe he thought America was Kafkaesque or something.


Maybe because Kafka was a German-speaker and the German spelling is "Amerika"...

[ZeroNowhere]

[E]ven though America is approriated to mean a fraction of Americans at the exclusion of the rest, you chauvinistsHm, when I had said this, it apparently annoyed a large sector of the Revleftian populace. Interestingly enough, the other part of my nitpicking there was that the US, being merely a piece of land, can't really hate communism, or, in fact, be racist. If you're indicating that there is a structural bias against blacks, then the 'Amerikkka' crap is useless sensationalism, and 'Amerika' doesn't even make sense in that context, being an attack on the US for being 'fascist'.


To me, when someone complains about the spelling Amerika or Amerikkka, it probably means that they have an implicit or latent affinity for the USA.
We all need... American metal!
Also, psh.


Ice Cube, in the 90's, had an album called Amerikkka's Most Wanted. Is Ice Cube just making "useless political satire," or is this an expression of the oppressive nature of Amerika against oppressed nationalities?
So now blacks are an oppressed nationality? What.
Also, while I'm only 'anti-American' in the same sense that I'm anti-Palestinian, the misspelling is not being attacked for being 'anti-'murkin', but for being boring and pointless (like the aforementioned Ice Cube). Also for being a pathetic attempt at satire, but anyways.


Whereas "Amerikkka" is a satiric misspelling that's meant to attack the inherent racism of society.
Perhaps, but by now it's only a level above Dane Cook.

[Chicano Shamrock]

Why do some people get so twisted up about it?

To me, when someone complains about the spelling Amerika or Amerikkka, it probably means that they have an implicit or latent affinity for the USA. Of course, I'm not really surprised when this includes members of the so called Rev Left. Its really funny when so-called leftists act like the language police, which is exactly what would happen if I used 'Amerika' as opposed to 'America', (even though America is approriated to mean a fraction of Americans at the exclusion of the rest, you chauvinists)


The history of it goes back to the Black Panther Party for Self Defense and previous black revolution organizations. The Weathermen and the more radical of the 60's movement adopted this spelling.

Today, it seems like White people get the most upset by this. Ice Cube, in the 90's, had an album called Amerikkka's Most Wanted. Is Ice Cube just making "useless political satire," or is this an expression of the oppressive nature of Amerika against oppressed nationalities?
Putting it on a record and using it in common communication is a bit different.

It is a little childish to call it Amerikkka on this board. Although, my signature states that I don't let my politics get in the way of my nationalism. USA USA!!!

[AvanteRedGarde]

Posting "Amerikkka" on this board is only "childish" because pro-imperialist "leftists" like you are tolerated.

[bcbm]

Believing that spelling things different gives you some sort of anti-imperialist credentials is absolutely moronic. Back in the real world we're trying to make our politics appear at least a bit relevant and sensible and spelling everything in some bizarre way doesn't help in any way; in fact it has quite the opposite effect.

[PRC-UTE]

only an authoritarian wouldn't respect someone's right to spell a state's name how they like :)

[mykittyhasaboner]

Abbie Hoffman did it too. As shown in "Steal This Book".

I kinda like the spelling, I don't really care either way.

[Patchd]

only an authoritarian wouldn't respect someone's right to spell a state's name how they like :)

Lol, nuh uh. An authoritarian would not permit someone else to spell a state's name how they like. We are simply laughing at and disrespecting their choice to do so. ;)

[ZeroNowhere]

only an authoritarian wouldn't respect someone's right to spell a state's name how they like
They have the right to say it, we have the right to whine about it. Capiche?

[Devrim]

Today, it seems like White people get the most upset by this. Ice Cube, in the 90's, had an album called Amerikkka's Most Wanted. Is Ice Cube just making "useless political satire," or is this an expression of the oppressive nature of Amerika against oppressed nationalities?I actually agree with you here. It's pretty damn funny when people say: "Oh yeah, it's only white American maoists who use this spelling", which is evidently false. But without that blatant lie, other people might start thinking that they are trying to tell black people that they are not allowed to attack white-supremacist America.

It doesn't upset me at all. I just think that it comes across as immature and pseudo-radical. Why do rap stars do it? To appeal to young people who like to think they are radical. It is called marketing.

Devrim

[Sean]

Why do some people get so twisted up about it?

To me, when someone complains about the spelling Amerika or Amerikkka, it probably means that they have an implicit or latent affinity for the USA. Of course, I'm not really surprised when this includes members of the so called Rev Left. Its really funny when so-called leftists act like the language police, which is exactly what would happen if I used 'Amerika' as opposed to 'America', (even though America is approriated to mean a fraction of Americans at the exclusion of the rest, you chauvinists)


The history of it goes back to the Black Panther Party for Self Defense and previous black revolution organizations. The Weathermen and the more radical of the 60's movement adopted this spelling.

Today, it seems like White people get the most upset by this. Ice Cube, in the 90's, had an album called Amerikkka's Most Wanted. Is Ice Cube just making "useless political satire," or is this an expression of the oppressive nature of Amerika against oppressed nationalities?
Its not policing. Nooone is stopping it. Explain the difference between america and amerika.

[Cumannach]

There'll be plenty of time for spelling reform once we've taken over the publishing houses.

[Invincible Summer]

Posting "Amerikkka" on this board is only "childish" because pro-imperialist "leftists" like you are tolerated.

Seriously, this is almost trolling.

[Pirate Utopian]

Why do rap stars do it? To appeal to young people who like to think they are radical. It is called marketing.
While writing it as ameriKKKa may not be best way to be taken seriously, lay off the Cube!

Ice Cube did say some radical stuff, no marketing.
These lyrics are his first album alone, he only got more political with his next 2 albums and his side project Da Lench Mob.



When I'm shooting let's see who drop
The police the media and suckers that went pop
And motherfuckers that say they too black
Put em overseas they be begging to come back
They say keep em on gangs and drugs
You wanna sweep a nigga like me up under the rug
Kicking shit called street knowledge
Why more niggas in the pen than in college?
Now cause of that line I might be your cellmate
That's from the nigga ya love to hate

cztHw1QD6_E

[hugsandmarxism]

While writing it as ameriKKKa may not be best way to be taken seriously, lay off the Cube!

Ice Cube did say some radical stuff, no marketing.
These lyrics are his first album alone, he only got more political with his next 2 albums and his side project Da Lench Mob.



cztHw1QD6_E

And he continues to be political. He makes some strong statements against the injustice of the USA's "justice system" and capitalism in general. Cube was and is awesome, even if he does kids movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfZ9JVoG1gs

[Pinko Panther]

Here's my opinion:
America = American continent
Amerika = United States of America
Just how I tend to differentiate between the two spellings. Though honestly it doesn't matter to me.

[mikelepore]

'Amerika' was the title of one of Franz Kafka's books, although I think it was his friend/publisher Max Brod that gave it the name. I don't really get why it's used in the way it is. I guess people just think 'K' is a cooler letter than 'C'. :confused: But I think Abbie Hoffman used it in the 60s. Maybe he thought America was Kafkaesque or something.

Yes, that is where it's from. I'm so old that I remember reading interviews with the New Left activists in Time and Newsweek magazines around 1967. They asked them hey where did you get this spelling Amerika, and they replied that they got it from Kafka's book.

[Pirate Utopian]

And he continues to be political. He makes some strong statements against the injustice of the USA's "justice system" and capitalism in general. Cube was and is awesome, even if he does kids movies.
True. He's sorta coming back.

But with Lethal Injection he went less with the politics, that was still a good album though, but now he's doing politics again.