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→"Native American" vs. "native American"
* native american adjective 1. of or pertaining to American Indians or their culture or languages; "Native American religions"; "Indian arrowheads" [syn: Indian] noun 1. any member of the peoples living in North or South America before the Europeans arrived [syn: Amerindian] <ref>"native american." WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 28 May. 2007. <Dictionary.com [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/native%20american]></ref>
* native american adjective 1. of or pertaining to American Indians or their culture or languages; "Native American religions"; "Indian arrowheads" [syn: Indian] noun 1. any member of the peoples living in North or South America before the Europeans arrived [syn: Amerindian] <ref>"native american." WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 28 May. 2007. <Dictionary.com [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/native%20american]></ref>
Our article currently says ''"Furthermore, the term Native American [with a capital N] literally means anyone who was born in American as an American, so it can also be used by any American who wants to distinguish himself from an American immigrant."'' While I agree that it ''can'' be used this way, the references above seem to back up my understanding that this is not at all common usage, and I think if we are to be encyclopedic we should make that clear. Of course, there may be contexts or communities where this usage is common, and I have not done extensive research - could you give some examples of where you see "Native American" (with a capital N) used to mean "native-born American"? --[[User:Hsmom|Hsmom]] 13:25, 28 May 2007 (EDT)
Our article currently says ''"Furthermore, the term Native American'' [with a capital N] ''literally means anyone who was born in American as an American, so it can also be used by any American who wants to distinguish himself from an American immigrant."'' While I agree that it ''can'' be used this way, the references above seem to back up my understanding that this is not at all common usage, and I think if we are to be encyclopedic we should make that clear. Of course, there may be contexts or communities where this usage is common, and I have not done extensive research - could you give some examples of where you see "Native American" (with a capital N) used to mean "native-born American"? --[[User:Hsmom|Hsmom]] 13:25, 28 May 2007 (EDT)
: Your source suggests that "Native American" is a politically motivated propaganda term that is intended to imply that American Indians are the original inhabitants of America. The source is wrong when it says that the implication is "historically accurate". There is substantial evidence that American Indians were ''not'' the original inhabitants.
: Your source suggests that "Native American" is a politically motivated propaganda term that is intended to imply that American Indians are the original inhabitants of America. The source is wrong when it says that the implication is "historically accurate". There is substantial evidence that American Indians were ''not'' the original inhabitants.