this post was submitted on 27 Apr 2025
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TranscriptA threads post saying "There has never been another nation ever that has existed much beyond 250 years. Not a single one. America's 250th year is 2025. The next 4 years are gonna be pretty interesting considering everything that's already been said." It has a reply saying "My local pub is older than your country".

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[–] Denjin 15 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Total rubbish. In the 1700s only landowners could vote. Truly universal suffrage wasn't enshrined until 1965, so by your reckoning America is only 60 years old.

Changes of government don't mean an entirely new country, there's continuity like how France refers to the 1st republic or the current 5th republic. It's still France.

[–] MrsDoyle@sh.itjust.works 1 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

In the 1700s only landowners could vote.

White, male landowners - I'm just guessing here.

[–] Denjin 1 points 20 hours ago
[–] barneypiccolo@lemm.ee 2 points 1 day ago

Exactly. By that logic, every time a new political party takes over, America is a new country.

Although, with MAGA taking power, and completely throwing out the Constitution, the case can be made that we have become a new country.

[–] Buelldozer@lemmy.today -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Changes of government don’t mean an entirely new country...

Yeah, it kinda does. The words "Country' and "Nation" aren't full synonyms even though people tend to use them interchangeably. A a Country is a political entity while a Nation is focused on the collective identity and shared values of its people.

In short the Nation of France is old while the Country of France is much younger.

The definitions honestly feel backward to me but I'm not the person in charge of these things.

[–] Denjin 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's just semantics, not any practical distinction.

[–] Buelldozer@lemmy.today -2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Do you feel there is no "practical distinction" between 1730 France and 1930 France?

It's like saying there's no practical distinction between Red and Scarlet. The fact that they are different is why there are separate words. Its the same with Country and Nation.

[–] aim_at_me@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 day ago

Pointless argument. Is there no difference between the US in 1776 and now? Every country is changing constantly. Because they're full of people.