I CANT STAND IT WHEN THEM DAMN MEXICANS CALL MY COUNTRY THE ESTADOS UNIDOS.

Lol.

Seriously.... that would be a dumb thing to insist on. Just like how I would be annoying if a Mexican insisted I refer to Mexico as "Meh-hee-coh" instead of "Mexxx-ih-coh."

So I agree, Oct.

It's like insisting that people pronounce it "WHIZ-con-sin." That is the wrong way, and people who say it like that should be shot. The correct pronunciation is "wz-CON-sin." If it helps people to say my home's name correctly, I will gladly spell it Brasil.

It´s not a big deal. And you are right, I don´t mind if people from other countries write or pronounce Brasil, Brazil, Brézil or whatsoever fits better in his/her own language.
Just think brasilian people should spell it right.

I think the only instance I've heard of that I can agree with is my Ukrainian friend not liking it when people refer to her country as 'The' Ukraine, rather than just Ukraine...... considering the history of Russian-Ukrainian relations, I can understand.

For those who don't, calling an area "The" whatever, more denotes a geographical area... like the Midwest, or what have you. They're not part of Russia, and they like it that way, near as I can tell. :P

But thats the one exception I can think of..... otherwise yeah.... get over yourselves. :P

The blame is on us for changing the spelling of our own country's name. It was "Brazil" about a century ago.

Yeah, its the Brazilians fault.

Hmmm, interesting, Jack Klein, I never thought of that.

I will try never to say "the" Ukraine again.

I suppose the same goes for the Congo... that attachment is harder for me to lose though since I am actually studying Africa.

I actually thought (based on nothing, I just theorized) that the "the" was a relic of translation from a romance language like French wherein every noun has a "the" type article in front of it.

Thus "Le Congo" becomes the Congo.

But now I see your point Jack Klein.

However I don't mind if someone refers to the US as "the States..." though I suppose that's totally different issue. Haha.

What about 'The Netherlands'?