The very ridiculous argument of "Anime isn't cartoons"

From one anime/manga fanatic to another, being as old as I am, it must be known that the argument, "Anime isn't cartoons" has been a fairly recent argument among the younger generation anime/manga fanatics. As well as major click bait for a lot of "Otaku" sites. Well, this is my argument against them. Here is why anime is, indeed, cartoon.

1. Argument: Different terminology
• Counter argument: Anime is, actually, short for animation. Animation is, but not limited to, Japanese animation, western animation, hand drawn animation, computer animation, clay animation.
2. Argument: Cartoons are for kids. Anime isn't just for kids.
• Counter argument: Cartoons are NOT just for kids. Anyone who thinks otherwise have not been watching enough cartoons from the western side of the globe. Animators have been throwing in adult jokes into children's cartoons for years. There are cartoons made for adults, as well. Adults who allow their children to watch these cartoons made for adults are the reason western civilization cannot be taken seriously. Why, you might ask? Because these are, most likely, the same adults who blame violence on video games when they allow their 8 year old children play games made for 18 years or older. We have a rating system for a reason.
3. Argument: Anime has plot. Western cartoons do not.
• Counter argument: This is incorrect. Even in Japanese animation, not all of them have a set story line. That argument goes right out the window. Especially since the more popular anime they are trying to use as the basis for this argument do have a set plot. However, a lot of lesser known anime do not have a set plot. Fan service anime counts as having no set plot. This is the kind of argument a lot of western anime fans make the mistake on as they are only watching the anime that are found on either Crunchy Roll, Cartoon Network's Adult Swim/Toonami, or various digital TV channels.
4. Argument: Anime and western cartoons have different histories
• Counter argument: This is partially true, but, at the same time, not. The argument still goes on, today, about what is the first animated cartoon to ever appear. A lot of older cartoons, more notably, were silent cartoons during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The one noted as THE first animated cartoon came from France in 1908 called "Fantasmagorie". Ever since, a lot of cartoons have made it across the world before Japan's first animated cartoon from 1917. Not Japan's 1945 animation, "Divine Sea Warriors". That was their first animated feature film, but not their first cartoon. However, the current style in our beloved anime originated from the over exaggerated looks from Disney films, Disney Cartoons, and Betty Boop.
5. Argument: Anime and western cartoons have different styles all together.
• Counter argument: This is true, however, just because the style is different does not make it any less of a cartoon compared to western cartoons. Any argument that implies the art style is considered invalid as both Japanese and western vary in types of style, even among themselves. The western portion tend to exaggerate more than the Japanese. Both are not meant to be completely realistic. We do have cartoons, here, that have realism in the style, as does Japanese cartoons. Again, the argument about style cannot be used, at all.
6. Argument: According to the dictionary, anime means "animated films or shows originating from Japan."
• Counter argument: The dictionary has, also, added a new definition to "swag", added words that never existed before that, because of common use. Of course they are going to add anime and induce that kind of definition. No argument would be made if it hadn't been added. To be more precise, the term, "anime" didn't exist until ten years ago and wasn't added to the dictionary until a few years ago. We used to call anime "Japanime" as it meant that the cartoon originated from Japan. Since the style, now, extends to other countries, not limited to Japan anymore, it has been, officially, dubbed "anime". It is a style of cartoon, nothing more.

It must be noted that, despite how you look at it, anime always have been, and always will be, cartoons. I am a fan of the style, and because of it, I draw in that style. Please, also, note that even a lot of Japanese call their anime "cartoons".

Comments like this will never be taken seriously. It's not an argument. Also, I said western animation. Technically, since the earth is a sphere, Japan, Europe, and, just about, anywhere else can be considered western or eastern. It all depends on the direction you are going.

Extra fun fact: Manga is Japanese for "comic".