hey westsideboy.... (Baltimore, North Beach, Queen Anne: crime, home, neighborhoods)

[htownterp]

What are your thoughts on this:

Lawmakers clash over Western Md. mountain names - herald-mail.com

I agree that the name is not P.C. and maybe should be changed, but that should be up to the people of Garrett County to do. More downstate politicians getting involved (or picking on) Western MD issues. Maybe we should start a bill to change the name of Gay Street in Baltimore because I find it offensive.

[westsideboy]

Negro Mountains was named after Thomas Cresap's man servent who died fighting along side him on that ridge. Some accounts give his name as Nemesis, others Goliah. Either name would be kick*ss for a mountain name. Nemesis Mountain? Sounds fine to fine.

The other, Polish Mt. is just stupid. It was named /Paulish/ Mountain because the top of the mountain would glisten in the summer sun, at least in those days. The corruption to /Pole-ish/ Mountain is just what happened over the last 300 years. What would the legislature do? Force the locals to pronounce name "correctly?"

It is all smoke because a federal agency, the USGS has naming rights to all landforms, and it is very difficult to change them.

The senators that recommended this should be ashamed of themselves. In theory, they should have lived in Maryland long enough to know the names of our geographic features, and that it is beyond their juristiction to change them. It is copy-cat legislation that was introduced first in PA, when some Philly lawmaker must have looked at the other side of the state on a map for the first time and acted offended in public.

Once the Nation Association for the Advancement of COLORED People, and United NEGRO College fund decide that their names aren't PC and need changed, then they can come complain about our mountains.

[westsideboy]

I read the article and saw that "Savage Mountain" could be included as well.

*Spoiler alert* Savage Mt. and Savage River were named after John Savage, the surveyor of the region. Too bad for Mr. Savage his last name isn't politically correct! These yahoos that claim to be elected officials should do some research before making policy statements.

I also like the way the B-more legistature tries to claim it was Allegany native Cas Taylor's idea to change the names, as though it was the local's idea. The former Speaker denies of course ever supporting the intoduction of the measure.

[North Beach Person]

Old squaws are now "long-tailed ducks".

The movement to change the "Redskins" (I prefer "Snyder's Follies" myself).

Sports teams across the US that have had to change their names.

[westsideboy]

I can't think of anyone in Western Maryland that has ever told anyone downstate to change the name of their towns or geography.

Personally I am offended by Mt. Washington and Mt. Airy. No mountains in either place. I suggest Flat Washington and Hilly Airy. Gay St. in Baltimore offends me to, it should be Homosexual heritage street. While we are at it, what about SAINT Mary's County. It is an obvious religious name and should be changed. How about Freedom of Worship Choice County? Queen Anne's County, too British and offenive to the Catholics her reign have kept from legitimate royal succession every since. It should be Representative Democracy County.

Why doesn't a Baltimore legislator focus on the extreme crime and murder rates in her own district rather than changing the place names of somewhere 140 miles from her home. It is just another downstate effort to tell us what to do. I guarantee you that Negro Mountain is a safer and nicer place for American Americans than the neighborhoods west of MLK Blvd in Baltimore.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

Gay St. in Baltimore offends me to, it should be Homosexual heritage street.

LMAO!

It's all pretty silly.

[westsideboy]

Yeah, it is silly until it is your home they are trying to change. The natives have a relationship with the landscape that goes back hundreds of years. Downstate, you define and describe places with street names, little towns, and occasionally rivers. Around here, you are just as likely to hear someone say they live near the top of Irons Mountain, or someone will say they are headed up Dan's Mountain to visit a friend.

Humanity is always second to geography in mountainous regions. The mountains are in charge, we are their guests. It is a hard feeling to describe when some outsider tells you that your home names offend them and then try to legislatively change them

[North Beach Person]

Wanna bet that it'll get changed.


My view may be skewed as I live in an area where a small number of people were able to shut down duck hunting on the Bay and who now are going after the watermen's crab pots (boat engines are too loud and the floats look tacky).

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

Yeah, it is silly until it is your home they are trying to change. The natives have a relationship with the landscape that goes back hundreds of years. Downstate, you define and describe places with street names, little towns, and occasionally rivers. Around here, you are just as likely to hear someone say they live near the top of Irons Mountain, or someone will say they are headed up Dan's Mountain to visit a friend.

Humanity is always second to geography in mountainous regions. The mountains are in charge, we are their guests. It is a hard feeling to describe when some outsider tells you that your home names offend them and then try to legislatively change them

I meant it was silly that somebody is trying to change it.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Wanna bet that it'll get changed.


My view may be skewed as I live in an area where a small number of people were able to shut down duck hunting on the Bay and who now are going after the watermen's crab pots (boat engines are too loud and the floats look tacky).

I suppose if Allegheny County suddenly became the tourist destination of Buppies everywhere this might have traction... but I really can't see this happening.

...

though just for fun I can see an intermediate period in which it's called, "The Mountain formerly known as Negro"

Don't worry WSB, you have at least one Baltimore City liberal on your side here.