Should Lynchburg, Virginia be renamed?

[Heloin]

11 Springfields in Ohio and dozens of Peach/Peachtree Streets in Atlanta. We need more creative names in the US.

I think it's a historical relic of local residents having almost no say in what their dirt track should be named. And possibly dispute among them, leading the the most prominent citizen choosing a dumb name that won't offend anyone.

And you'd think this was easily solved by a more enlightened and imaginative modern populace, petitioning their government to define a new name, perhaps something aboriginal, or at least some half-famous person who was born on the street. But no, that gets political. It's stays "Peach Road" on the street map, but now some of the residents pronounce it "Bitch Rod" and get out at night with pickaxes to make potholes and give the government hell.

I do think the residents should decide the name of the road. But they should do it early, and they should use a bit of imagination.

It isn't that deep man. Lots of roads in Georgia are named after peaches because peaches are important culturally in Georgia. People don't name things creatively, throughout history if someone lived by a river they would call that river River.

[The Archregimancy]

I think it's a historical relic of local residents having almost no say in what their dirt track should be named. And possibly dispute among them, leading the the most prominent citizen choosing a dumb name that won't offend anyone.

And you'd think this was easily solved by a more enlightened and imaginative modern populace, petitioning their government to define a new name, perhaps something aboriginal, or at least some half-famous person who was born on the street. But no, that gets political. It's stays "Peach Road" on the street map, but now some of the residents pronounce it "Bitch Rod" and get out at night with pickaxes to make potholes and give the government hell.

I do think the residents should decide the name of the road. But they should do it early, and they should use a bit of imagination.

It isn't that deep man. Lots of roads in Georgia are named after peaches because peaches are important culturally in Georgia. People don't name things creatively, throughout history if someone lived by a river they would call that river River.

The Welsh for river is 'afon', which derives from an older Brittonic word. The 'f' is pronounced as 'v' in Welsh.

There are multiple rivers called 'Avon' in both England and Scotland, most notably the river that runs through Bristol and the river that runs through Shakespeare's home town.

Each of these rivers are essentially called 'River River'.

[Australian rePublic]

Someone's surname is offensive does not equal a good reason to rename something. People don't choose their surnames. "Coon" is a racist term against Aboriginal, but it's also a somewhat common surname. There was a similar proposal to rename "Coon" cheese because of its offensive name, even though it was named after William Coon, and Coon Island which was named after some different guy called "Coon". The thing is that some significant people get erased from history soley because they happen to, through no fault of their own, have an unfortunate sounding name

[Heloin]

It isn't that deep man. Lots of roads in Georgia are named after peaches because peaches are important culturally in Georgia. People don't name things creatively, throughout history if someone lived by a river they would call that river River.

The Welsh for river is 'afon', which derives from an older Brittonic word. The 'f' is pronounced as 'v' in Welsh.

There are multiple rivers called 'Avon' in both England and Scotland, most notably the river that runs through Bristol and the river that runs through Shakespeare's home town.

Each of these rivers are essentially called 'River River'.

All rivers so nice we named them twice.

[Adamede]

It isn't that deep man. Lots of roads in Georgia are named after peaches because peaches are important culturally in Georgia. People don't name things creatively, throughout history if someone lived by a river they would call that river River.

The Welsh for river is 'afon', which derives from an older Brittonic word. The 'f' is pronounced as 'v' in Welsh.

There are multiple rivers called 'Avon' in both England and Scotland, most notably the river that runs through Bristol and the river that runs through Shakespeare's home town.

Each of these rivers are essentially called 'River River'.

And it’s not like it was just the Anglo colonists that where uncreative. Latin America is filled with the same city and place names used over and over again.

[The Archregimancy]

Someone's surname is offensive does not equal a good reason to rename something. People don't choose their surnames. "Coon" is a racist term against Aboriginal, but it's also a somewhat common surname. There was a similar proposal to rename "Coon" cheese because of its offensive name, even though it was named after William Coon, and Coon Island which was named after some different guy called "Coon". The thing is that some significant people get erased from history soley because they happen to, through no fault of their own, have an unfortunate sounding name

1) 'Coon' was once commonly used across English-speaking societies as a derogatory racist slur for black people. It's just as vilely offensive when directed towards Black Americans as it is directed towards Aboriginal Australians; or indeed towards Africans or Indians. As the link in that previous sentence notes, "Before its death, the coon developed into the most blatantly degrading of all black stereotypes. The pure coons emerged as no-account niggers, those unreliable, crazy, lazy, subhuman creatures good for nothing more than eating watermelons, stealing chickens, shooting crap, or butchering the English language."

2) Coon Cheese is in the process of being renamed; its rebrand to Cheer Cheese is due to be completed in July of this year: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55628966

Now, you're correct in pointing out that Coon Cheese was merely named after poor Edward William Coon, who was entirely innocent of racist intent; but it says a lot about the insularity of Australian debates over racism and the status of Aboriginal Australians within broader Australian society that a term widely known internationally for being grotesquely racist survived as long as it did as the name for a prominent Australian cheese brand. When I first moved to Australia in 2001 - long before BLM became a thing - I was frankly stunned to see Coon Cheese so prominently on display in every major supermarket; I couldn't believe that it wasn't seen as problematic.

So you've chosen a rather poor example to make your point with.

[The Blaatschapen]

It isn't that deep man. Lots of roads in Georgia are named after peaches because peaches are important culturally in Georgia. People don't name things creatively, throughout history if someone lived by a river they would call that river River.

The Welsh for river is 'afon', which derives from an older Brittonic word. The 'f' is pronounced as 'v' in Welsh.

There are multiple rivers called 'Avon' in both England and Scotland, most notably the river that runs through Bristol and the river that runs through Shakespeare's home town.

Each of these rivers are essentially called 'River River'.

https://nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aa_(waternaam)

Get a translation tool, because we literally have this too.

[Shoalhaven]

Cultural genocide should never be commended.

[Australian rePublic]

Someone's surname is offensive does not equal a good reason to rename something. People don't choose their surnames. "Coon" is a racist term against Aboriginal, but it's also a somewhat common surname. There was a similar proposal to rename "Coon" cheese because of its offensive name, even though it was named after William Coon, and Coon Island which was named after some different guy called "Coon". The thing is that some significant people get erased from history soley because they happen to, through no fault of their own, have an unfortunate sounding name

1) 'Coon' was once commonly used across English-speaking societies as a derogatory racist slur for black people. It's just as vilely offensive when directed towards Black Americans as it is directed towards Aboriginal Australians; or indeed towards Africans or Indians. As the link in that previous sentence notes, "Before its death, the coon developed into the most blatantly degrading of all black stereotypes. The pure coons emerged as no-account niggers, those unreliable, crazy, lazy, subhuman creatures good for nothing more than eating watermelons, stealing chickens, shooting crap, or butchering the English language."

2) Coon Cheese is in the process of being renamed; its rebrand to Cheer Cheese is due to be completed in July of this year: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55628966

Now, you're correct in pointing out that Coon Cheese was merely named after poor Edward William Coon, who was entirely innocent of racist intent; but it says a lot about the insularity of Australian debates over racism and the status of Aboriginal Australians within broader Australian society that a term widely known internationally for being grotesquely racist survived as long as it did as the name for a prominent Australian cheese brand. When I first moved to Australia in 2001 - long before BLM became a thing - I was frankly stunned to see Coon Cheese so prominently on display in every major supermarket; I couldn't believe that it wasn't seen as problematic.

So you've chosen a rather poor example to make your point with.

So renaming "Lynchburg" is political correctness gone too far, because the guy had an unfortunate name? However, renaming "Coon" isn't political correctness gone too far despite the fact that the guy had an unfortunate name? Where's the consistency?

[The Archregimancy]

1) 'Coon' was once commonly used across English-speaking societies as a derogatory racist slur for black people. It's just as vilely offensive when directed towards Black Americans as it is directed towards Aboriginal Australians; or indeed towards Africans or Indians. As the link in that previous sentence notes, "Before its death, the coon developed into the most blatantly degrading of all black stereotypes. The pure coons emerged as no-account niggers, those unreliable, crazy, lazy, subhuman creatures good for nothing more than eating watermelons, stealing chickens, shooting crap, or butchering the English language."

2) Coon Cheese is in the process of being renamed; its rebrand to Cheer Cheese is due to be completed in July of this year: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55628966

Now, you're correct in pointing out that Coon Cheese was merely named after poor Edward William Coon, who was entirely innocent of racist intent; but it says a lot about the insularity of Australian debates over racism and the status of Aboriginal Australians within broader Australian society that a term widely known internationally for being grotesquely racist survived as long as it did as the name for a prominent Australian cheese brand. When I first moved to Australia in 2001 - long before BLM became a thing - I was frankly stunned to see Coon Cheese so prominently on display in every major supermarket; I couldn't believe that it wasn't seen as problematic.

So you've chosen a rather poor example to make your point with.

So renaming "Lynchburg" is political correctness gone too far, because the guy had an unfortunate name? However, renaming "Coon" isn't political correctness gone too far despite the fact that the guy had an unfortunate name? Where's the consistency?

If I had at any point made the first argument, you might have had a point.

As it happens, I haven't made the first argument, so your attempt to claim inconsistency on the basis of a comparison that I haven't made is fatuous.

[Australian rePublic]

So renaming "Lynchburg" is political correctness gone too far, because the guy had an unfortunate name? However, renaming "Coon" isn't political correctness gone too far despite the fact that the guy had an unfortunate name? Where's the consistency?

If I had at any point made the first argument, you might have had a point.

As it happens, I haven't made the first argument, so your attempt to claim inconsistency on the basis of a comparison that I haven't made is fatuous.

I see. Carry on