RI closer to changing state name over slavery

[dbackjon]

The country's smallest state has the longest official name: "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations."

A push to drop "Providence Plantations" from that name advanced farther than ever on Thursday when House lawmakers voted 70-3 to let residents decide whether their home should simply be called the "State of Rhode Island." It's an encouraging sign for those who believe the formal name conjures up images of slavery, while opponents argue it's an unnecessary rewriting of history that ignores Rhode Island's tradition of religious liberty and tolerance.

The bill permitting a statewide referendum on the issue next year now heads to the state Senate.

"It's high time for us to recognize that slavery happened on plantations in Rhode Island and decide that we don't want that chapter of our history to be a proud part of our name," said Rep. Joseph Almeida, an African-American lawmaker who sponsored the bill.

Rhode Island's unwieldy name reflects its turbulent colonial history, a state that consisted of multiple and sometimes rival settlements populated by dissidents.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_ ... lantations

[Appaholic]

Drop it....if they decide they want plantations again, they can overrun SC again....

[Ibanez]

What the fuck is the point? People are getting to damn sensitive. Changing the official name, that I bet less than 1% of the population of Rhode Island(which is what, 7 people?) know what it is, will do nothing. It won't make any progress towards an attainable goals. STOP WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY ON BULLSHIT LEGISLATION!

[grizzaholic]

What he said!

[TwinTownBisonFan]

it really isn't wasting any money to make the change...

it's a symbolic thing, and symbols have power... moreover, it's an archaic term (and most Rhoadies know about it) that is unnecessary... it's a simple change... might as well do it and move on.

[Ibanez]

it really isn't wasting any money to make the change...

it's a symbolic thing, and symbols have power... moreover, it's an archaic term (and most Rhoadies know about it) that is unnecessary... it's a simple change... might as well do it and move on.

Rhoadies? Seriously, I bet you less than 1% of the population(current population is around 1,050,78 people) could tell you the full name. I'm willing to bet 98%(margin of error) of the population think the official name is Rhode Island.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

it really isn't wasting any money to make the change...

it's a symbolic thing, and symbols have power... moreover, it's an archaic term (and most Rhoadies know about it) that is unnecessary... it's a simple change... might as well do it and move on.

Rhoadies? Seriously, I bet you less than 1% of the population(current population is around 1,050,78 people) could tell you the full name. I'm willing to bet 98%(margin of error) of the population think the official name is Rhode Island.

well... i'm basing it on the fact that the guys i know who went to school at URI and Brown all knew it, and none of them were natives...

most native Pennsylvanians I knew when I lived there knew it was a Commonwealth, not a State...

[citdog]

the yankees kept SERVANTS???? later on the sailors of New England contented themselves with SELLING THEM!

[catamount man]

What the **** is the point? People are getting to damn sensitive. Changing the official name, that I bet less than 1% of the population of Rhode Island(which is what, 7 people?) know what it is, will do nothing. It won't make any progress towards an attainable goals. STOP WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY ON BULLSHIT LEGISLATION!

But it'll ease white guilt mark and THAT is what's important here...

[CID1990]

I agree with the name change. It is an easy thing to do for such an enormous return... suddenly blacks in Rhode Island will stop killing each other, whites will stop oppressing them, there will be no more need for affirmative action, etc etc.

In fact, I think EVERY state should make a gesture like this one, taking up legislative time that would otherwise be wasted on lesser problems like financial insolvency. If each state would do something like this, our racial problems would be over and we could move on to less frivolous pursuits, like building bridges to nowhere and paying farmers to make moonshin...er... I mean ethanol.

[Cap'n Cat]

it really isn't wasting any money to make the change...

it's a symbolic thing, and symbols have power... moreover, it's an archaic term (and most Rhoadies know about it) that is unnecessary... it's a simple change... might as well do it and move on.

Agreed.

TTBF, an up and coming wise board sage taking over from Cap'n Cat as Board Shaman, Bullshit Buffer, Nattering Nabob of Conk Knee-Jerking and overall Peacemaker. Go in peace, my blessed son.

[Cap'n Cat]

I agree with the name change. It is an easy thing to do for such an enormous return... suddenly blacks in Rhode Island will stop killing each other, whites will stop oppressing them, there will be no more need for affirmative action, etc etc.

In fact, I think EVERY state should make a gesture like this one, taking up legislative time that would otherwise be wasted on lesser problems like financial insolvency. If each state would do something like this, our racial problems would be over and we could move on to less frivolous pursuits, like building bridges to nowhere and paying farmers to make moonshin...er... I mean ethanol.

Man, Sid, you're a bigger asshole than me. And that's sayin' somethin'. Stay in the service and don't ever walk among us humans, please.