Just a question Spurge, did you read the article before posting it here?

Yeah, um, if you had read the article, you'd understand that we forcefully changed the name to begin with, and basically took a dump all over the heritage of the native Alaskan people for a president hardly anybody actually talks about. I mean, why did a mountain in Alaska need to pay tribute to a president from Ohio? Because it was something we hadn't forcefully seized in a show of imperialism yet?

To me, this is a long overdue move that shouldn't be even remotely controversial. And I swear, if people start using the slippery slope argument, they're getting a slap.

It's a token gesture that amounts to dick.

What a slippery slope.

Seriously, though, this is just ridiculous. It's been called Mount McKinley for over 115 years by those outside of Alaska. And those who knew it as Denali, still called it that, so the change is just to pander to a minority of a minority who just wanted it known as Denali to the rest of the US. Basically, it's just to prove he can unilaterally do something.

I think it would funny as hell if the next president just changes it back. That would definitely piss Obama off.

About time

When's the last time you've even thought about Mt. McKinley? If the people who live there want it to be called something else, who cares.

They can call it Mt. Dickcheese for all I care.

I'm slapping you with my strong hand.

There is no slippery slope, and yeah, the history of US land taking is something we act proud of, but is really a history of subjugation, murder, bigotry, and hatred. I do agree that the past should be the past, but if we can do small things like changing a mountain name back to what it was originally to improve government relations between the US government and remaining native people today, I think we should. Of all the people the US government has forcefully wronged over the past 150 years, and the predecessors to our US government in the 150 years prior to that, the native people of North America have been wronged the worst. Because of that, relations with them have been, at best, tense, as we tiptoe around special legislation meant to give them some degree of autonomy, when really, it's the government equivalent of telling your child they're allowed to drive on their own.

In the long run, the US government does owe the remaining native people significantly in a way that can never really be paid back. If they're appeased by small gestures like this, you know, I'd say they're a damn good choice.

Nothing else is part of the discussion. This isn't about whether or not the US should feel guilty about its history, but rather, whether the US is interested in setting centuries of troubled relations at least partially right.

The United States never stole land from Africans, California was called California by Mexico when it was a territory of it, and the United States has nothing to do with South America speaking Spanish along with Portugese, Dutch and French. The people of Alaska where the mountain is located always called it Denali and wanted it to officially be called as such. Where is the problem?

I don't understand why this is worth getting upset over.

thismeintiel said: What a slippery slope. Seriously, though, this is just ridiculous. It's been called Mount McKinley for over 115 years by those outside of Alaska. And those who knew it as Denali, still called it that, so the change is just to pander to a minority of a minority who just wanted it known as Denali to the rest of the US. Basically, it's just to prove he can unilaterally do something. I think it would funny as hell if the next president just changes it back. That would definitely piss Obama off.

It’s interesting how people feel when it’s not their culture.  It’s pandering, insignificant or just useless to you but if it was the same for the people of Alaska why would they make it an issue to change the name.  It's not my heritage but who knows how the actual people who lived there for hundreds of years feel about something you consider as pandering.  Anyway it’s pretty standard for the minority to have their ideals, culture and heritage dismissed like this by the majority who cannot understand or in some ways care.  Such small things seem very insignificant to you but for the native Indians in Alaska this might feel like change.  It might feel like a little more respect.

Actually if he next president changed it back, it would not piss Obama off but I am sure there are a hell of a lot of native Alaskan Indians who sure would feel very disrespected.  Then again, I am sure the majority would not care.