The company [BP] is one of several that have embraced…recasting of the more than 400-year-old name.
On its website and in recent filings, BP refers dozens of times to its drilling operations in the Gulf of America, as well as to the 2010 “Gulf of America oil spill.” Chevron and Shell have followed suit, as have Google, Microsoft and Apple, whose maps now feature Trump’s preferred name for U.S. users.
Drill, Drill, Drill!
Of course they do. They don’t want to be locked out of government lease auctions. Same thing at most of the places I worked over the years. Toe the line on the big dog’s narrative, no matter how delusional, if you want to keep your job. Do you think banning the Associated Press was only about their not toeing the line on the “Gulf of America” nonsense?
Steve
I don’t understand the fuss over the renaming of a geographical area. It’s been done since the beginning of recorded history. I guess it must be a source of pride for both sides of the argument.
If this was our biggest worry/concern, I could appreciate the debate. We have bigger things to solve.
And this isn’t directed to any person here.
The hubris of the US decreeing a change of name, for something the US doesn’t own? Then punishing anyone who does not toe the line? The cost imposed to change all the maps and geography books in the country, by a regime that is supposed to be all about cutting out waste?
When I worked at the pump seal company, they had their own names for materials. “Teflon” was not teflon. It was “Duraflon”. But the company did not have the hubris to insist everyone else call Teflon “Duraflon”.
Steve
I agree. Hubris, pride, ego. Whatever you want to call it
Without researching it I believe there have been the same geographic areas called different names by different nations/people throughout history. Maybe there was controversy then too.
And DT punishing the news agency for not going along? That is dumb.
I remember we had a laugh how during the Falkland conflict, the Argentine junta obsessed calling the islands Malvinas. Let’s see how well this one goes once the first major hurricanes form in the Gulf of America…
The difference is the Falklands are British sovereign territory, so they can call the islands what they want.
The US claims a 12 mile sovereign limit, and up to a 200 mile exclusive economic zone in the Gulf.
So, the US could make some sort of legitimate claim to naming rights, for the northern part of the gulf, where the US claims exclusive economic rights. Claiming to name the rest is like decreeing that Panama will be known as “South Florida”.
Steve
Punishing the AP, was “sending a message” that anyone who does not toe the line, will be punished. That is why the oil companies are falling in line with the decree.
Steve
YES!
Truthfully, I am staggered and stunned by the ignorance of the most basic crucial lessons from the history of tyrants, both real and emblematically fictional.
But just the memory of the bullies of childhood should be enough, as the underlying motives and patterns of behavior are basically identical.