What's in a name?

A rose is a rose is an onion

The phrase above is from a Hemingway novel. It was turning a phrase from Shakespeare, and I thought I'd use it for this post. I need something to write about. Putting up stuff every day is not that easy sometimes. Anyway, this is about the words we use. I've been meaning to discuss the recent name changes. Particularly about the Gulf of Mexico, which is now being called the Gulf of America. Hence, the rose is a rose is an onion reference.

I lived pretty close to the Gulf, as we call it these parts. We don't use the whole phrase, just the word "Gulf". If you stand on the Seawall at Galveston, point East towards what looks like an ocean, and say "the Gulf", everyone will probably look at you like you're crazy. Sometimes words aren't even necessary. Everyone can see what it is and where it is. It's pretty danged big. If you fell off the Seawall and into the Gulf, everybody will know what you mean. You don't need the extra words.

There's an interstate called the "Gulf Freeway" in those parts. It isn't called the Gulf of Mexico freeway. Just the Gulf Freeway. Changing it to Gulf of America won't make any difference. Nobody uses the extra words. If you did, you'd get another funny look.

There's a building in Houston called the Gulf building. Or is it still called that? Let's say there used to be a building there called the Gulf building. It is or was the office for the oil company called Gulf. They had some gas stations once, which were bought out by Chevron. But there's still a few Gulf gas stations around. We don't call them Gulf of Mexico gas stations. I guess I made my point. A rose is a rose is an onion.

It was called the Gulf of Mexico for a long time. Why change it? But then again, why knock over statues and such? Some politicians decide to rename stuff, and that is what happens. I wish the politicians would just fix real problems. There was no real problem there, and changing the name doesn't change a rose into an onion. Know what I mean, Vern?