Anti-French names face Waterloo sunset

The Scotsman ^ | 10/17/03 | John Innes

[Modernman]

AN IDEA to replace British place-names such as Waterloo to avoid offending European sensitivities was greeted with derision yesterday.

The suggestion came from a 60-year-old Briton who works for a Luxembourg-based bank which provides loans for EU projects.

Francis Carpenter wrote in a French newspaper that it would be in the interests of European harmony if "offensive" British names commemorating battles lost by the French were eradicated.

Mr Carpenter, employed by the European Investment Bank, suggested that French visitors to London might be "astonished" to find themselves arriving at a railway station called Waterloo.

Similarly, Germans and Austrians arriving in France might be uncomfortable seeing place-names marking Napoleon’s victories against their countries, such as the Paris station, Gare d’Austerlitz.

A spokesman for the European Commission was unimpressed: "Who is this man? He doesn’t work for us. Of course he’s entitled to his opinions, but they should not be considered as proposals from the commission or any EU institution.

"The idea that these suggestions would be taken up as EU proposals is utter rubbish. We don’t have the power to tell anybody to change their place-names, and nor should we."

Mr Carpenter’s article in Le Figaro suggested that names such as Waterloo station should be renamed to give them "a more European theme".

[Modernman]

Little things like this show what really goes on inside the minds of EU bureaucrats. The Brits are smart to keep their distance.

[Always Right]

"The idea that these suggestions would be taken up as EU proposals is utter rubbish. We don’t have the power to tell anybody to change their place-names, and nor should we."

At least not until we establish out politically correct EU court system....

[Modernman]

At least not until we establish out politically correct EU court system....

Sort of like how the pictures on the back of the various Euro-bills had to be scrubbed of any national/historic connotations. You won't see any historical buildings on the Euro.

[2banana]

Francis Carpenter wrote in a French newspaper that it would be in the interests of European harmony if "offensive" British names commemorating battles lost by the French were eradicated

That would be alot of names....

[Verginius Rufus]

I suppose we are supposed to rename places named after French defeats too, like Waterloo, Iowa (1815), or Paris, Illinois (1940)? Many Americans proudly drive cars named for one of the greatest French defeats ever, Sedan (1870).

[Modernman]

suppose we are supposed to rename places named after French defeats too, like Waterloo, Iowa (1815), or Paris, Illinois (1940)? Many Americans proudly drive cars named for one of the greatest French defeats ever, Sedan (1870).

Kitchener, Ontario, used to be called Berlin until 1914, but the name was changed when WWI started.

There is a drive in Canada to change a lot of politically incorrect names. Big Squaw Lake was forced to be changed, as have a whole host of "insensitive" place names. Even animal names aren't safe- the Jewfish was recently renamed.

[Always Right]

Maybe France should just rename itself and all of its cities so they are not constantly reminded of the shame and embarassment of being Frech.

[Modernman]

Maybe France should just rename itself

Germany Junior?

Loservania?

Surrenderbourg?

South RunAwayia?

[DeepDish]

The best way to eradicate a people or a culture is to remove the memory of
their existence. The ancient Egyptians would chisel names and accomplishments from
monuments. For this reason, I have always wondered about the true motives of people
who wish to rename sports teams and places.

If I wanted to be rid of native american issues, I would for example rename the
Mississippi, Missouri, and Osage rivers. At the same time I would retain, say, the Snake
river and attribute it to native americans.

[Verginius Rufus]

Maybe France should be renamed Gallia, because of their insufferable gall.

[bmwcyle]

EU=What Hitler wanted to do to Europe in the 1930's.

[Loyalist]

But Swastika, Ontario, still has its name. As does Dildo, Newfoundland.

[ellery]

Ile de Ill-Conceived?

[Verginius Rufus]

There's also a Swastika, New York...in Clinton County!

[FourPeas]

ROFLOL!

[FourPeas]

La Terre du Weasel.

Kinda flows off the lips, eh?

[RippleFire]

bump