Re: CHAT: Ability of Americans & Europeans to locate each others cities (was Re: The [+foreign] attribute)

It is surprising how many people develop an aversion to Delaware based on
their experience driving on that small stretch of I-95 that runs through
this state. Out-of-state visitors to our beaches and to NASCAR races at
Dover International Speedway (formerly Dover Downs, and STILL Dover Downs to
the locals) seem not to mind being "gouged" too much. It certainly hasn't
kept them out of our fair state. Drat.

In fact, we've gotten to be more progressive: the open sections of our new
highway (that will eventually run the whole length of the state) charges an
outrageous toll to locals and "foreigners" alike. It's the most convenient
route for the thousands of Delawareans who live in the "low rent" central
and southern parts of the state, but work in the northern end of the state,
where we keep all those banks and corporations we so unfairly stole from our
neighbors. But the road was originally meant, in truth, for all those people
from other states who clog up our roads on the way to soak up our sun while
lying around on our sand on our beaches.

Delawareans are different from other people. Native Delawareans are even
more different from that. I wouldn't be surprised if some native were trying
to start a grassroots movement to bring back the whipping post.

I think we should change our license plates to read "The Rogue State" or
"The Parasite State". It would give me something to laugh about every day.

ObConlang: IIRC, the ea-luna name for Delaware is "The Little Marsh"... Much
of our state is wetlands. The name for Michigan is "Snow and Lakes"... which
could have been Minnesota, I suppose.



>From: "Thomas R. Wier" <trwier@...>
>Reply-To: Constructed Languages List <CONLANG@...>
>To: CONLANG@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU
>Subject: Re: CHAT: Ability of Americans & Europeans to locate each others
>            cities (was Re: The [+foreign] attribute)
>Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 04:20:27 -0500
>
>Quoting Mia Soderquist <jumpingturtle@...>:
>
> > >From: Carlos Thompson <chlewey@...>
> > >>Okay, my attempt for the States of the USA, with main cities
>(captitals
> > >marked*)
> > ...
> > >Maryland - Delaware
> > ...
> >
> > Annapolis is the capital of Maryland, and Baltimore is it's major city.
>The
> > capital of Delaware is Dover, but the largest city is Wilmington. Just a
> > note from a native of the Delmarva peninsula who has lived in both
>states.
>
>Speaking of Delaware, the New Republic had one of the most fantastically
>bigoted attacks on the people of said state I've ever read (and being
>a Texan, I would have read of many quite vituperative attacks), entitled:
>"The Case Against Delaware: The Rogue State".  Here's my favorite quote:
>
>   "Indeed, Delaware's image as small and inoffensive is not merely a
>    misconception but a purposeful guise. It presents itself as a plucky
>    underdog peopled by a benevolent, public-spirited, entrepreneurial
>    citizenry. In truth, it is a rapacious parasite state with a long
>    history of disloyalty and avarice."
>
><http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020819&s=chait081902&c=1>
>
>(The rant against equal representation in the Senate is a
>particularly naive brand of majoritarianism and surprising
>from such a conservative publication. One wonders what kind
>of history education the author has...)
>
>(Okay, I should really stop now.  I just couldn't resist this. :) )
>
>==========================================================================
>Thomas Wier            "I find it useful to meet my subjects personally,
>Dept. of Linguistics    because our secret police don't get it right
>University of Chicago   half the time." -- octogenarian Sheikh Zayed of
>1010 E. 59th Street     Abu Dhabi, to a French reporter.
>Chicago, IL 60637



--
Mia Soderquist, jumpingturtle@hotmail.com


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