Are you kidding..? Political Correctness at its Worst!

When we originally heard about this name change for Rhode Island, well, quite openly we didn’t think all that much about it insofar as a State, just like a human should be able to change its name. We are the first to admit that we didn’t know why the state wanted to change its name. However, when we began to research and gather information as to the cause of why – “You’ve got to be kidding me!” was the first anyone screamed in these offices.

The official name of Rhode Island is: “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” or that is what is inscribed – elaborately in the floor of the Statehouse. Many Rhode Islanders might not even know its formal name. It isn’t listed on modern-day maps, though it is on the state seal, is found in many official state documents and can be heard in the courtroom when the judge is announced.

The phrase “Providence Plantations” appeared in the royal charter granted in 1663 by King Charles II to the colony of Rhode Island. At the time, “Plantation” was a general term for settlement or colony. In this case, it referred to the merger of the Providence settlement, which was founded by minister Roger Williams following his banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and nearby towns into a single colony.

You go anywhere and you mention plantations and what automatically comes to a person’s mind? Well around here some spoke of huge white mansions with sprawling acreage of land; another mentioned wealth and the Gulf Coast area of the USA. Almost every female mentioned the clothes worn both underneath and over dresses; everyone stated something to the effect of Gone with the Wind.

Actually that question was mentioned in this way: “You go anywhere and you mention plantations and what automatically comes to a person’s mind is slavery,” said Nick Figueroa, 41, a member of a legislative minority advisory coalition that backs changing the name. Well it certainly didn’t around here. Now let’s just focus on a concept of language changing and dismantling a society.  Political correctness does just that – we believe that it is used often times to change something that one doesn’t like either about their past or a collective – which is certainly the agenda of Nick Figueroa. However this next example is disgusting.  Keith Stokes, who is multiracial and can trace his family’s arrival to Newport back centuries, said the debate over the state name ignores Rhode Island’s legacy as a colony founded on religious tolerance, where Jews, Quakers and other minorities settled in large numbers after being rejected elsewhere. (Religion?) “It has all these people who have been cast out because they worship differently and they all land in Rhode Island,” said Stokes, who is also executive director of the state’s economic development corporation. (Worship?) Proponents of the name change say they recognize the word “plantations” was not initially associated with slavery, but argue the original meaning is irrelevant. They say “plantations” is inextricably linked to slavery, just as the swastika — traditionally a harmonious symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism — has since been adopted as an emblem of Nazi Germany and is today associated with ethnic hatred.

The ballot question in itself is a victory, regardless of what voters decide, said Harold Metts, a black state senator who helped lead the effort for the referendum.

“At least people understand why we feel the way we feel. For me, that’s part of healing,” Metts said. We ask politely: What healing? Up to now there have been 1,122 comments at the end of the article. For example: Suzy born and raised in Rhode Island said:

“We don’t even use it; I can’t tell you how many (most) people are unaware that it is in the State’s name.” Rene Moore stated: “Blacks just think the white man owes them everything. We owe you nothing, we got you out of Africa, and you should kiss our bleep!” Hat-tip to Associated Press’ Eric Tucker for the inspiration and the original piece can be found by clicking here.