"Vespucci"

[KansDem]

For those who feel "America" no longer exists, a new name..."Vespucci!"

"America" was named after Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian explorer and cartographer who explored the Americas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amerigo_Vespucci

We could simply use his last name instead of his first name to rename our new country, thereby still honoring him.

"America" conjures some so many images: Statue of Liberty, human rights, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the checks and balances of the three branches of government, held accountable by a free press. But let's face it; those no longer exist, so let's not even try to continue with "America"--it's changed so much from its original intent and purpose. Let's do what Madison Ave. would do when confronted with a a product that has become old and passé, and has lost market share with no more shelf life: Let's introduce the "new and improved" America and rename it "Vespucci!" (And "yes" the exclamation point is part of the name. Notice how it jumps out and grabs you. How many other countries use an exclamation point it their names?)

We could even design an advertising blitz to usher in this new era:

"Say goodbye to America and hello to Vespucci!"

"Vespucci! A new country for a new era!"

"First there were rotary phones, now there are digital phones,
First there were record players, now there are CD players,
First there was VHS, now there is DVD...
Vespucci! Changing government for changing times!"

"Vespucci! for those who are not afraid of change!" or "Vespucci!, for those with nothing to hide"

"Remember when you had to worry about civil liberties, privacy, due process, and all those things with Latin names? Well, your life just got easier with Vespucci's "Don't Worry, Be Happy"™ Government Solutions®...

I say let's run this idea up the flagpole and see who salutes it.

edited to add another marketing slogan.

[Richard Steele]

1. One of my favorite artists did a statue entitled "Amerigo Vespucci"

Powerful stuff there from Huang Yong Ping;
it really speaks to me.

[reichstag911]

2. I just bought...

...a Vespucci suit. Very expensive, but the quality's just incredible. :eyes:

[porphyrian]

3. Why should we honor him? He thought he found the Orient. - n/t

[KansDem]

6. I just thought it would be more acceptable to old crumudgeons ...

and traditionalists if there was some connection to the past.

However, if you don't think so, then we can pursue that route.

Let's put this idea on the rack and see how it stretches...

edited for spelling

[LunaSea]

4. Vespucci? Are you kidding?

I'll remain a United States citizen.
Vespucci sounds like weird shoes.

What's next, Vinlander?

What was it called before that?

[htuttle]

9. Before 'Vinland' it was called 'Turtle Island'

Still is, in some quarters.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. There was an old comedy bit about "Vespucciland"

I think it was the punchline about what he was going to call his discovery.

[bigmonkey]

10. Firesign Theatre.

The song was "God Bless Vespucciland"

My favorite line:
"From the junkman,
to the mailman,
to the milkman,
white with foam!
God Bless Vespucciland
My home sweet home!

It's pretty funny if you sing it, actually.

[KansDem]

13. LOL Thanks!

:hi:

I thought we all could be named "Vespuccians." Imagine the possibilities:

I'm proud to be a Vespuccian!

or

Vespuccia, with spacious skies...
Vespuccia! Vespuccia! God shed his grace on thee...

Let's hang this idea on the line and see how it dries...

[Yollam]

7. Why not "Geronimo"

...or some other REAL American?

[KansDem]

11. OK by me...

We could roll this idea up into a ball and see how it bounces...

Notice that we are using the old idea of debate and compromise which is soooo "American?" We won't have to do this anymore in Vespucci! (or "Geronimo")

[SpiralHawk]

17. Ahhh, Geronimo is Espanol for Jerome

Another name the invaders slapped on a human being of the Tineh people -- not what he called himself (Apache is another bullshit name slapped on by the guys with the guns).

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Or you could call it 'Richard'

after the first name of Richard Amerike.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/discovery/exploration/americaname_01.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/features/2002/04/29/amerike.shtml

[KansDem]

12. Could be construed to honor Richard Cheney...

The true president of Vespucci!

But, let's put gasoline into this idea and see how it drives...

[SpiralHawk]

14. Amerikua: the Land of the Four Winds

That's a term that was in use on Turtle Island long before Vespucci or Columbus, or any other Euro johnny-come-latelies.

Turtle Island -- now occupied by the Big Brother Fascist Republican Government alleging that it is the USA, has a history that goes back 80,000 years or more. Not that most people who now live on Turtle Island have a clue, or even give a shit.

The eagle and the condor are flying together now. Those who have eyes can see it. The spiral is turning, turning, turning.

PS - Atlan/ Atlantida is the name of the continent from way pre-columbian times.

Ancient central American cultures had the same word for the 'Atlantic' Ocean and 'Atlantis' as Plato did many thousands of ears ago. Wonder how that happened?

Amerikua: love it or leave it (LOL).

[SpiralHawk]

16. There is an ancient wisdom tradition for the place where we live

Amerigo Vespucci "borrowed" his first name from the original peoples of Amerikua.

[CJCRANE]

15. I can just imagine *'s face

contorting and his lips pursing out as he enunciates it (in that way he has of overemphahsising a new word):

'God Bless Vespucci'.

[Kailassa]

18. "Vespucci!" ... is this the latest unwanted extrusion from the

filthy lips of Antonin Scalia?

Well, at least I got the language right. ;-)