Its an odd map for sure but calling it 'African history erasure' seems rather excessive to me.
Map Thread XX
- Thread starter Balkanized U.S.A
- Start date
I'm not sure it is, the author has literally erased a chunk of Africa and called it a day. Besides the fact that it is unbelievably low-effort and bizarre, it can only really be described as African history erasure. Not that there would really be any history anymore, though, because part of the area he erased is considered to be the birthplace of humanity.
You're making a serious accusation here, and a fairly tepid map name is your only evidence. I'd suggest that you tone back your accusations unless you have stronger evidence.
I apologize if my criticism came across as a personal attack or an accusation. Still though, it is disappointing to see large chunks of the world erased in alternate history maps.
I actually had the same thought about it when I saw it yesterday, and I normally don't jump to that kind of conclusion, so I don't think you're being unreasonable. That said, if you really think there's an issue, the best thing to do would be to report it and let CalBear decide whether it's dodgy or not.
Is there a reason for this or are you just trying to start a fight?
Serious question. Right now I'm heavily leaning toward flame-baiting.
Have till two hours after your next long in to expand on this.
The word anasazi is Navajo for "enemy ancestors", I believe used in reference to the Hopi, so I imagine either the Navajo or the Hopi would prefer the state to be named after one or the other.
That having been said, we live in a TL with a state named "Idaho" which as far as we can tell is a literal nonsense word made up by white settlers and attributed to Native Americans, so the US naming a state Anasazi is certainly not unthinkable.
I am feeling sick today. Really weak. Posting hard. I wasn’t trying to cause a priblem. I am sorry
This is a valid critique that I wish I had considered before posting. Thank you. Now I deleted it. When I am well I could explain more what I was thinking if anyone cares
you are correct. The other changes were due to what you figured. But I did not intend to erase African history & deleted when it was pointed out it was doing that.
That's fair, I didn't think you were doing anything deliberately malicious. I hope you get better soon
I'm feeling better. I was in the midst of a diabetic crash when I got notified that CalBear had responded.
I am now stable and at the computer and can respond better- due to both not feeling like I can't think and to being much better at touch typing than texting.
I want to thank those who pointed out the problems with my map and thank those who defended me, you were right about my intentions while those who critiqued it were right about the implications of the map.
I may take a few days away from here. If anyone wants to know what I was thinking, please PM me. Thanks.
I am now stable and at the computer and can respond better- due to both not feeling like I can't think and to being much better at touch typing than texting.
I want to thank those who pointed out the problems with my map and thank those who defended me, you were right about my intentions while those who critiqued it were right about the implications of the map.
I may take a few days away from here. If anyone wants to know what I was thinking, please PM me. Thanks.
Image from an upcoming chapter of my TL, The Pale Horse: The Northwest Montana Insurgency and its Aftermath (1987-2002)
What a dummy, the worst part is I know the difference I just made the mistake by inattention
will correctMy idea behind Anasazi was that the Navajo majority was like "let's make the others feel included" (the Anasazis being an ancient civilization that birthed all the different Pueblo people including the Hopis). However you're correct that it originally means "enemy ancestors" so I'm thinking either Pueblo or Navajo would be better ...
(Also lawmakers suggested "Laramie" for the state of Lakota and the officials essentially answered "Oh yeah to reference that treaty you disrespected twice yeah that's awesome love it such a great way to start.")
I think it's important to note that Lakota, Hawai'i, Anasazi, Alaska and Sequoyah were all created in the 1940s after natives demanded to have special states carved out for them (for instance Hawai'i has three official languages: English, Hawai'ian and Japanese) so that they could avoid sinking completely into irrelevance.
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It wouldn't be a decision by OTL's Navajo (or at least 19th/early 20th century Navajo) since IIRC they considered the Anasazi pueblos haunted and avoided them and as the meaning of "Anasazi" implies held a dislike of them and their descendents.
I see. Thank you for clearing this misunderstanding. Then Navajo is obviously a better choice for the name of the state. I didn't know Navajos had such a conflictual relationship with the different Pueblo groups ... I will correct it