‘Gulf of Mexico’ is now ‘Gulf of America’ for US Google Maps users
Google Maps changed the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ name once it was officially updated in the U.S. Geographic Names System.
Rep. Teresa Martinez believes that forcing public high schools to teach about the Gulf of America will promote patriotism.There are more pressing issues facing Arizona than the name of the Gulf of Mexico.
At long last, the Arizona Legislature is taking on the pressing issues confronting our state.
No, not affordable housing and the fact that for far too many Arizonans, the American Dream is an impossible one.
No, not water and the fact that we don’t have enough of it.
Certainly not public education and the fact that an appallingly large number of kids can’t read.
But we are going to teach kids three important words.
Say it with me now: Gulf of AMERICA.
The Arizona House on Thursday gave tentative approval to a bill that would require public high schools to teach students that it’s the Gulf of America — not, not, no absolutely NOT the Gulf of You-Know-Where.
Bill sponsor wants schools to teach patriotism
“It’s important to start teaching pro-America to our students,” Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, said in urging passage of the bill.
“When we start talking about the greatness of America, we start talking and promoting patriotism. What better way to promote a patriotic country and teach children about patriotism than to start calling it Gulf of America and taking pride in that?”
Me? I can think of plenty of reasons to be proud of our country, starting with the fact that we don’t elect dictators (at least, not often). And the fact that we bring light and hope to the world in the form of desperately needed food and medicine (at least, we used to).
Still, I guess it’s OK to enact a state law mandating that the Gulf of America be taught in schools if you don’t thinkPresident Donald Trump has the power to get it done.
If you don’t think geography teachers would mention it.
There’s a reason AP won’t call it ‘Gulf of America’
It’s understandable why the Associated Press isn’t racing to rename the body of water that for 400 years has been known around the world as the Gulf of (you know).
It’s an international news agency, after all, and an international body of water, and Trump waving his magic Sharpie doesn’t suddenly change that in the rest of the world.
But in the United States of America, it’s now the Gulf of America. Even Google says so.
Apple, too.
And when a future president acknowledges 400 years of history and changes it back, well then, we in Arizona will still have a state law mandating that it’s the Gulf of America.
Martinez even plans to amend the bill to mandate Gulf of America in college courses.
It is, after all, a grand old gulf. A high-flying gulf and the patriotic thing to do.
Gulf of Common Sense? You know where that is
Still, if we really want to make America great again, perhaps we should call it the Gulf of What-Are-You-Going-To-Do-About-The-Price-Of-Gas.
Or maybe the Gulf of What-Happens-When-Your-Social-Security-Check-Is-Late-But-There’s-Nobody-To-Call-Because-Half-The-Agency-Was-Laid-Off.
Or perhaps the always popular Gulf of Common Sense.
Nah, that particular chasm shows up on my map as the Arizona State Capitol.
Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @laurieroberts.bsky.social.
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Publish date : 2025-02-27 23:36:00
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