What’s in a Name? Hint: It’s Christian Nationalism
Summary
Angela Denker analyzes President Trump’s executive orders renaming Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico to “America” as acts of Christian nationalist identity reshaping. She contrasts this with biblical renaming and indigenous place names like Gitche Gumee to highlight how naming asserts power. Denker argues these changes aim to replace pluralistic ideals with a homogeneous, authoritarian vision, urging listeners to reclaim the “United States” identity and potentially boycott Google Maps for complying.
Topics discussed
Intro: Life transition and nostalgia for MapQuest
Trump's executive orders renaming Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario
Theological significance of renaming in biblical culture
Biblical examples: Jacob, Simon, and Saul's identity shifts
Gordon Lightfoot's song and indigenous names for Lake Superior
Lake Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska: Honoring indigenous identity
Trump's renaming as a tool for Christian nationalist identity
Timothy Snyder on reclaiming 'United States' identity
Conclusion: Returning to MapQuest as resistance
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