Re: Myanmar (formerly Burma)

In article 
<5b3d79d8-51ad-40e6-8f26-6ab6817e9e1f@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
 NadCixelsyd <nadcixelsyd@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> Why does every mention of Myanmar on radio/TV have to add "formerly
> Burma" to the text.  Does anyone say, "formerly British Honduras" or
> "formerly Ceylon" or "formerly Hot Springs, New Mexico"?  Does the
> stewardess say, "Welcome to New York (formerly New Amsterdam) Kennedy
> air****t, formerly, Idlewild"?
> 
> Anyone that, by now, doesn't know Myanmar's former name probably
> doesn't care.

For some reason, Bush administration types refer to the nation as 
"Burma." Do a Google search on 

"White House" Burma

to see several examples. Perhaps the media are using the "formerly 
Burma" phrase to clue people that Myanmar is the country Bush et al. are 
talking about.

-- 
D.F. Manno | dfmanno@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words
are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by
destroying it. Words are to confuse, so that at election time people
will solemnly vote against their own interests." (Gore Vidal)