The Phoenix Network:
 
 
About  |  Advertise
Adult  |  Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures
 
All Blogs >> Not For Nothing >> Rhody in the National Media

Rhody in the National Media

0

Rhode Island is in the national eye this morning, with - count 'em - two stories deemed worthy of national exposure.

There is a New York Times story on the debate over shortening the state's official name from "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" to simply "Rhode Island."

The term "plantation" has been strongly associated with slavery for the last couple of centuries and black activists and politicians have worked for years, often in obscurity, to strip the word from the official name.

Amazon's decision to cut ties with Rhode Island web sites in the face of a new Internet sales tax is also going national. There was a Wall Street Journal report on the paper's web site yesterday. And an Associated Press story pops up in the Los Angeles Times, here.

The Internet tax story reinforces a national narrative around Rhode Island as a state in economic distress and a less-than-friendly venue for business. But the name change push harkens back to an earlier image of Rhody as place of tolerance. We'll see how it plays out if and when the proposal goes before voters.

 
  • Share:
  • Share this entry with Facebook
  • Share this entry with Digg
  • Share this entry with Delicious
  • Email this article to a friend
  • Print this article

Leave a Comment

Login | Not a member yet? Click here to Join
Follow the Providence Phoenix
twitter facebook youtube rss
All Blogs
more by David Scharfenberg
News worth paying for? | December 04, 2009
Will Caprio’s early ad spree work? | November 27, 2009
Kennedy, Catholic Church, and Politics of Compromise | November 20, 2009
Fight for your right to party | November 13, 2009
Newspapering the hard way | November 06, 2009

 See all articles by: David Scharfenberg

ADVERTISEMENT
Latest Comments
Senate Race Tightening... Or Not - I think all the reports could be authentic (accuracy tbd), given the differences in polling methodology...

By Emerson06Ten on 12-02-2009 in Talking Politics

Boston Public Health Commission's Top 10 Bad Romance Songs of 2009: Is pop music unhealthy? - wow this is very RACIST

By Drake Montage on 12-02-2009 in On The Download

Senate Race Tightening... Or Not - My money is on Coakley dropping. She doesn't seem to be getting any traction and she seems to be hoping...

By tumble4ya on 12-02-2009 in Talking Politics

GodHatesFags.com Invades Greater Boston - This just another proof of religion promoting hate. Hate that gives excuse to some to commit horrible...

By Rachel Galindo on 12-02-2009 in Phlog

The Globe, Scott Brown, and abortion - Thanks for checking back in, Spilot. That wasn't my intention. The Globe description didn't seem to jibe...

By Adam Reilly on 12-02-2009 in Dont Quote Me

Latest Comments from Not For Nothing
Most Viewed
Say Anything at the House of Blues | October 30
REVIEW: Thao Nguyen and The Get Down Stay Down at Middle East
Ticket On-Sale Alert: Harry and the Potters, Mario, Passion Pit, The Lion King, more
VIDEO: Halloween Mash UP
Mp3 of the Week: American Hi-Fi (with bonus Stacy Jones Q&A)
CLICK TRACKS: Music News Roundup (Walken' on Gaga, Weezer in Snuggies, Bono straddles the Berlin Wall, and more)
Ugh, ugh, ugh: Drummer Gerhardt "Jerry" Fuchs (!!!/Turing Machine/Maserati/Juan Maclean) dead at 34
Most Viewed from Not For Nothing
Search Blogs
 
Not For Nothing Archives
Wednesday, December 02, 2009  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
thePhoenix.com
Phoenix Media/Communications Group
Copyright © 2009 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group