Think Outside the Box, Indiana

Friday afternoon, I walked through a town called Gnaw Bone. I mention this because one of the things I’ve noticed is that Indiana isn’t distinctive enough. Specifically we have counties that are named after other states (Delaware and Ohio), cities (Miami), and even countries (Switzerland). Plus, we have cities that also exist in other states (there’s a Carmel in California, though it’s pronounced differently, there’s an Albany in Minnesota, a Nashville in Tennessee, etc., etc.) and countries (ever heard of Alexandria, Egypt?), and – as all states do – we have the endless litany of cities and counties that are named after people that are from other states (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, et al). Now, I know these people are worthy of recognition, but they’ve got plenty already.  We need to be unique, people, and I know just how to do it.

We need to change the tired names we’ve long associated with some of these places and give them names specific to Indiana. For example, Allen County could become Appleseed County (as all school children know, Johnny was from Fort Wayne). Evansville would be much better off being named Brooksville. There’s already an Evansville in Wisconsin, and who didn’t love Evansville’s own Avery Brooks in Spenser For Hire?

Do we really need a Peru, Indiana when there’s already a country in South America with the same name? Cole Porter is from there…why not Coleville or Portertown? Bloomington is not a bad name, but there are Bloomingtons in Illinois and Minnesota, to name two. How about renaming the town Van Halen? David Lee Roth hails from Bloomington, does he not?

I could go on, but I’m pretty sure you get the idea. Write to your congressman, senator, or even Governor Daniels. Let’s get the ball rolling. But, please, just one codicil to this whole idea.

Under no circumstances should there ever be a Quayle, Indiana.

Saturday’s Journey: Nashville to Bloomington

Mileage: 21.8 (1,381,248 inches. That just sounds like a much more impressive walk to me)

On the iPhone: The Four Tops Essential Collection CD, ELO’s Burning Bright CD