After some exhaustive research, which included Google and Wikipedia, I am here to shed some light on why New York is the "Empire State.''
But not too much, since the answer seems murky.
At some point in the 1780s, George Washington may have (nobody caught it on tape) made a reference to New York being the "seat of Empire.'' In those days, "empire'' apparently carried the connotation since lots of economic growth and progress, and not necessarily a system where one group dominates another. Back in those days (this was a long time ago) New York seemed to fit the bill.
It must have seemed apt back in the days when we were building the Erie Canal, taming Niagara Falls and becoming an economic powerhouse. All that, of course, is a while ago now.
More recently, the nickname has given critics of the state a chance to have some fun over the years. Herb London, who was interested in running for governor in 1994, referred to it as the "Vampire State'' because, as he saw it, the state was sucking the life blood out of its citizens in the form of taxes. And this was even before the MTA surcharge and the plan to tax soda!
Among suggestions from readers today included "Union State,'' since they seem to be piloting the ship of state these days, and "Umpire State,'' since then we would at least know to expect some bad calls, and we wouldn't be so stunned each time Albany screws up.
My vote would go with "Big Apple,'' since it is already the nickname of New York City (a sportswriter coined it, referring to big payoffs at tracks) and we're one of the leading apple producers in the country.
But nobody asked me.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
It's said print reporters are too wordy for broadcasting, too grumpy, and just too ugly. After appearing with Jay today on a radio show, I must say all of this true. But Jay Gallagher, as broadcast co-anchor, has a certain something. He comes off as authoritative, in a world where a having a two-sentence opinion can pass as authoritative reporting. I urge you to check him out if you can on the PBS stations. And one suggetion: You can play a drinking game using the number of times he plugs his book.
ReplyDelete