[NR] Northern Digest, Vol 58, Issue 4

[Niewoehner, Hugh]

To me the best reason for the region to have a name other than "The North"
is that was not what was done in period.  For example the northern regions
of France were Bretagne, and Normandie, the southern regions were Languedoc,
Provence, ect.  And the fluidity of Kingdome borders is one of the things
that let to a strong identity with one's region.  Bretagne and Normandie
were both part of England at one time, but the people still identified
themselves as a Breton or Norman.  

 8<------

Don Timothy LeCorbuiser

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Most native Bretton's still think Bretagne first, French second.  A professor at Tubingen university stated to me a few years ago "The world tries to deal with Germany as a monolithic block and is mystified when 'Germany' doesn't react as expected.  That's because, until recently, Germany was composed of up to 1200 separate kingdoms and principalities <Bold> and we still tend to think that way.</Bold>"  It's human to think regionally.  We all still have great friends and companions outside our localities.

And on the logic approach...As a field commander try yelling "North to me" on the battlefield at Gulf Wars and see who turns up.  

Though not mentioned in Timothy's post, a lot of discussion goes on about people getting their feelings hurt and how it should be avoided.  If the North does this, someone, somewhere, is going to get their feelings hurt.  But this whole topic probably wouldn't exist if some people on the other side of the issue didn't _already_ have their feelings hurt.  You _can't_ avoid it.  The question is only who and how much.  It goes back to that human thing again.  

HE Damon   

"Mortus sum et Cura non".