Title: Apple renaming the Gulf of Mexico and stirring conservative backlash
Rep. Dan Crenshaw, the outspoken Republican representative from Texas, is hardly pleased with Apple Maps' continued labeling of the Gulf of America as the Gulf of Mexico. Taking to Twitter, he even tagged Apple CEO Tim Cook to express his discontent and filed a report through the app. "Hey @tim_cook, just noticed Apple Maps still calls it the Gulf of Mexico. Sent a report through the app, but thought you'd want to know!" he tweeted.
It appears that Crenshaw's frustration stems from his belief that Big Tech hasn't adapted quickly enough to his preferences. Reminiscent of a suburbanite annoyed at their local Target, Crenshaw's dissatisfaction is a distinctive pattern observed in today's right-wing pundits and politicians.
Crenshaw is participating in the online culture war, posting cringe-worthy comments and doubling down on his stance. His obsessions include identity politics, attempting to cancel opponents, enforcing gender norms, and bending the culture according to his will, despite overall disinterest. Notably, these are the very same practices that he's long accused the left of employing.
In a move that sent ripples through the political landscape, former President Trump introduced an executive order titled "Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness" less than a day ago. Amongst the changes, the order stated that the U.S. would henceforth refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. However, both Google and Apple Maps have yet to update their nomenclature.
Time is often a crucial factor in these circumstances. It's important to remember that the Gulf of Mexico isn't solely used by the U.S. and Mexico, and the global community still mostly refers to it as the Gulf of Mexico. Given that a significant number of non-U.S. users rely on Google and Apple Maps, it's highly unlikely that the name will change for them.
Looking back at history, we can learn from similar moments. The attempt to rename French fries to "freedom fries" post-9/11 by conservatives is a prime example. Similarly, periodic complaints about the "British Isles" by a series of Irish editors have been part and parcel of online discussions.
Despite these protests, Conservatives like Crenshaw continue to make public demands, engaging in cringe-worthy behavior and costing themselves dignity in the process. Ironically, they now mirror the traits they've long criticized their opponents for bearing.
Currently, the American right boasts control over the Supreme Court, the presidency, and the legislature. This comprehensive political triumph is not sufficient, however. They yearn for your approval, hankering for you to share their jokes, take their memes seriously, and refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
The pinned post on Crenshaw's Twitter account is a "Conservative Guide to the Culture Wars" from 2021. Unsurprisingly, the second item on the list is the claim that a "victor mentality is superior to a victim mentality."
Over the subsequent four years, it seems that we can expect a flood of cringe posts from Crenshaw and other conservatives as they transition themselves into victims whenever things don't go their way, or do not progress as swiftly as they wish.
The future of tech mapping services could see a shift in nomenclature, with some advocating for a change in the Gulf of Mexico's name to the Gulf of America. Crenshaw's frustration with Big Tech's slow adaptation to this preference reflects a broader pattern among right-wing figures, highlighting the role of technology in shaping future geographical conventions.
