Angel Falls bedevils Chavez, who wants name changed

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

CARACAS (AFP) – The world's tallest waterfall -- Angel Falls in southern Venezuela -- should be stripped of the name by which it is widely known in favor of its indigenous one, President Hugo Chavez said.

The falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were spotted by US pilot Jimmy Angel in 1937, bringing international attention to what has become one of Venezuela's top tourist attractions, though it is in remote Bolivar state.

"How could we accept this idea that the falls were discovered by a guy who came from the United States in a plane. If we do that, that would be like accepting that nobody was living here," Chavez mused on his weekly radio and television show, "Hello Mr President."

"Nobody should speak of Angel Falls any more," Chavez said. "That is ours, and was a long time before Angel ever got there."

In indigenous Pemon, the falls are called Kerepakupai meru, meaning "waterfall of the deepest place."

Chavez is a fan of name changes.

After he came to power in 1999, the firebrand leftist leader changed his own country's name, from just plain Venezuela to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. That move was to pay homage to independence fighter Simon Bolivar.

He then renamed a mountain in Caracas -- previously known as Cerro Avila -- with its indigenous name, Guaraira Repano.

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[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Despite the fact that the guy is despicable in most ways...he actually has a point.

It's a similar situation to how many Native Americans don't like being called "Indians". If the waterfall had a name before Angel came upon it, I think there's nothing unreasonable about referring to it by that original name.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I smell sulfur.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

There are a lot of precedents for changing anglicized names back to the names given by the local culture to certain areas and cities. I think he has a valid point in this situation as well and see nothing wrong with a name change.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I completely agree with the name change --- it is restoring the original name and the meaning to the falls. Good for them.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Chavez is asinine. If the falls had first been discovered by an outsider who was from any other country he wouldn't be making such a deal about it.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Chavez is asinine. If the falls had first been discovered by an outsider who was from any other country he wouldn't be making such a deal about it.

You're probably right.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Chavez is asinine. If the falls had first been discovered by an outsider who was from any other country he wouldn't be making such a deal about it.

Still. The falls are still in Venezuelan soil; hence it does not much matter what anyone thinks. And nooooo, I am not a Chavez fan --- but I am a self-determination fan.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Still. The falls are still in Venezuelan soil; hence it does not much matter what anyone thinks. And nooooo, I am not a Chavez fan --- but I am a self-determination fan.

*highfive*

Self-determination rocks.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

it does brother. Even if sometimes it takes the form of chauvinistic discourse like most of what Chavez says

[The_Dude 1,142]

it does brother. Even if sometimes it takes the form of chauvinistic discourse like most of what Chavez says

I will still call it Angel Falls just because I know it would irritate him if he heard me

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I will still call it Angel Falls just because I know it would irritate him if he heard me

tru dat

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

Still. The falls are still in Venezuelan soil; hence it does not much matter what anyone thinks. And nooooo, I am not a Chavez fan --- but I am a self-determination fan.

maybe chavez could step on a slippery rock at the top of them and they could rename it "chavez falls"

[Saddle Bronc 124]

There are a lot of precedents for changing anglicized names back to the names given by the local culture to certain areas and cities. I think he has a valid point in this situation as well and see nothing wrong with a name change.

Except that Chavez, a total chop, is not above inventing shaganappi to justify such a move--it is rather like 1979 renaming of British-named Lyallpur to Faisalabad--Zia (a worse chop--unremorseful war-criminal of 1971--than Chavez) claimed it to be due to tradition, but it is open-secret that it was named after Saudi king Faisal (as was Faisal Mosque in Islamabad).

maybe chavez could step on a slippery rock at the top of them and they could rename it "chavez falls"

:thumbs:

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Chavez is a douchebag. Like Limbaugh.