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Armies Seize Territory. Empires Seize Language.
What renaming a lake tells us about sovereignty, and the normalization of ownership
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I write about systems, identity, and the open web, on jasonbu.online and across the AT Protocol. Read, reply, and join the conversation.
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Morning. Rain week. IT folks forcing Maps to see Canada. Digital sovereignty: an API setting. We live rent-free in what’s left of his mind. GM Sierra’s headed to Oshawa. Canada attracts doctors and scientists to reality. Fan Expo over. Hobbits say Lake Ontario. EU Sept. 16. 👀 Coffee on. ☕🇨🇦
Morning. Ford’s sign says Lake Ontario is Lake Ontario. We know, Dougie. Spend it fighting. Maine: what do you want us to do about the idiot you elected? Dani’s in the U.S. during a trade war. 50 seppies rallied. Alberta, take your flag back. Hamilton sent Dominion packing. Coffee on. ☕🇨🇦
No summary today, just a new article - “Lake America” is not legal annexation. It is annexationist language: repeat a false name long enough, put it on enough maps, and people begin assuming it belongs to you. Borders do not always move first. Sometimes the maps do.
jasonbutterfield.offprint.appArmies Seize Territory. Empires Seize Language.What renaming a lake tells us about sovereignty, and the normalization of ownership