Comment on The "western hemisphere" rubs me the wrong way

HenriVolney@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

• NABDad@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

  According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known use of the term, “Western Hemisphere”, is from the writings of Sir Thomas Browne in 1646.

  It doesn’t really make sense to blame its creation on the U.S, as it predates us by more than 100 years.

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  • HenriVolney@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

    OK then. Let’s say that Western hemisphere is a concept popularized by US exceptionalists to justify their economic, political and military domination over the Americas.

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    • NABDad@lemmy.world ⁨20⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      You can say that if you wish, but it makes you sound like you just don’t want to admit you were wrong.

      There’s plenty to blame the U.S. for, but it’s important to be honest if you want to be taken seriously.

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  • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

    I guess it comes from a european perspective, describing everything else as “wild west” or “near/far east”

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    • NABDad@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

      That’s what I was thinking.

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