WAMU 88.5 : News

Filed Under:

Staying True To Gen. McPherson's Good Name

By: Jim Asendio, WAMU 88.5 News Director // January 31, 2012
comments
The statue of General McPherson looks down on the square named after him, which has served as a home to Occupy DC protesters for the past few months.
Mallory Noe-Payne
The statue of General McPherson looks down on the square named after him, which has served as a home to Occupy DC protesters for the past few months.

As long as the Occupy DC protesters remain at Freedom Plaza and McPherson Square, you will hear stories about the demonstrations on WAMU. 

There's no controversy about how to pronounce "freedom" but there is a dispute about how to pronounce "McPherson," as in U.S. Civil War Gen. James Birdseye McPherson, for whom the square is named.   

D.C. natives unanimously say mc-FEAR-son, but you will no longer hear that pronunciation in our stories. 

After a newsroom debate involving several emails, phone calls to numerous towns around the United States also named after the general, and even one Twitter consultation, we decided to check with Dr. Richard Sommers, the leading Civil War expert at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., for the final word on the General's name.

He acknowledges the debate, but adds: "There's no fear in McPherson." That's why we are saying mc-FUR-son. 

As an addendum, the general's middle name is not pronounced "bird's eye" but rather "bird see," according to Sommers.

Class dismissed.

Arts & Culture

NPR

Fictional 'Mothers' Reveal Facts Of A Painful Adoption Process

After years trying to conceive, novelist Jennifer Gilmore and her husband decided to adopt. What they thought would be a relatively simple process was instead a long and painful one. In her latest novel, Gilmore channels these autobiographical experiences into fiction.

Food

NPR

In Raw Milk Case, Activists See Food Freedom On Trial

Activists say the case against Wisconsin dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger is about raw milk — and much more. His supporters have turned the case into a rallying cry for personal food freedom and the rights of farmers and consumers to enter into private contracts without government intervention.

Politics

NPR

Fears Of Killing Immigration Bill Doomed Same-Sex Amendment

Amid warnings the proposal would shatter support for the measure, Democrats backed away from a provision that would allow gay U.S. citizens to sponsor foreign-born spouses for green cards. Advocates for gay and lesbian immigration rights accused Democrats of caving in to threats.

Technology

NPR

How That 'Nigerian Email Scam' Got Started

You've probably seen it in your inbox before: Someone who claims to have come into a fortune needs your help. You can share in the profits — if you send along a deposit or your bank account number. Boston Globe correspondent Finn Brunton talks about the history of the "Nigerian prince" or "419" scam, which actually got its start long before email.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.