Mount Hood… or should I say “Empty Hood”?
Sunday, December 9th, 2007Below is a letter that I wrote today. I thought of submitting it to the local paper.
The letter should explain everything. What do you think? Am I nuts?
Mount Hood… or should I say “Empty Hood”?
There are times when one might obsess over seemingly irrelevant issues when there are so many more important issues to face and deal with using that energy. My own little pet peeve is the disturbing proliferation of the use of the abbreviation for our much loved mountain, Mount Hood.
It has gotten so bad that most all, if not all, of our local businesses and representative organizations don’t even use the mountain’s full name anymore. I choose not to name any in fear of being accused of singling out one or a couple when practically everyone is using the abbreviation Mt. Hood.
In my mind, it seems that most of these organizations are so close to the “Mt.” they don’t see the “Mount”. I feel that they should spell out the name of our mountain unless there is no room for the complete spelling.
Historically speaking, the trend for abbreviation has come about in the latter years and most recent history of the mountain. I collect and research the local history, including books, articles and other written history, and disregarding the present trend, Mount Hood has traditionally been spelled Mount Hood.
Like I said, this may be a minor issue but sometimes the minor issues are indicative of mindsets that affect major issues. These businesses and local governments use of the abbreviation reflects their focus on everything but the mountain that gives them their identity, and I feel it deserves more of their attention, and one good way to start is to call our mountain by her full name.
Gary Randall
Brightwood, Oregon
