Western American place names are so evocative of the trials and tragedies experienced by 19th century Anglo-American settlers. If you look at a map you will see place names like Breakheart, Lickskillet, Desperation, Tribulation and Never Summer. Certainly these starkly descriptive names provoke admiration in the 21st century reader for the mettle of pioneers bent on a new, and hopefully better life at the frontier. Oregon Territory was an early and popular destination for Anglos looking for cheap, fertile land in which to take root. The state has a lot of colorful place names dating back to Oregon Trail days and before. There is another kind of place name that shows the darker side of Anglo culture and is not so admirable. It is a culture tarnished with violence, intolerance and a rigid sense of racial superiority and religious elitism.I was looking at a 1992 road map to locate an obscure national historic landmark named Fort Rock. The geographic feature is the remnant of an ancient volcanic caldera rising above the surrounding valley. The site was used as a shelter by native peoples and as a landmark by late comers. My eyes were drawn to the empty spaces along the Nevada border, home to what the map called the "largest of the few remaining herds of wild antelope in North America". East, out of the village of Adel, runs highway 140. I have never driven it, but it must be a lonely road as it crosses windswept high desert and descends into isolated canyons on its way to more horizon. I imagined the highway could be a good motorcycle route: no traffic, fresh air, inspiring scenery even a chance to glimpse a rare antelope herd.
My revelry was interrupted and my eyes narrowed as I read a place name along the road: "Greaser Canyon". First, I was flustered, then I was indignant. Why was the blue state of Oregon employing a racial slur as a place name? Perhaps a Mr. Greaser broke his wagon wheel here on the way to the land of milk and honey, but I doubt it. I asked this question of a member of the Oregon State Board of Geographical Place Names. He did not bother to reply. Oregon is still an agricultural state. Vineyards and fruit orchards are a significant share of the industry. The fruit is picked by migrant labor some of which is undocumented. Without their hard labor, the fruit would rot in the fields. Many more Latinos work in landscape, restaurant, hotel and construction businesses. Oregon cannot afford to pander to bigots. The name should be changed. I suggest Los Trabajdores Canyon. In the 21st century a mature America can recognize its diverse heritage and the contributions of all its peoples.