Leave the Thames River as is

Pequot River?

Renaming the Thames River the Pequot River is foolish, a needless make-work project and somewhat unpatriotic, “New London representative’s bill would rename Thames the Pequot River” (Jan. 18).

The Thames River has been part of our history starting before our country was founded. It is noted in our Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and other national events. It is shown on maps of our country and some in the world. It would be an enormous project seeing that all those maps, history books, promotional materials, etc., got changed. People would not know where the Pequot River was, or anything about it unless it was followed with a long and expensive PR program.

If the river were within the lands of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation the name change could be considered. But it is not. Rep. Nolan’s logic could rename many things in eastern Connecticut. What nonsense. When founded in the 1640s, the New London area was known as the Pequot colony. Should New London be renamed Pequot city?

It is shocking that our state legislators have nothing more substantive to do than make poorly thought-out proposals that waste time and our tax dollars.

Tom Althuis

Groton