The Slice: Let’s all stand up and state our case

This calls for a stupid and futile gesture on someone’s part.

And I’m just the guy to do it.

But maybe I should explain first.

The other morning, I was walking to work and listening to the radio. Gov. Christine Gregoire was being interviewed about a visit to the Seattle area by leaders from China.

Whatever she was saying might have been worth hearing. But I had a hard time concentrating on her words because I was so busy bracing for what I knew was coming.

And sure enough, after the wrap-up, the national program’s host described her as the “governor of Washington state.”

Good to clear that up for listeners. Wouldn’t want them wondering if she is governor of Washington, D.C.

OK, regular readers of this column know how I feel about the use of the tacked-on “state” by the national media. In a nutshell, I can’t stand it.

But we all know why it happens.

1. To big-media reporters and producers, Washington, D.C. is the Washington.

2. Many Americans are utter ignoramuses when it comes to geography and need all the clues they can get.

3. Some idiots probably assume “Washington State” actually is the official name.

4. Even though “District of Columbia” is, in fact, part of the other Washington’s name, apparently it’s too much trouble to use even the abbreviated version of that.

5. Our own complacency.

OK, that’s life.

And I guess you could make the case that anything that helps achieve clarity is good. But the thing that drives me crazy is when the superfluous “state” is attached in situations where no confusion seems possible.

Take that radio report, for example. Never mind that there obviously is no such position as governor of Washington, D.C. (Hint: It’s not a state.) Wouldn’t a story on the Chinese delegation being in Seattle sort of tip you off that the setting being discussed is not on the East Coast?

I sent a courteous note to National Public Radio about this. But that’s not enough.

So, for the rest of the year, I am going to add the word “state” whenever I refer to Texas, New Hampshire or whatever in The Slice. (I am exempting Idaho.)

So be prepared. When you have visitors from out of the town and they read the paper, there’s a chance they might ask you “What’s the deal with this guy referring to Utah state?” or “Why does this columnist write ‘Indiana state’ instead of just saying Indiana?”

Feel free to simply sigh and say it’s a long story.

“Reader challenge: I’ll send an official reporter’s notebook to the reader who does the best job of singing part of the old Hamm’s beer commercial jingle. (Just call and leave your rendition on my phonemail.)

“Today’s Slice question: Who around here has the fewest Bloomsday shirts?