Why are the Bush administration calling the country of Myanmar Burma?

Question

I understand that Myanmar used to be Burma. But it is not anymore. Why are the Bush administration, including Laura Bush refusing to call the country by their proper name Myanmar?

Answer 1

Sometimes governments wont acknowledge a new name of a government because they don't approve. Its a way to sort of "boycott" a country lol. Its a big statement to not call it by the name they call themselves. Correct me if im wrong but its happened several times before especially when a new country is formed from a imperialist colony. Because the Myanmar government is socialistic/Militaristic and not democratic they are not approved.

Answer 2

Not sure, but possibly:

1) Myanmar is too hard to pronounce. Remember how GWB used to mangle "Abu Graib" into "Abu Garumph".

2) Mentally stuck in the past, like Fred Thompson spoke about the Soviet Union during his campaign.

3) Trying to insult the dictatorship by not accepting the name they chose.

Answer 3

It's the maiden name.

Answer 4

It's hard to say. Knowing Bush ( 7 years better than I'd like to), it could be He calls it "Burma" -as an excuse for His not being able to pronounce "Myanmar" properly! :)

Answer 5

FOX News also reverted to "Burma" after using "Myanmar" in their stories for a few days.  They must prefer British colonialism too.  I'm waiting for Ceylon and Rhodesia to reappear in FOX News stories.

It is definitely a way to show displeasure to the current government.

Answer 6

Because he's an idiot.  That's why!

Answer 7

Proper to whom? The brutal dictatorship who made the name change? That's hardly a compelling argument.

Answer 8

I also noticed this, not only Laura Bush but all the western media seems to deliberately call the place Burma,they seem to make a point of it and it struck me: it seems odd because it is exactly like constantly referring to Thailand as Siam.

Whether or  not the official name was changed by politically incorrect military leaders is really irrelevant.Look at all the governments names changes that have had dictators and were instantly accepted by the West.So it is a snub, but why?Are our cultural poo-bahs as naive as simply refusing to acknowledge reality and calling the country by a name that is no longer official because they are planning on another regime change?

By the way, has anyone who is decrying the terrible regimes in these places ever actually visited there?Or are they simply swallowing everything they are told by people who can't even refer to a country by its official name.