b'E d i t o rThe Unexpected Dilemma of the Gulf of America Is it the law, our own editorial choice, or just politics? Should O f all the yuge changes in government we go first, or wait for others?policy,culturalnorms,andthevery ways in which we live our lives that havecomewiththepoliticalearth-quakethatshookthecountry,last Novembernowcomingtofruition under the second Trump Administra-tionthe one that is presenting the biggest dilemma for many of us, it seems, is changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, as officially or-dered by the President during his first week in office. Unlike just about everything Trump has done, and un-done, by executive order since January 20 th , this one is the least political in its controversy, and feels more permanent and.identity-changing to lots of us.As a magazine editor, specifically one who grew up on the Texas Gulf (of Mexico) Coast, this kind of radi-cal change, popular or notand I think the new name is particularly catchypresents a decision to be made on dozens of pages of this magazine, including nu-merous map references to that exceedingly significant body of water to our immediate east. This is a damned multi-faceted, highly complicated matter that pierces almost every principle of responsible journalism (dont laugh), civic responsibility, and even our credibility as a business! Yes, its that muddy and thick, the more I thought about itand I know Im not alone. Have you started saying Gulf of America, yet? I guess we can mostly get away with avoiding it in our every-day lives, as many of us down here never really say the whole thing. We just say, Gulf. Where are we going fishing this weekend? Fifty miles offshore, in the gulf. Oh yeah, which gulf!!?? The gulf. But get ready for it: Mexico or America? You some kind of damned commie Kamala voter? Then you know youre dealing with a northern foreigner, from somewhere like Waco.Its not that easy for us web-footed Texans in whose veins run saltwater. Sure, we can be as MAGA as they gethell, Ive got Drill baby, drill! on the cover of my flippinmagazinebuteventhoseCoastalBenders who are far more devout to the Orange Almighty than I are wrestling with this one more than they expected.18THECOASTALBENDMAGAZINE TheCoastalBend.com'