Thursday, October 1, 2026
By endorsing the ‘Maintain The Name’ campaign, I risk seeming aligned with those who celebrate Sam Thurston for his racist ideas. Yet, despite the promise of immortality (having the county named after me), I still oppose it.
Sam Thurston, for whom our county is currently named, believed that if marriage between Black people and Native Americans were legalized, they would produce a new master race that would overthrow white power. This wasn’t just a silent paranoia Sam carried. Sam wasn’t just another white guy whose only friends were other white guys.
Sam was more than just a product of his time. He shaped the future. By getting the Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 passed in Congress, and demanding its most racist provisions be maintained, Sam Thurston ensured white dominance in the West.
We won’t erase this part of our recent past by renaming this place. We can’t erase the echoes of racism when the echoes are still booming. We need to learn about and face our history, not bury it in a new name — even mine.
For millions of people across time (including me), Thurston County has been home, offering countless memories of love, abundance, family, community and a better life.
However, not all of our associations with Thurston County are positive. I’ve certainly had my share of bad experiences here. In fact, I’ve made a career out of complaining about them. It’s OK to notice the negatives as long as we don’t let those things be the whole story, or go the other extreme and pretend they're not there.
There’s no benefit to pretending that Sam Thurston didn’t loudly proclaim: “The Negroes associate with the Indians and intermarry, and, if their free ingress is encouraged or allowed, a relationship would spring up between them and the different tribes, and a mixed race would ensure inimical to the (whites). These savages would become much more formidable than they otherwise would, and long bloody wars would be the fruits of the commingling of the races.”
That quote is a real downer, but the work of making a better world doesn’t have to be. We can laugh along the way. There’s plenty of comedy in history. For example, after serving a term representing the territory, in an attempt to not suffer the overland hardship again, Sam Thurston took the overwater softship (a boat from D.C. to Portland via Panama).
They hadn’t built the canal yet. He had to cross the isthmus on foot. Sam got off the boat and walked into a bar. He ate some undercooked eggs, was bitten by a mosquito and contracted tropical fever. He died before his boat reached San Diego. Ba-dum cha.
Let’s try to remember that the name of this place is made of eight innocent letters. We get to be creative with what those letters mean. I renamed The Martin Building without changing a single vowel or consonant. It was originally named for the anti-prohibitionist lumber baron Donald Martin. Now, like King County, it’s named for MLK. It’s amazing what a brand redesign can do.
Overcoming prejudice and welcoming different kinds of people into our hearts is powerful magic, as powerful as lightning. The root of Sam Thurston’s last name comes from the same place as thunder and Thor, ancient God of strength and free people. This is the name we need because it captures the true nature of this place. Let’s stick with it. Let’s face all that’s shameful about it, and embrace all that’s holy.
I’m flattered that so many want to rename Thurston County after me, but our current name is perfect.
David Scherer Water is the building superintendent of The Martin. He explores absurdity in local culture through the lens of comedic nonfiction. He is in British Columbia on location at The Shambhala Music Festival. His next post will be a report on one of the loudest festivals in the world. He is the author of a history book and this column, which share the same title. Discover more of his work here.
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TheBeaver
Squaxin County would be good.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Report this
Honestyandrealityguy
Let's move on. A few hundred years ago we had indentured servants of all races. Then one indentured servant tried to leave and was sued. The court ruled that he was owned by the black man, Anthony Johnson, and a black man was the first slave owner. He began buying and selling slaves, then to the natives and whites.
The north got rid of slavery (Republican) after 10 years. When a white Republican gave his life to end slavery, 300,000 whites and 20,000 blacks in the north gave their lives. At that time THOUSANDS of black families owed slaves. The natives owned tens of thousands of slaves. Whites also owned slaves.
Let's teach history correctly. Is it time to move on?
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Report this
bobkat
@Honestyandrealityguy > AMEN~! But that doesn't fit the "narrative."
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Report this
ViaLocal
honestyandrealityguy, here are some past comments on similar issues that shut you down nicely. I've saved them to a word document, and as I find more in comment history, I will save those too. I will then copy and paste them to every derogatory comment you make, to shut your nonsense down nicely again and again. Because the fact of the matter is, TEACHING AMERICA'S HISTORY OF SYSTEMIC RACISM is the best way to ensure non of that BS follows us into the future. Those of you who wish for it to be washed over are just waiting to support it should it happen again. A good example? TRUMP AND THE EPSTIEN FILES. "forget about it" he says, actually believing his followers are dumb enough to just fall in line and do so. Why shouldn't we talk about it?? Because he secretly SUPPORTED IT and abused hundreds of young girls with his best friend, Jeffrey Epstein. Only those who support racist ideals don't want it taught or talked about, just like only those involved with Jeffery don't want those files made public.
TeeMCee2
Honestyandrealityguy is not too honest and is dilutional, and absolutely not in touch with reality. He reveals that people like him are threatened and uncomfortable with other ethnic celebrations and will make up lies to attempt to distract. The only dummies that believe his lies are the usual folks that know absolutely nothing about American history and Black American history in particular. People like this guy is incapable of critical thinking skills nor have the aptitude to actually read and understand the history of this country. He has no idea who created generational slavery in this country let alone what it means. So buddy just stop the same old racist playbook and being so scarred all the time. You are embarrassing.
Mugwump
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Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
ViaLocal
Honestguy - even David shut you down in this article! Quoting, "We need to learn about and face our history, not bury it in a new name." "Let’s face all that’s shameful about it, and embrace all that’s holy."
Ba-dum cha.
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Changing the name is stupid virtue signaling. Boomer liberals will be extinct soon a then we can move on with our lives.
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
ViaLocal
so will boomer conservatives. then you will have virtually no one left who believes in facist nonsense.
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
Snevets
Thank you ViaLocal.
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Good, they are basically liberals too. Younger generations are becoming demonstrably more right wing. All liberal institutions will crumble.
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
pbaron1902
Thurston County it is and Thurston County it shoud remain, as David Scherer Water says.
Friday, August 1, 2025 Report this
S2345S23456
DEFINITELY CHANGE THE NAME!!! How about something referring to the Indigenous people of this area?
Friday, August 1, 2025 Report this
Mugwump
Split the difference and name it after Thurston Howell III. Or … OR … Hear me out on this one … Lorrin “Whitey” Thurston who I’m assured by ChatGPT was a famous Thurston who championed slack-key guitar and other traditional Hawaiian music. The “Whitey” part of the name might please SouthSoundNumbskull.
Monday, August 4, 2025 Report this
citizenken
I like TheBeaver's suggestion, Squaxin County.
Friday, August 8, 2025 Report this