The Open or the British Open: Didn't We Have a War Over British Arrogance to Settle This and Other Issues Before?

  This week features another Grand Slam sports event in England. Last week saw Serena Williams and Roger Federer both reclaim singles tennis crowns at Wimbledon in surprisingly dominating fashion, considering they are both past their physical prime.
  This week might see another player past his physical prime--Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, or even Tom Watson--reclaim another British Open trophy, the Claret Jug.
  Did I say "British Open trophy" in error? No. It's not "The Open." It's the British Open. Such arrogance is akin to Ohio State University believing it is the only college that deserves to be called "The University." It's akin to the Rose Bowl, the granddaddy of all bowl games, insisting on being called "The Bowl," or the Indianapolis 500, the granddaddy of all auto races, insisting on being called "The 500" (not that they  would). It's akin to American football believing it is the only sport in the world that deserves to be called football. Well, doesn't it? When the NFL and AFL merged decades ago, the American Football League name should have been the one retained. It was more descriptive and more humble.
  There are many great golf tournaments and many great opens, including the U. S. and the U. S. Amateur. The British Open is a great golf tournament. It is not the only great golf tournament. 
  The issue was settled before. Around 1776, the United States declared itself independent of British sovereignty. The fledgeling country didn't believe in worshipping royalty or following the unjust edicts of an irrational king across the pond. America also didn't believe in the rigid class system of the Brits. The founding fathers couldn't accept the impositions of the Crown. They didn't believe England, or Great Britain (consisting of England, Scotland, and Wales) for that matter, was "The Country." Hence, they created their own.
  In short, the Revolutionary War lasted six years, ending with the defeat of the British in 1781. The second round, known as the War of 1812, lasted three years, with British forces again retreating to their own shores or other regions of their vast world empire. Still, to the United States, Great Britain was not "The Country." It did not control "The Empire." There were other countries. There were other empires.
  Get off the pedestal, you Brits. The British Empire is only a memory, and the Queen nothing more than a symbolic figurehead of a glorious past. Just because some non-Brits remain fascinated with your royal family does not mean you control the world again and can continue passing unreasonable and unjust edicts.  
  Persuading the world-wide media and international golf communities alike to refer to Great Britain's professional championship as "The Open" is arrogant and pompous, if not unreasonable and unjust. It doesn't play any better in 2012 than it did in 1776.