Posted on 11/04/2023 4:28:57 PM PDT by Twotone
Social media users are pushing back after the American Ornithological Society (AOS) announced it would rename dozens of North American birds named for people.
The AOS said on Wednesday that it would rename all bird species in its jurisdiction that were named for people regardless of the name's history. The announcement came after birdwatchers have debated bird names for years, specifically ones that commemorate historical figures who committed acts of racism. The decision comes as numerous organizations reexamine landmarks, statues and other objects named for controversial figures.
"There is power in a name, and some English bird names have associations with the past that continue to be exclusionary and harmful today," AOS President Colleen Handel said in a statement. "We need a much more inclusive and engaging scientific process that focuses attention on the unique features and beauty of the birds themselves. Everyone who loves and cares about birds should be able to enjoy and study them freely—and birds need our help now more than ever."
AOS Executive Director and CEO Judith Scarl added that some bird names are clouded by racism and misogyny and don't benefit the organization.
Newsweek reached out to the AOS by email for comment.
The announcement has elicited pushback on social media as some people question the AOS' decision. Others went as far as calling the AOS woke. The word, a colloquialism that has emerged in recent years, is defined as "aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues [especially issues of racial and social justice]," according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Cultural Revolution.
I question their right to rename and will not cooperate in any way. I am tired of small groups of people thinking they can reinvent history.
The little porkers who wanted to “change da wurl” in Head Start and Kindergarten finally grew up and they are wreaking havoc on the rest of us with their “change” BS.
It’s right out of Mao’s playbook.
Yes. A small group of people who want to force their view of the universe on everyone else.
They should start with the offensively-named double-breasted matress thrasher or the impossibly-named auger billed clam sucker. Let’s work on those first.
When do we change the name of The White House?
ORWELL in action; if history doesn’t fit your agenda, JUST REWRITE IT!
Funny, I used the word woke when I emailed them yesterday.
I’m with ya. I commented a day or two ago on a similar thread and I’ll post again what I wrote:
Lewis’s Woodpecker and Clark’s Nutcracker (as well as Clark’s Grebe) were named by (and for) these two iconic American explorers.
Are these Marxist jackasses at the AOS seriously going to erase Lewis and Clark???!!!
I think people who have decidedly unimportant past times and aren’t hurting anyone else should be let be. But when the insufferable self-righteousness of woke invades past times, they’re to be denounced as the simpleton twits that they are
No bird names should be changed without the informed consent of the bird species in question.
Comets and asteroids next?
Backlash? Are they having egrets?
A small group can do anything—and we will blindly follow. I think the uSA Flag is racist—It flew over America when there were slavery, women couldn’t Vote, Native people Oppressed. No, remove the racist rag! and replace it with a new flag!
The National Anthem is also racist and must be replaced with “Your Land is My Land.” Even the world America is racist replace it with another tern like Peacelandia.
Well, that’s a bird brain idea.
Chickwithadickadee and Tufted Tranmouse and a nice ring.
Lol.
What if this topic is named the top concern of Americans over inflation, fear of world war, loss of free speech and availability of Taylor Swift tickets?
🦜🐦🕊️🦚
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