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Hurricane Names Go Politically Correct
The Hill ^ | July 29, 2003 | Bill Thomas

Posted on 07/29/2003 5:33:28 PM PDT by Southern California

Hurricane Latonya?
Hurricane Names Raise a Warning

The 2003 hurricane season is here, and that means a whole new list of names such as Larry, Sam and Wanda ready to make tropical-storm history.

Although Spanish and French names are included in this year’s lineup, among them Juan and Claudette, which struck Texas last week, popular African American names, like Keisha, Jamal and Deshawn, are nowhere to be found. Some black lawmakers don’t seem to mind, but Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) does. “All racial groups should be represented,” said Lee.

The World Meteorological Organization began naming tropical storms after women in 1953. That made sense to scientists at the time who thought women and storms were both unpredictable. After feminist groups protested, men’s names were added in 1979.

The National Weather Service says hurricane names are derived from languages spoken in areas that border the Atlantic Ocean, where such storms occur. Yet that doesn’t explain why Gaston, Ernesto and Cindy were chosen and Antwon, Destiny and Latonya were passed over. Lee said she hoped in the future the weather establishment “would try to be inclusive of African American names.”

That could take a while. The current roster of hurricane names isn’t due to be updated until 2007.


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: diversity; dontknowbreaking; inclusion; langugage; pc; storms; weather
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To: Southern California

61 posted on 07/31/2003 3:52:00 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Subvert the conspiracy of inanimate objects!)
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To: Southern California

62 posted on 07/31/2003 3:53:41 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Subvert the conspiracy of inanimate objects!)
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To: Flyer; Bacon Man; Hap; Eaker; bobbyd; HoustonCurmudgeon; TheMom; GOPcapitalist; PetroniDE; ...
Sheila Jackass Leech ping!
63 posted on 08/01/2003 5:53:18 AM PDT by Xenalyte (I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
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To: Southern California
Lookout! Hurricane Jesse is about to blow into town and suck millions of dollars out of the local economy.
64 posted on 08/01/2003 5:57:20 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: mhking
Are you sure this isn't from The Onion?

Those of us who are the racist socialist's constituents only wish Sheila news was from The Onion.

There is no racial issue too small for her to jump in and exploit, and no wealth redistribution scheme to modest for her to ballyhoo.

65 posted on 08/01/2003 7:32:00 AM PDT by jimt
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To: jimt
to modest = too modest

arrrggghhh....
66 posted on 08/01/2003 7:32:57 AM PDT by jimt
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To: Xenalyte
Good grief! Let's not forget the Asian population either. We can have Hurricane Nguyen and Hurricane Jing-Chao.

And let's not exclude our Muslim friends (you know...that religion of peace?) We'll need Hurricane Fatima and Hurricane Ahmed.

Sheila...get a freakin' life.

Terrisn!

67 posted on 08/01/2003 12:26:34 PM PDT by Allegra ( No tagline to see here...move along...move along...)
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To: Allegra
What you said!
68 posted on 08/01/2003 12:27:58 PM PDT by Xenalyte (I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
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To: Polybius
Laughed so hard I almost lost my Copenagen.
69 posted on 08/01/2003 12:33:06 PM PDT by Duckdog
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To: All
I want Hurricane MFUME!!! No really, that would rock.
70 posted on 08/01/2003 12:37:17 PM PDT by CygnusXI (All in jest of course... and a big spoon at that!)
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To: CygnusXI
I want Hurricane MFUME!!! No really, that would rock.

How 'bout Hurricane X

71 posted on 08/01/2003 12:48:15 PM PDT by jriemer (We are a Republic not a Democracy)
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To: Xenalyte; Allegra
I won't sleep well until I see Hurricane 50 Cent.
72 posted on 08/01/2003 3:59:22 PM PDT by Flyer (No one reads tag lines)
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To: weegee
"Hurricane Monica is blowing hard..."

Nice double entendre!

73 posted on 08/01/2003 7:44:50 PM PDT by Southern California
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To: Southern California
Break out the Ouija board!
74 posted on 08/01/2003 9:26:25 PM PDT by P.O.E.
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To: Allegra
Good grief! Let's not forget the Asian population either. We can have Hurricane Nguyen and Hurricane Jing-Chao.

That reminds me. Tonight, in our customer database at work I noticed the name Fuyon Yu. It must be really difficult for him to order things over the phone:

"What's your name, sir?"

"Fuyon Yu."

"Well, there's no need to be rude, sir. Now what is your name?"

"Fuyon Yu."

"Really, all I wanted was your name..."

"Fuyon Yu!"

"I'm going to have to connect you to my supervisor. One minute, please..."

75 posted on 08/01/2003 10:46:36 PM PDT by Tall_Texan (http://righteverytime.blogspot.com - home to Tall_Texan's new column.)
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To: xrp
The 1st Cat3 hurricane of the season. Hearing "well, Elaine is COMING TO FLORIDA!" isn't scary. Numbers aren't either, but at least it removes the PC crap.

I wonder if there will ever be a Hurricane Chad, or if the name's been permanently retired despite having never been officially used?

76 posted on 08/01/2003 10:47:36 PM PDT by supercat (TAG--you're it!)
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To: Tall_Texan
I know someone who acutally ran into a sales clerk whose name was: "Aquanetta" So, how about "AquaNetta" for a hurricane name? Seems logical according to the PC trend...;>)
77 posted on 08/02/2003 1:00:53 PM PDT by wazoo1031
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To: Southern California
I will bet anyone $1000 to a hole in a donut, that just as soon as the first Cat4 storm with the fake 'African' name of "Aayeesha" that slams into the Texas coast and wipes out li'l Ms Sheila's 18th District, she'll go straight to the House floor and accuse the NOAA of RACISM! for "Creating and Purposely Steering" a deadly storm towards a predominately Black district!!!

I can hardly wait!

78 posted on 08/02/2003 3:27:15 PM PDT by ThomWilkerson (Remember, for EVERY anti-war protester, SADDAM has murdered an equal number of Iraqis.)
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To: wazoo1031
In the words of Homer: "Wooo Hoooooo"! D'oh!
79 posted on 08/02/2003 9:47:39 PM PDT by wazoo1031
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To: jgrubbs
Hurricane Andrew is pretty recent; the names Amos, Bess, and Porgy are availble though...
80 posted on 08/03/2003 7:23:42 PM PDT by solitas (sometimes i lay awake at night, looking up at the stars, wondering "whereinhell did the ceiling go?")
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