Hurricane names raise a warning; not enough black names in it.

hillnews ^ | 08/01/03 | Bill Thomas

[Pikamax]

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.

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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.

[Pikamax]

As a black person, please shut up jackson lee.

"popular African American names, like Keisha, Jamal and Deshawn...,Some black lawmakers don’t seem to mind,"

There is a reason because those names stink, IMHO.

[Pikamax]

argh.. Speaking as a Black person, Please shut up Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee ( this ticked me off so much I couldn't think in the first comment.)

[JOE6PAK]

HURRICANE OPRA?

[Malesherbes]

If we named one "Sheila", would that be satisfactory?

[SeaDragon]

JFC, don't we have enough to worry about without this kind of crap.....?

Give the damn things numbers. You do still know how to count don't you Ms...........Jackson...........Lee............

You know how it goes... 1 2 3 4 and so on......

[So Cal Rocket]

Since they're in alphabetical order every year, in order to get to Hurricane Sheila, there'd have to be 19 hurricanes... I don't think there has ever been that many...

However, Hurricane Blabbermouth might work.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

For your Just Damn list?

[Tall_Texan]

I'm all for this. Do you know how bland it is to refer to "Hurricane Bob" or "Hurricane Bill"? I'd much rather see "Hurricane Kweisi" or "Hurricane L'Afrique".

[Paul Atreides]

There is a reason because those names stink, IMHO.

LOL!

[BunnySlippers]

Hurricane P-Diddy!

[LasVegasMac]

Nope, sorry - you lose.

I can't imagine a storm named, "Jessie 'Pimp Daddy' Jackson", or "God Shamgod".

When you come go full circle with the naming thing, maybe.

'Till then STFU!

LVM

[Paleo Conservative]

Do you know how bland it is to refer to "Hurricane Bob" or "Hurricane Bill"?

Why not a hurricane "BillyBob"?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Is it a compliment to have a hurricane named after you? I thought it was kind of derogatory, that's why the feminists had a fit. Does Ms. Jackson Lee want to pander to all special interest groups, equally? What about using surnames?!

[petuniasevan]

...and watch Sheila and company cry "racism!" when Hurricane Laquitta or Tropical Storm Shawon slams into a populated area causing high loss of life and property - because the NWS didn't change the name back to a "white" name when the storm appeared destructive.

[nepdap]

Chris Baker does a local (Houston) afternoon radio show. Today he was talking about this silliness, and one caller pointed out that Ms. Jackson-Lee herself doesn't have a very African-American sounding name. He suggested she changed it to LaSheila Jacksoniqua.

[E=MC²]

Maybe they can name hurricanes on Mars to suit ms sheila...you know, where the astronauts planted the flag.

[BunnySlippers]

The Latinos shot down the Frito Bandido because it was a "negative influence". Aren't hurricanes bad? What about if we named them all with African American names (as we used to name them with Causacian names). Would blacks complain that there was a "negative connotation"?

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

Kobe?

[SAMWolf]

I'm waiting for hurricane Tyrone Shoelaces.

Give me a break we don't have real problems to deal with????

[holyscroller]

I don't think Ms. Lee thought this through. It would be a terrible P.R. move. Normally, people don't want their names associated with anything violent and deadly. This should be particularly so for law-abiding Blacks, who already have to suffer the stigma created by the small minority of their race who truly are violent and deadly. Does she really want to remind people of that? I sure wouldn't!