Hurricane Latonya
Where are those African-American hurricane names?! Apparently, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) doesnít have much going on in Congress so sheís focusing on really important issues, like a lack of hurricanes named Keisha, Deshawn, and Jamal. ìAll racial groups should be represented,î said Lee, as reported by TheHill.comís Bill Thomas. According to Thomas:
ìThe 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, menís 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 doesnít 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 ëwould try to be inclusive of African American names.íî
I think we all should get ours. Being post-Jewish, I certainly won't rest 'til I see Hurricanes Sol, Sylvia, and Irving.
(via Volokh.com)