Mother Nature??? Can We Stop Humanizing the Weather?
UPDATE: Local remembrances of 2017's Hurricane Harvey continue to pour in as many in our area are still trying to recover. Here is a gentle reminder of how we speak about weather-related events
On This Day: August 27, 2017. The outpouring of support near & far for Hurricane Harvey Survivors has been heart-warming to say the least. Our city has been so devastated, even for those of us who were lucky enough to still have a place to call home.
Harvey's effects will be felt in all of Southeast Texas for years.
Earlier this year, one of our local meteorologists wrote an Op/Ed piece in his blog about "Humanizing the Weather" & how this is wrong & people should stop it.
This really resonated with me & I thought "You're right."
What gets me is that storm names alternate between Male & Female, yet several local Meteorlogists around here keeping referring to "Mother Nature" even though Harvey is a MALE name.
A lot of my beliefs & opinions were furthered & expanded in following the History Channels series, "Ancient Aliens," which explores the religious beliefs of ancient cultures from all corners of the globe: The Greeks, the Norse, Chinese, Hindu, Aztec, Indian - you name it.
Another particularly good History Channel series did a re-telling of Homer's "the Odyssey" chronicling the adventures (& misadventures) of the hero, Odysseus & his encounters with Zeus & Poseidon.
What occurs to me is that the majority of these "weather gods" like Thor - the Norse god of Thunder & Poseidon - the Greek god of the Sea are MEN.
So why the Misogynistic portrayal of "Mother Nature" in Modern American Culture during natural disasters?
I am a Mother. I had a Mother. I love my children & my Mother loved me.
And I bet you have a Mother too.
Can we watch our Language with RESPECT to how we refer to "Mother Nature?"
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