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.

Pray-for-the-Bayou-City-Hurricane-Harvey-is-our-500-year-Flood

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 Meteorologists 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.

http://www.history.com/shows/ancient-aliens

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?"

Socio-Political eBooks now in Store

Shop Now