I read the petition, and disagree with the notion that changing bird names is discriminatory-no groups rights are bring trampled by changing the common names of birds. And history is not being erased, especially in this day and age where so much is recorded digitally, including the arguments surrounding the changing of these names.
I welcome the challenge of learning new names-my 61 year old brain needs the challenge. And if it makes others feel more comfortable in this space, as the removal of confederate monuments has made public spaces more welcoming to others, then I’m ok with it.
Zora Dermer
Seattle
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 29, 2023, at 7:54 AM, Dennis Paulson wrote:
I am posting this because I think everyone interested in this issue should read it, and if you agree with the petition, please sign it.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
Begin forwarded message:
Subject: Rebuttal Petition to the AOS
Date: November 29, 2023 at 6:15:57 AM PST
I have posted a rebuttal petition to AOS Leadership regarding their decision to change all eponymous bird names on
change.org.
While I feel there are many reasons to disagree with the removal of
all eponyms, I think this short petition hits the main reasons why I (and others) oppose this move. I would appreciate a core set of members of the birding community to sign on to this letter and then once we have a good number of initial signees we will make it widely public for anyone to sign.
I believe that this petition will gather a substantially greater number than the roughly 2500 who signed the initial petition that got this whole thing rolling. I believe that our voices deserve to be heard.
A few notes before signing.
After you sign the petition
change.org takes you to a screen asking for a donation.
Change.org is free and this donation is not for our cause. We are not fundraising.
Instead, click on “No, I’ll Share Instead” which will take you to a page that gives you multiple ways to share the petition but most importantly also provides a comment box on the right side of the page. If you want to include a membership or organizational affiliation this is the place to put that information along with any other comments you may want to share.
Thanks for signing.
The link to the petition is here:
https://chng.it/VHyjZp5snr