In a world increasingly dominated by the ‘woke’ agenda, even the realm of entomology isn’t spared from the wave of political correctness sweeping across.
In the latest development in the realm of political correctness, the Entomological Society of America (ESA) has decided to rechristen the “gypsy moth” to “sponge moth.” Apparently, the old name is viewed as offensive to certain groups, particularly Romani people, as gypsy is often derogatorily used.
The new name, while puzzling to some, has been welcomed by the scientific community and mainstream media – unsurprisingly conforming to the latest trends of the politically correct culture.
ESA President Jessica Ware, Ph.D., lauds this change, stating, “Lymantria dispar is a damaging pest in North American forests, and public awareness is crucial in slowing its spread. ‘Spongy moth’ allows us to move away from the previous term which some find offensive, while also emphasizing the moth’s biology.” It’s worth noting that this decision has been accepted by a myriad of people and organizations, all willing to adopt the new name, ‘spongy moth’.
However, outside the echo chamber of the scientific community, there’s a considerable number of people who find this sudden shift quite perplexing. The moth has been known as the ‘gypsy moth’ for countless years, and the abruptness of this change has left many exasperated.
This frustration is evident on social media. One Twitter user vented, “You f***heads are really something… Gypsy Moth is offensive now, and spongy moth is its new name… please for the love of everything stooooppppp!!!!!!”
Another tweet read, “Just read the Gypsy moth name has changed to the Spongy moth. I guess we were offending Gypsies.” This name change appears to be yet another example of woke culture run amok, prioritizing language policing over real issues.
Moreover, there’s a growing sentiment that this name change won’t have any substantial positive effect on the Romani community. One such opinion was expressed via tweet: “Here’s your congratulatory cookie. You have now put an end to injustice and hatred by a simple name change. Smfh.”
Nevertheless, Ware seems pleased that the new name, derived from the French word “spongieuse” in reference to the moth’s sponge-like egg sacks, is already gaining traction. She states, “‘Spongy moth’ is already beginning to appear in media stories and other online resources, which we’re excited to see. But we know this name change won’t happen overnight.” It seems that, once again, the mainstream media is eager to promote the latest politically correct terminology.
But this isn’t the first time that the scientific community has decided to bow to political correctness. In 2017, the American Psychiatric Association decided to replace “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability” in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, claiming the former term was offensive and outdated.
This change in the moth’s name seems to be part of a broader trend in society to scrutinize and revise language and symbols deemed racist in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death and the ensuing protests. Confederate monuments have been toppled,
Washington’s NFL team has dropped “Redskins” as its name, and the song “Dixie” no longer features at baseball games. But one has to ask, is this the best way to address systemic issues? Or is it just a convenient way for the woke crowd to pat themselves on the back without doing any real work?
So, what’s your take on this name change? Do you see it as a step towards a more inclusive society, or just another instance of political correctness gone too far?
Source: AWM
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