As the author of this petition, I have recently been attacked on a state listserv, being called a “trumper” and a “racist” with “vile ideology”. I have also been attacked on Facebook with the same racism allegations.

Most of you do not know me, but you can be assured that these allegations could not be further from the truth. My values that include equality, inclusivity, and tolerance, are the cornerstones of how I was taught to live my life, and how I live my life to this day. 

Let’s be clear. I wrote the petition because I disagreed with the AOS decision to change ALL eponymous names. I totally agree with changing eponyms that are harmful, exclusionary, or divisive, and the petition makes that clear. The petition also says I am totally opposed to the process the AOS has chosen to change all of them.

The very first sentence in the petition says: "We the undersigned strongly support diversity and inclusion in the birding community.” And this is true to my very core.

But because I support a moderate approach to changing eponymous names, and agree with changing names such as McCown’s and Oldsquaw, and also agree that there are others that should be reviewed and changed, but do not agree that “all eponyms have to go,” somehow, this makes me a racist?

You may disagree with my position, but I am not sure how anything I have written or said can be construed as racist or right winged or “vile ideology.” 

Where is the moderate approach in this matter? What is the divide that is so great that we cannot come together and agree on a compromise? How has this issue become all or nothing? How has this become a discussion about personal values?

Friends are unfriending friends on FB, colleagues are no longer talking with each other, people are branding others with harmful and derogatory labels. Supporters of this petition have had their employment threatened after going public with their opinions.

AOS leadership was warned ahead of time that this decision would result in this deep divide. AOS leadership was asked to listen to more voices on this matter. AOS leadership was told that there were better ways to embrace inclusivity in birding. 

But AOS leadership did not listen to a diversity of voices. They did not poll their membership. They did not ask birders how they felt about this decision. They listened to an ad hoc committee made up of 11 people and ignored their own committee’s recommendations (the NACC) to continue their own established process of evaluating eponymous names on a case-by-case basis.

AOS leadership needs to be made eminently aware of how this decision has affected the birding community and ornithology in general. What once was a peaceful activity we could engage in together is now a hot bed of slurs and slander and cancel culture wars.

AOS leadership, you have the power to step in and calm things down. Where are you?