[imagesource:befunky]

Nazis. What are they good for? Absolutely nothing.

The world can agree that nothing good ever came from being associated with Nazis, yet after all the sh*t the ideologically warped group caused, we still have to deal with the lingering after stench of Neo-Nazism today. And this time nature is paying the price.

The unfortunately named Hitler Beetle (Anophthalmus hitleri) – a rare, sightless species discovered back in ‘33 – is being driven to extinction by Neo-Nazi collectors.

This unassuming cave dweller, named after the most infamous dictator of the last century, has reportedly been hoarded by neo-Nazis to the point of near extinction. The wild craze to collect the insect has sparked a push to change its name to avoid what seems like the inevitable.

Unfortunately, it’s not just the Hitler Beetle that is suffering because of it’s name. From plants to animals, countless species bear names reflecting racist, sexual and colonial biases. And it’s stirring up quite the debate.

In January, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), which arbitrates on the correct use of scientific names of animals, announced in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (ZJLS) that it will not consider changing animal names many researchers consider offensive. “If these names are not stable, you can create a massive confusion.”

On one side, you have taxonomists arguing to keep the status quo as changes based on personal sentiment could disrupt scientific communication. On the other hand, why are animals, places and plants still being called by names that the entire planet can agree on being bad?

Arguments on both sides have a point, but if being connected to Hitler is causing a species to die off, why not change it? Some names are indisputably bad, so the ‘personal sentiment’ argument is a bit lame. It’s a global sentiment.

There’s a reason you don’t find a Bill Cosby Cocktail or an Epstein Wellness Resort. It’s bad taste and they were bad men. Hitler was the worst of them, so maybe just call the beetle Pete instead of forever tying the poor animal to that turd.

[source:news]