Sir
Your decision to insert sic after “scientific men” in reprints of your historical mission statement ('Men [sic]' Nature 448, 728; 2007) shows that you are more concerned about the historical integrity of your mission statement than for decency and justice. Why make a mere “tiny step” in the “right direction”? A simple addition of “…and women” would have brought you to the goal.
Isn't it enough that even such a “tiny step” took Nature nearly 140 years? Pious traditionalism is being used to excuse prejudices in many quarters, but it is shocking to encounter it in a supposed bastion of enlightenment and intellectual progress. Do not consider yourself excused.
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The Editorial related only to reprinting of our historical 1869 mission statement, not to our current statement ( http://www.nature.com/nature/about/index.html ), which uses the term 'scientists'. Comments are welcome at Nautilus, http://blogs.nature.com/nautilus/2007/08/ women_and_men_of_science.html — Editor, Nature.
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Samac, S. Sic is not enough; historical wording should be changed. Nature 449, 535 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/449535e
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/449535e
