Shall we all change our names to (first name) Hussein (last name)? I have.

is this a serious question

I did this over on Askville about 3 months ago to screw with all the trolls. Then I found out Amazon liked it better if the trolls were in control so I left and came here

dalehusseinpetrie

The story about the Danes is lovely but untrue. http://www.snopes.com/history/govern/denmark.asp

And what purpose would this serve? Really?
And at what point was any situation bad enough to make the Nazi party’s actions comparable?

is there really even a question here?

What the fuck are you are talking about?

I have several friends who are doing that too, susanc!

asmonet, susanc is talking about solidarity, not trying to say that the bush administration has anything do do w/ the nazi party.

I’d rather have a middle name of “hell yeah” or “mf’in” or even “wow that’s big”.

I believe the intention is to show those who would attack a person for no reason other than that person’s name sounds foreign or dangerous that the name doesn’t make the person.

—Pete Hussein Pothead

Yeah that’s almost as bad as what Hitler did the the Jews.

—Markk I’m Not A Dumb Ass Simone

@all: I get the point, I take issue with the comparison. Not to mention I see it as a rather fruitless act.

If you wanna do it go for it, but seems just, pointless to me.

i have family that survived the holocaust, and i don’t take issue with it. she’s not trying to compare anyone to nazis.

it’s not an even act—it’s just making a statement. just like yard signs. they don’t accomplish anything, they’re just a statement.

Several of my facespace friends (and I) have done this.

-bhusseinmitch

It really it the dumbest thing I ever heard of.

The use of words is itself is an act – a symbolic act. Yes; like a yard sign, or any other piece of communication.
And yes, I am comparing something to Nazis (even if that thing in Denmark didn’t happen – which I regret. Thanks, Gail.)
I’m comparing Nazis to people who think “Arabs” are the enemy, that “Muslims” are the enemy, that “people who are not quite like Me” are the enemy.
Did you see/hear what Colin Powell said the other day? A) Obama is not a Muslim, he’s a Christian. B) If he were a Muslim, it would be fine; this is America; we have freedom of religion.
No one who doesn’t see the point is obliged to see the point. We can’t all understand everything. I don’t understand plenty of things.
Yes, it was a question.

susanc, i humbly disagree about words vs. actions. if words are actions, then what do you make of the phrase from women’s sufferage “Actions speak louder than words”?
basically the whole issue is a semantical quagmire. i can see both sides.

Mustafa Astro Al-Hussein Chuck.
Damn! I like it!

August Hussein Lan is on board.

@la_chica, I do bow to your great brain – I know you think about words very seriously.
And of course actions speak louder than words.

But I also think there are ways to make words behave like actions. (Yard signs seem to me a good example.) Can’t actions carry thoughts embodied in words? Name change is an action like very like a yard sign – essentially, a work of imagination that compels thought (if thought is possible, given the audience).

The alternative to verbal persuasion is what? pushing and shoving?

I may not be getting the image you want me to get. Tell me more, o linguistic one.

WAIT! So we would basically be doing almost what they did during the holocust?

Comedian; the story about the Danes is an urban myth. ^^

so…wait what?

so then this idea is even dumber

ok

Shrub-Hussein-ery is in.

I understand and appreciate your concept, susanc. Would you actually change your name for real if given the chance?

I dare you to book your next flight under the name “Al Kaidah” and then be late for your flight so they have to call it over the PA.

ok, I must be stupid or just haven’t learned it, but what is this all about?

@Comedian: Obama’s middle name is HUSSEIN. Much has been made of it during the Presidential campaign, ie. “He’s Muslim”, “He’s a terrorist”. Damn stupid ignorance. People often use his whole name as a way to promote fear. We’re just showing solidarity.

ooohhh ok. thank you

Susanc,

I’m hesistant about delving further into this words vs. actions thing, since I consider it a semantical quagmire. You might ask why did I bring it up in the first place, then? Yes, I’m also wondering that. :-)

Since I did bring it up, and you did ask, I’ll try to suss out what I would consider the heart of the “words” vs “actions” issue. Keep in mind, this is purely semantical.

Susanc, you said But I also think there are ways to make words behave like actions.

Yes, words can behave like actions, and yes, opening one’s mouth and manipulating one’s vocal cords could be considered a phyical act.

“Can’t actions carry thoughts embodied in words?”

I’m not really sure what you mean by that, but I would say that words are not actions, but they can symbolize action.

The alternative to verbal persuasion is what? pushing and shoving? I may not be getting the image you want me to get. Tell me more, o linguistic one.

Changing your name is demonstrating your support for the candidate. You support your “side” the same way that a soccer player supports his team. But saying that you are changing your name does not perform an action in quite the same way that a soccer player “acts” when he kicks a the ball into a goal.

My original point in distinguishing words versus actions was to respond to the idea that changing one’s name is pointless. What I was trying to say was that your reasons for wanting to changing your name may be the same goal as that of the soccer player, supporting your team, but that they are just in different categories.

That’s the best explanation I can come up with off the fly, and I’m sure many may disagree with things I’ve said. That’s fine. These are my opinions and other people are welcome to their own opinions.