What's in a name?

Submitted by Kit Lawson (Australia), Feb 29, 2008 at 05:51

I find it interesting that you would consider voting (or not) for a president based on the origins of his/her name. Nevertheless, Barack is of Hebrew origin; Hussein is, as you say, Muslim; Obama is probably Luo - part Christian, part African tribal. Sounds very well-rounded to me.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, on the other hand, presents herself to the electorate with TWO OUT OF THREE Old English and quite likely pre-Christian names. Hillary, of course, is Greek, though there were a couple of saints called Hilary (one 'l'). But do you need a possibly two thirds Pagan president AT THIS TIME?

I was interested, too, in your final comment: "Islam is the most violent and anachronistic faith (practically) in existence." Second only to Christianity, perhaps - cf. The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, Northern Ireland etc.?

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