A 'Name' by any other name....

[Savage Kitten]

Does a man make his name or does the name make the man?

I am always intrigued by others view on this topic. Whispersecret reminded me of it with her thread "Embarassed to be American" Does the name 'American' slander us all or do we disgrace the name itself?

Growing up I hated my birth name. It was always hard for others to say and spell and they never failed to enquire as to how I got the name. (DUH! My parents bought it off a street vender!) As an adult I have become rather fond of my name and realize that my name symbolizes who and what I am. I have lived in a rather small town for the past 15yrs. Most people here know my name even if they don't know me on a personal level.

I am proud to be an 'American' but, I am also embarassed of those who can not (or choose not to) live up to what that name symbolizes.

So back to my orginal question: Does a man make his name or does the name make the man?

[Edited by Savage Kitten on 07-14-2000 at 06:34 PM]

 

[Magic Merlin]

I was named after my father and so I was always proud of my name, although admittedly for a time in my teenage years I didn't like it. I think perhaps a lot of people at different times in their lives don't particurly care for their name. To me it always seemed like the cool kids had the cool names and I think that is why I went through a period of time as a teenager wishing my parents had given me a much cooler name.

However, as I grew older and saw the respect my father had from people who knew him my image of what my name actually meant to me changed. It was at that time that I began to realize that it wasn't what my name made of me but what I made of my name. Whereas, I didn't always care for my given name, my friends have always liked it and said it suited me. SK, I like what you say about your name symbolizing who and what you are. I have to believe its what we make of our name that really matters, not what we think our name makes of us.

As for the American tag, I completely with you on that. I too am pround to be an American, but I cringe everytime I see Americans abuse what that really means.

 

[Bob Waters]

Interinsting point

I have always liked my name, I'm named after my father and he's always been my hero - corny I know but true.

There have been times I have been embarrased by my fellow Americans but have never been embarrased to be an American - big difference. I don't think there is a higher percentage of obnoxious yanks then there are of any other nationality, I just think we're so loud you can't help but notice us more. American culture is pretty virulant and I don't blame anyone for getting annoyed at that, but it is just as wrong to say 'I hate all Americans' as it would be for an American to say 'I hate all....' Generalization of any form is a trap.