That "Barack HUSSEIN" Business -- Put a Sock In It

In an op-ed essay in today's Los Angeles Times, my colleague Ron Brownstein writes about Colorado's perhaps pivotal role in the presidential election equation, and he quotes sundry Coloradans on what's going into the making of their choices.

The one who got to me was a fellow who only offered one name -- Matt -- who said something we've been hearing here and there across the country: "I can't vote for a guy whose middle name is Hussein.''

Enough, already. Did Obama choose his own name at birth? He may be a wunderkind but not THAT wunder-ous. How many other men or women who drag around arguably clunky or outdated handles -- Floyd? Herman? Winifred, like my grandmother? -- actually selected those names for themselves? Matt, what's YOUR middle name?

So give the ''Hussein'' bit a rest. How many parents have stuck their firstborn sons with a father's or grandfather's awkward-sounding name, just for the sake of family pride? If you've got a problem with Obama, be sure it's HIS problem -- like his FISA vote -- not his parents'.

Sincerely,

Patt Hepzibah Murgatroyd Morrison

Comments

[despike]

My point exactly. Hussein is the Arabic translation of the Jewish name "SHABBIR" not an Islamic translation.
Or, according to your explanation, we can now conclude that "HUSSEIN" is a Jewish name, since
Aaron the father of Shabbir is a Jew.

Or we can all just agree that a name is just a name.

DeSpike Hussein.

[xxnounxx]

What is wrong with the name hussein?? it means beautifull to look at.

why are these people so insulting,is saddam the only person who carie this lovely name??

What about the late king hussein who was loved by america,have peopke forgotten he carried that name proudly...

or is it becouse its associated with ISLAM.

honestlyb its quite childish,racist and pathetic...such ignorant people..the british are right as usual in making fun of those ignorantsacross the atlantic ocean

[libertron]

Does anyone really care about that name or only associate it with Saddam? It's a common name, Jordan's King Hussein was a good man, any there's a pretty reporter who works for the BBC or something named Michelle Hussein. I'm pretty sure she's not a terrorist.

[pcplz]

Duh! People voted for the monkey name of George! Yeah....and what did he turn into???? THE CHIMP!

Maybe Hussein will turn out to be the meaning of that name.......handsome and good.

[despike]

HUSSEIN is an ARABIC name NOT AN ISLAMIC name. There are so many Arabs all over the world who are christians and still carry their Arabic names. Does that makes them Muslims? Or being an Arab or having Arabic names disqualifies you of being a Christian.

There are lots of people with Jewish names that are not Jews or Christian. What does that makes them?

A name is just a name. It is something that is pass on to you by your parent. In this case Barack's Father who also got the same name from his own Father.

By the way, is anyone offended by his first name, BARACK? Which is a Jewish name. Does that makes him a Jew? If you don't believe it is a Jewish name, then you need to aske EHUD BARACK the formal Prime minister of Isreal.

[xxnounxx]

despike........sorry to correct you ,but your wrong

Hussein is not ana arabic name..the prophet mohammad peace be upon him, named his grandsons hasan and hussein after the names of the sons of prophet haroon( aron)peace be upon him, brother of prophet moses peace be upon him.

Those two names are the equivalent of the jewish names SHABBAR AND SHABBIR

SHABBAR IN ARABIC IS HASAN
SHABBIR IN ARABIC IS HUSSEIN.

As for BARAK it can also be an arabic name baraka,means blessings,same meaning in hebrew,lets not forget these two languages are derived frm the semetic arameic,and even now in hebrew there are a lot of arabic words,even their numbers are similar..

lets just say those names are semetic names,which never existed before the two religions judaism and islam,which funny enough are also similar.

back to hussein,the fist time a child was given this name,was when the prophet named his grandson.

[despike]

My point exactly. Hussein is the Arabic translation of the Jewish name "SHABBIR" not an Islamic translation.
Or, according to your explanation, we can now conclude that "HUSSEIN" is a Jewish name, since
Aaron the father of Shabbir is a Jew.

Or we can all just agree that a name is just a name.

DeSpike Hussein.

[mindlessmissy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhaCAVnLtIw

4:00 min mark ...

[astockton]

It gets worse. Barack and Michelle named a daughter Sasha, which is a nickname for Alexander or Alexandra in the (gasp!) RUSSIAN language. Be afraid...be VERY afraid.

[eden4barack08]

These are people using the name to justify their bigotry. I'm betting that if Obama's middle name was as "SMITH" as apple pie, they'd look for another justification.

They're a stubborn bunch, those bigots!

[caseyblab]

Someone who is basing their vote on someone's middle name is beyond stupid- hopefully he will not find his way out of his padded cell on election day.

[Mintra]

I use my daughter's name, Mintra, cuz I couldnt get logged in with my own name: used already, perhaps.
My name is Bill Adair. My name was sewn into the inside collar of my letter's sweater in high school, as Badair: which someone pointed out to me reads "bad air." Obama should consider himself lucky.

[Mintra]

Anyone notice that McCain's middle name is Sidney? - which a name for both boys and girls. At least he wasnt a A Boy Named Sue. And his daughter with his first wife was also named Sidney (same spelling). . .Is this significant or what?
I'd say its "or what," meaning of no significance, no more than Obama's middle name.

[eden4barack08]

BTW, why do they only associate the name 'Hussein' with Saddam?

King 'HUSSEIN' Sr, and now his son King 'HUSSEIN' of Jordan, have been loyal best friends with the US for decades, HUSSEIN Sr, was even married to an American who converted in order to become his wife. Their half-American, half-Jordanian children obviously carry the name HUSSEIN.
But these low information, bigots, want to believe that HUSSEIN is inherently scary.

When I stop and ponder on these things, I'm SHOCKED, shocked, that this is the 21st Century, shocked that this is happening in "The New World", the grand U.S.of A, shocked, appalled and disgusted that we're still talking like this.
When are we going to EVOLVE as a country? WHEN?

[xxnounxx]

Another error my dear

king hussein sr..deceased
king abdullah bin hussein curent king,who also nmed his son nd heir prince hussein..


second error my dear

king hussein's wife queen noor,is not american at all,she happens to be born their
she is lebanese /syrian and her real name is liza hallabi before she converted to islam.

so that makes their children pure arabs.

but i agree with the rest of what you wrote

[eden4barack08]

correction also my dear

If you read my comment, King Hussein Sr's passing is implied, one by the fact that I state his son as the NOW king, obviously he couldn't be that if the father was still alive. Two by the past tense I use in that he "was" married, obviously meaning 'when he was alive'. Also, maybe I was expecting too much from low information readers, but I took it as a given that it should be known that the king Sr had passed away.

More important though, is that Queen Noor IS an American citizen, she was born in Washington DC in 1951. Wether she was of Syrian descent, she's American by birth.

Nevertheless, I know you understood the important point I was making about the name HUSSEIN.

[bgregs]

Not to mention the fact that the name Hussein owes its popularity in the Arab world to the fact that the grandson of the prophet was Husayn ibn Ali, who was also:

"revered as a martyr who fought tyranny, as the third Imam by most Shi"a Muslims[1], and as the second Imam by the majority of Ismaili Shi'a Muslims."

according to wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husayn_ibn_Ali

[CyrusBeaucephus]

Most Red Staters don't even believe in evolution. They are doing a damn good job of turning the clock back a few centuries

[McMullen]

It's as silly as not voting for a guy because his middle name is Walker. Mind you, I didn't vote for a guy with that name, but not because of his name.

Ditto Herbert Walker, The Man With Two Middle Names. Ditto Wilson, though I like the name. And Joseph - it's my father's middle name as well as Bob Dole's. I was too young to vote for Milhous or Rudolph, but wouldn't have voted for them anyway.

[eden4barack08]

Those are the ones using the name to justify their bigotry. I'm betting if Obama's middle name was "Smith" they'd find another justification.

They're a stubborn bunch, those bigots.

[harriscrl3]

The more I hear this kind of stuff the more I support Obama the more I know that he is the one that will funadamentally change this country. SO keep whining america about his name you just reinforce my support especially my financial support. With comments like this our country DESPERATELY needs his education plan.

Carol

[harriscrl3]

I couldnt vote for a guy who is an idiot but apparently many others do and I bet one of them is that person that said that about Barack. Here's to hoping America gets what it deserves.

Carol

[pcplz]

NO, please Carol! Not what America deserves! Here's hoping America gets what it needs so badly.

[bgregs]

No please!! I'd rather that we NOT get what we deserve!!