Just call me Stefania Hussein Pomponi Butler

We here at MOMocrats have decided to make today an impromptu "Just Call Me Hussein" Day in response to people like Bill Cunningham... who is obviously still seven-years-old.

Bill needs to learn how to use his words, so in order to remind him that making fun of people's names is not polite, we are using our powers as mothers to teach this naughty little boy a lesson. Today, for "Just Call Me Hussein" Day, we are sharing stories about how childhood bullies—because they are bullies—tried to make us feel bad about ourselves by mocking our names. Or just stories about our names in general. (To join us see the end of this post.)

Bill (we have another name for you) Cunningham (and others like you who try to imply that Barack Obama is a "terrorist" because of his very fine name): consider yourselves in a time out. No, more than that: You're Grounded! Now go to your room!

:: :: ::

My story:

It's hard to be a kindergartner in Honolulu, Hawaii named "Stefania." It was fine having a long, Italian name when I was a preschooler in Rome, but in Honolulu, I was surrounded by Michelles, Allisons, Beths, and Leslies. I hated my name.

 

I hated when people misprounouced it:

Stef-a-NYE-ah
Stef-eena
Stef-ANA
Stef-a-NEE-ah

I was much too shy to say: "Actually, it's 'Stef-ANYA.'" And so, I let people pronounce it wrong. I spent most of my junior high and high school years going by "Stefanie" because I was too shy to correct people. I wanted friends, not to have to explain my "unusual" name. I cringed every time we had a sub. I learned to just interrupt and say my name instead of waiting for the butchering. And I never said anything when people said, "Stef-ania. I'm going to 'step-on-ya.' Get it?"

Oh, I got it. I got it alright.

What I got at a very early age was to respect people's names. To make an effort to pronounce them correctly. To spell their names correctly. To compliment unusual names or spellings. To ask about a name's origin.

And I also got that people who made fun of names or didn't take the time to learn how to say them correctly (despite being corrected over and over) were probably not going to be deeply interested in me or what I was about. So that helped to weed out "friends" fast.

I always said that when I had kids I would name them something common and easy. Jane. Caroline. Mary.  But that was not the case, and my kids have two of the most uncommon and unusual (and beautiful) names out of everyone we know. They will probably struggle like I did, having to teach people how to pronounce their names correctly or explain where their came from. But when they meet people who say, "Oh. I know your name!" how much more bonded to that person they will be, in a way. And each of those experiences will hopefully help them to love their names more.

It was that way for me. Every time I met someone who said, "That's an Italian name!" Or a Polish name or a Russian name or a Spanish name...I loved my unusual name more. Loved that so many cultures laid claim to it. I thank all those people who took the time to say those things and compliment me.

Those of us with "weird names" are blazing paths for those that come after us. By loving my name—and I do love it now—I am teaching my children to love theirs. It is so that when a girl named "Stefania" (or a boy named "Mitt" or "Barack Hussein Obama") aspires to run for president someday, she or he will be proud every time she or he says her/his name. Every time he sees it on a sign. Every time someone chants it in a crowd.

I stand with Barack Obama on this one: Just call me Stefania HUSSEIN Pomponi Butler.

If you'd like to participate in MOMocrats' "Just Call Me Hussein Day," simply title your blog posts like I did above and either link back to this post in yours, or leave a comment  with your link below. We will find you and link you!

Comments

[husseinlien123]

I, normally HL123, hearby pledge as a participant of Just Call Me Hussein Day that I shall sign all comments and correspondence with husseinlien123 today in support of the fight against stupidity and fucknuts like Bill Cunningham.

[christina]

Christina Hussein XXX checking in. Yeah, BC's comment was pretty dumb...dumb, dumb, dumb.

[Glennia Hussein Campbell]

I've posted on this over at my blog:

http://glenniacampbell.typepad.com/silenti/2008/02/you-can-call-me.html

[Victoria]

OMG this is brilliant and hilarious. Also, some much needed levity after dealing with "racist fuckwit commenter du jour" on my own website (see, if you wish, http://xrl.us/bgwqb ).

You RULE! :)

[bombaygirl]

I posted a quick linky post on my blog. Have to run to speech therapy for my son, so will post a name-butchering story of my own soon!
http://littletortoise.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/just-call-me-bombay-hussein-girl/

[Julie Pippert]

Oh what an awesome point about people who were not willing to learn your actual name and how to pronounce it correctly.

Blaze that path.

And yeah, BC's taunts and teases abotu Obama's name is so 7, with no offense to actual 7 year olds intended. ;)

[Florinda]

Great posts, great response, and having lived with name-mangling for nearly 44 years, I can definitely relate. I'll have a post up on my blog later linking back to you.

[mamikaze]

Great idea. I did one, too.

[twiz]

Brilliant idea, Stefania! Just call me Twizzle Hussein Mussolini Adolph Fidel Mao Bin Laden!

xox

[twiz]

I have blogged about this and have linked to your post. Thanks!

[Rhea]

Stefania, thank you. I am a very liberal Mulsim American, I am proud of my heritage and the names of our prophets (like Hussein, coincidently my father's middle name as well). I was DISGUSTED when Bill Cunningham emphasized Barack's middle name in order to emphasize the negativity associated with being a Muslim today. I love America and I am so proud of the candidates running for office. Even McCain who instantly realized the error on Bill's part. Thank you for this post and realizing how ridiculous he sounded.

[jaelithe]

Jaelithe IS my real name.

'Nuff said.

(Though I might say more if I have time-- if I do post I'll send you a link, but I probably won't get to it tonight since I'm going to the local Democratic caucus meeting to pick pledged delegates.)

[Justice Fergie]

Love this! Sorry I heard about it so late in the day otherwise I would have put up a post. The whole issue is so childish!

[Karoli]

I love this idea -- dugg and blogged here:
http://politics.drumsnwhistles.com/2008/02/just-call-me-karoli-hussein/

[Gudrun]

I have the same problem as you - my favorite response when I say my name is, "Is that your first name". Someone actually asked me why my parents would name me Gudrun! In any case, one of the things I won't let my kids get away with is misspelling other people's names, even if that means writing the card or letter over again completely...

Unusual names are good names!

[Michele]

I missed this yesterday! But please call me Michele Hussein anytime. I heard that jerk Cunningham on NPR and almost wrecked the car.

[Jill Asher]

I am sorry I missed this... but count me in.
You can call me Jill Hussein Asher!

[KathyF]

Ahem. Just ask me what the F in my name stands for. I'll take Hussein any day.

Just call me KathyH.

[beth]

Yeeeaaahhh.... a double first name (Erica Beth), a middle name, and a last name. I answer to Beth. I didn't know how to fill out forms until I was in the 7th grade! There are only three lines people!! And don't get me started on the quizzical looks my debit cards get b/c my WHOLE name is on there! It is not that complicated!!!! But I will throw in the Hussein just to keep things intresting!

[PiledHighandDeep]

Just for today, I'm Piled Hussein and Deep. Ph.D. for short.

And Bill Cunningham can kiss my ass.

[Kristin]

I'm Kristin Hussein Teigen, forever at Barack Obama's service. I've been waiting for the other side to do this, just waiting. I really don't think this is the last of it, so let's be prepared to keep on fighting this sort of crap. Here we go!

[Grandma Judy Hussein Butler]

I'm with all of you!!! Grandma JH

[The Lovely Mrs. Hussein Davis]

I posted and linked to you! Love this idea.

[Jules]

Late, but in all the way (for the inevitable "Just Call Me Hussein" Days to come). Just call me Juliet Lisa Takako Hussein Deggendorfer. Like that one, Bill?

[Jules]

Late, but in all the way (for the inevitable "Just Call Me Hussein" Days to come). Just call me Juliet Lisa Takako Hussein Deggendorfer. Like that one, Bill?

[Liz]

I humbly accept the invitation to join "Just Call Me Hussein" meme:

http://www.thisfullhouse.com/this_full_house/2008/03/just-call-me-er.html

Thanks!