Names.....

[Are_grits_groceries]

If I ask people to address me using a certain name and they purposely choose not to do so, that would be the height of rudeness.

I think it is MY choice what I wish to be used as my name. If I asked people to call me "Chitlin", then that is how I should be addressed. You can also speculate about why to your heart's content, but it is none of your business unless I choose to tell you. If I then choose to run for "Queen of the May," it is still not any of your business why nor should that give you license to address me by my other names.

My parents gave me certain names. They chose them for their own reasons. That's how it goes in most cases, and the names are generally used. However if for whatever reason, I want to be a "Chitlin," then by God a "Chitlin" I should be. As I said, it would be rude not to abide by my wishes. If there is some other underlying reason to not address me as I have asked, I should be careful before attaching a label to your behavior.

I may not own a "pot to piss in," but I should own my name. I taught some very poor kids at one time. That pot was about all they had. They would get incensed if you messed with their names or their dignity. Some people thought they were overreacting. After I thought about it, I decided they were spot on. A name and some dignity was all some of them might have appeared to have. They deserved that at least.

[Towlie]

1. Exactly! So let's keep saying "Piyush" and maybe the Republicans will get the message.

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. Well, I guess you are 2 inches tall,

because that post sailed right over with a lot of room to spare.

[T Wolf]

5. You say Booby and I say Piyush. You say Democrat and I say Democratic. All weapons in this war

should be used. That is, if you want to win.

[vanderBeth]

8. Obama won without sinking to such a level.

[T Wolf]

11. If we can destroy Jindal by driving a wedge between him and the GOP bigots - all the better.

While there are some repukes who will like to think that they are not racist because they will vote for someone darker than themselves, a large number of GOPers will simply not support anyone with an "unAmerikan" name. Those are the ones we want to drive away from supporting the latest rethug liar.

[Towlie]

12. Nothing sailed over my head. You just can't handle an opposing view without a personal attack.

[panader0]

2. Are_grits_groceries or chitlin? Make up your mind.

Kidding of course. Your point is well taken. Back when I was with the Chippendales, my name was Doug Deeper. Just kidding again.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. LOL!

I'll stick with Grits. Chitlins make me nauseous. I've tried them.

[MineralMan]

6. I think the Republicans are just pandering to the

"base" of the populace, or maybe the baser elements of the populace. You have to talk real slow to those folks and use simple words. They still think they can pop anyone up there and compete.

I mean, we had George W. Bush in there for eight years, and you cain't get no simpler than that.

They believe that even members of their own party are simple dunces. That's why they are failing. It worked for a while, but no more. Having a dolt as President just didn't work out all that well, even with Cheney having his back.

But they haven't learned. Sarah Palin got all the mental defecatives of the party all fired up, and she's a simple talker, also. So, if a dark-skinned guy can get elected, they think putting up a dark-skinned guy who talks like a Politics for Dummies book oughta take care of bidness.

The more fools them.

[tnlefty]

7. I am more than a little confused about all of this name dustup.

My kids have classmates and friends who immigrated to TN of all places, from India, Korea and Pakistan. They all use their given names as do physicians and the lady who owns a jewelry store in one of the malls that I go to.

Was there something about the time and the region where Jindal was as a child that made him uncomfortable about using his given name? I don't live a bastion of acceptance to say the least, so I'm really curious.

[Waiting For Everyman]

9. Calling Jindal "Bobby" or "Woody the Woodpecker"

doesn't disguise the obvious fact that he's Indian. So where is the point of all this outrage? Plus the fact that a large part of his speech last night was based on emphasizing the fact of his immigrant ancestry. It seemed to me that he was obviously trying (and failing) to identify himself with President Obama's story.

I think he (stupidly) made his heritage the point all by himself. Are we to pretend, then, we didn't notice it? Those here who are insisting that that we SHOULD pretend not to, after such a big circle was drawn around it by Jindal himself, remind me of the old (crude) saying about someone who... wouldn't say 'shit' if he had a mouthful of it.

The outrage is reverse racism in my book. It's racism-phobia run amuck bigtime.

[Iggo]

10. It's rude, yes.

That's the point.