Dr. X's Free Associations

Do as I say...

Trump might say that he isn't a leader yet, so he can say what he wants about another man's religion or faith, but the idea that a religious leader shouldn't have the right to comment on another person's faith is ludicrous. The pope should have the right and does have the right to give his opinion on another person's faith, and everyone else has a right to accept, reject or ignore that opinion.

In other news...

In other news, irony was found dead today, in an apparent suicide.https://t.co/tuM93AHi9xpic.twitter.com/3hzu0DT01C

— Yair Rosenberg (@Yair_Rosenberg) February 18, 2016

Anthony, Antonin?

Michele Bachmann is catching flack for referring to Antonin Scalia as Anthony Scalia. I don't like Michelle Bachmann, but her mistake is understandable.

I come from a family with Anthonys, Antonios, Antonins, Antoninos and Ninos.

In my genealogical research, I found many records in the US, and some going back to Italy, that conflict in the variant uses of this name. A couple of years ago, I asked my mother if her brother Tony's name on his birth and baptismal certificates is Antonin, Antonio or Antonino. She didn't know. He went by Anthony, but I'm sure that wasn't the name on his birth certificate. And his birth certificate may have conflicted with his baptismal certificate, as it did for my father, who uses yet a third name in every day conversation. 

Assimilation is messy.

My mother's birth name is an Italian name, but she always used the English version of her name, and that's what appears on all legal documents after her birth. I was given the English version of my grandfather's name. He used both the English and Italian versions of his name during his lifetime, as all my grandparents did. Relatives frequently addressed me using the Italian version of my name, especially when I was very young. Not surprising because most of them were code switchers.

Recently, I asked an Italian-American friend if her late father's real name was Anthony, Antonin, Antonio or Antonino. I always knew him as Nino. It was her own father and she didn't know the answer to my question.

So if a Scandinavian-American woman who grew up in Iowa gets a bit confused, it's no big deal.

Below is part of  my grandfather's naturalization record. My uncle was listed as Antonino that day. On another day, they might have called him something else. On the same form, my grandmother is listed as "Rosina." Never heard anyone call her Rosina in my life. She was Rose or Rosa. The latter is the name used in this birth certificate issued by her Italian hometown in 1961. Rose, Rosina, Rosa, Rosalia, Rosaria, Rosa Maria, Rosemary ... got 'em all in the family and they're all part of one naming cluster passed down through the family for hundreds of years.

 

Which College Frats Waterboard Students?

Defending his father's statement that he'd waterboard terror suspects and do even worse, Donald Trump Jr says:

“And then somebody complains when a terrorist gets waterboarded, which quite frankly is no different than what happens on college campuses in frat houses everyday,” ... “You know the man will keep this country safe.”

How long does it take you to get ready for the day?

YouGov

So most people don't need 60 to 90 minutes of coffee and putzing around on the computer while waiting for the optimal caffeine effect?

Bern Your Enthusiasm

Thursday

Stella Barra in Chicago is always packed. Last night there was a 40-minute wait for a table, so we ate at their pizza bar. After dinner, we saw Son of Saul. The night before, 45 Years. I'll share some thoughts about both in another post.