What's In a Name???
By LadyMarissa
@LadyMarissa (12148)
United States
February 11, 2011 1:26pm CST
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110208/LOCAL/302089963
What's in a name I ask??? In most cases it is how we're known. However, Fort Wayne IN is having a problem honoring one of its leading politicians because of his name. They are in the process of naming a new government center & they set up a site where people can enter their suggestion & then the community votes. Harry Baals was their longest serving mayor in the history of the city. He pronounced his last name as Balls. Now his descendants pronounce it Bales. Somebody suggested Harry be honored for his service to the city & the majority of voters agreed. Now the city is refusing to accept the idea as they say it will make Fort Wayne a laughing stock.
My first question is...WHY do parents give children such names??? A friend of my Dad was named Richard Head by his parents & of course ALL of his buddies called him Ddick & felt the need to ALWAYS call him by BOTH names. Do parents hate their newborn that much??? Or do they think they are being funny???
My second question...since Harry dedicated his life to Fort Wayne, should they respect & honor him or snub him because his parents gave him an unconventional name???
My third question...what are YOUR thoughts on this???
3 people like this
5 responses
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
11 Feb 11
I don't see the problem. I'm sure his given name is something like Harrison so just use that instead of Harry. He shouldn't be deprived of an honor he deserves just because immature juveniles will snicker about it.
I also heard that Harry had an ancestor that was a lion tamer. His name was Claude Baals!
2 people like this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
11 Feb 11
I just had to research that thought...He was named Harry William Baals back in 1886 when people weren't so crude. According to Wikipedia...Harry Baals Drive was named in honor of the late mayor, extending east from Parnell Avenue, north and west of the St. Joseph River in Johnny Appleseed Park. In recent years, the double entendre arising from Baals's name has led Indiana officials to shy away from naming streets and buildings after him; the aforementioned street has since been renamed "H. Baals Drive Then WHY couldn't it just be called the "H.W. Baals Government Center" or simply the "Baals Government Center"??? They are making the problem worse by denying him his place in history!!!
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
11 Feb 11
Well, they're already a laughing stock. Craig Ferguson mentioned this last night in his monologue. I think that the parents just don't think at all when they give these names. At the time when this man was named, society wasn't such that his name would be ridiculed. The city should go ahead and honor him as planned. The cat is already out of the bag.
2 people like this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
11 Feb 11
I think they look sillier that the entire city is too immature to honor the man for his "good deeds" & NOT being able to get past his name!!!! 
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
12 Feb 11
His name wasn't Harold & I agree they should still honor him even if they only use his initials H.W.!!! I find their refusal to use his name because it might be giggled at to be ridiculous!!! I feel they are asking for ridicule as NONE of us would NOT have even known about the Center had they just named it & got on with their lives!!! If they had just suddenly decided to name it the Harry Baals Government Center for no reason whatsoever, I might understand it; but he was their longest serving Mayor for Heavens sake!!! He served his city well & now they want to turn their back on him out of fear. I bet they are glad he NEVER turned his back on them!!!!
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
11 Feb 11
I'd say we should be more mature a society than this.. but.. lol.. hehehehehehe... no one is THAT grown up! :~D
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
11 Feb 11
The only Red~Headed, Blue~Eyed, Freckle~Faced, Left~Handed, Colorblind, Guitar Teachin', Bass Guitar Slappin', Harpoon Blowin', LDS, Army Retired, Desert Storm Vet on the Net!
Oops...I see it's too late!!! 
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51838)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
11 Feb 11
When I worked at the Real Estate News, there was an agent whose first name was Rosey... Last name?
Hyman.
Always got a chuckle out of us warped typesetters.
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
11 Feb 11
My last boss's ex girlfriend's first name was Nita. Then she married Mr R@pe. When you say them together it made me wonder why she wanted to marry him??? It HAD to be love!!!!
