Venuzualian goverment tries to limit names

[Sobes]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/world/am...as/05venez.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/world/americas/05venez.html)

The artical is really interesting, it talks about Venuzualian naming customs, as well as the bill trying to limit name choices to a list of 100 names.

[ckevans]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cuileann @ Sep 6 2007, 07:50 AM) 6729450</div> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/world/am...as/05venez.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/world/americas/05venez.html)

The artical is really interesting, it talks about Venuzualian naming customs, as well as the bill trying to limit name choices to a list of 100 names. [/b]



It is really hard for me to see this actually becoming law in Venezuela -- especially one that actually limits it to a list of 100 names! Anyone wanting such a small list hasn't thought this through --- the huge number of people with exactly the same name when such a small list is combined with common Spanish surnames such as Garcia, Gonzalez, etc. will actually become much more of a headache for election officials than odd names are, I would think. Plus as the article points out many of the supporters of the present President of Venezuela have unusual names. If Venezuelan culture is like that in most places, invented names are probably more common among the working class, and Chavez's political support is more concentrated in the working class, IIRC. So it's really doubtful if a law which would fall so heavily on his main supporters will be enacted, IMHO.

[KNY]

One step closer to communism. Because after all, unique/created names are designed to show individuality. My guess is this is Chavez's thinking.

I think this idea is ridiculous, especially because as mentioned, how could they limit it to 100 names? Surely there are are more than 100 "legitimate" Hispanic names in existence.

[ckevans]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KNY @ Sep 7 2007, 02:55 PM) 6733628</div> One step closer to communism. Because after all, unique/created names are designed to show individuality. My guess is this is Chavez's thinking.
[/b]



I don't know what Chavez's thinking is, or whether he himself is really behind this or not, but it certainly isn't a bit of legislation associated with "communism" in other countries. I don't know what it's like in Russia today, but back during the Soviet Union period Russians, unlike many Western Europeans, had complete freedom to name their children whatever they wanted. There's a famous example of a Russian ballerina named "Rio Rita" after an old American record her father got hold of. Naming kids was ironically one of the few places where Russians had more rights than most other Europeans.

[KNY]

Interesting - I didn't know that!