Thursday, January 03, 2013

How Much Control Are You Willing To Cede To Government?

This much?
A 15-year-old is suing the Icelandic state for the right to legally use the name given to her by her mother. The problem? Blaer, which means "light breeze" in Icelandic, is not on a list approved by the government.

Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. In a country comfortable with a firm state role, most people don't question the Personal Names Register, a list of 1,712 male names and 1,853 female names that fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules and that officials maintain will protect children from embarrassment. Parents can take from the list or apply to a special committee that has the power to say yea or nay.

In Blaer's case, her mother said she learned the name wasn't on the register only after the priest who baptized the child later informed her he had mistakenly allowed it.
We conservatives don't think government should have this kind of control (although I'd consider cases of abuse, e.g. Shih Tedd Smith); what do you libs think?  On what legal theory do you justify allowing government to dictate that you purchase health care but not allowing it to "assist" you in choosing your child's name?  You like socialism?  Doesn't get much more "social" than your name....

2 comments:

maxutils said...

Then again, it could prevent travesties like football players Noshawn Moreno and Marvcuss Patterson . . .

maxutils said...

Sorry . . . I misspelled that. It's Knowshon. Much better name.