That's a clivver name-try, Partick, but it reminds me of Nancy or Nanny or
Nunn [nun], which I've ever been partial to. This naming biz challenges
(like Elliot's thought-producing poem, "The Naming of Cats"; namesake of
that wildly successful musical play...). You do see how cleverly I've worked
in poetry to this message.
Every time I get a nother Chinese language tutor, (s)he's compelled to give
me a Chinese name and seeks patiently and seriously to find a "fit". Once,
when I said I wanted to call m'sel' what would be pronounced "Ahn Dow"
("Peace Way"), the tutor laughed and said that only men could have a 2-name
(as opposed to 3-name) name. Sometimes Chinese names become hilarious [to
us English-speakers when we hear the translations] as non-fits; for example,
a quiet, gentle young family friend's parents had named him "Cosmic
Explosion". May have been apt in his babyhood.....but not thereafter.
Have you noticed how folks have several nicknames to fit casual or personal
contexts---different names even with the same person, but in a different
group-setting? Fascinating. Even the naming of grandparents becomes rather
complex: What does granny _want_ to be called? How do we distinguish one
gran from a nother? Might (s)he find the name offensive or silly?
Any other names for me you can think of?
Finally, a question about atheists (I really DO NOT like that word,
resembles "alienists" or "anal-ists" or "ace-ee-ists"): If they (you) don't
believe in the current 3400 odd worshipped gods, do you believe in one a
nother, or yourself? And what does it mean to a non-godbeliever to "not
believe"? Does it mean you feel there's prolly a god or two or more, but
you just don't believe what the gods think or represent or talk about? And
do you send Christmas cards? <g>
Your Ever-Devoted Fan
2008/8/28 Patrick McManus <[log in to unmask]>
> Dear Not-yet-newly-named aka NYNN an unusual name or is it just Not-yet?
> Does not sound too promising
> Lets see atheist is one of those poor people who do not believe in any of
> the current 3400 odd worshipped gods -not even one of them not even a bit -
> And I suppose humanist is the same but and it's all up to us to sort bit
> more positive ??I am not sure I supposed you could be an atheist and not a
> humanist -
> But it's far too early in the morning for me -and VB just tried to attack
> me
> -his food bowl was empty
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Judy Prince
> Sent: 27 August 2008 18:25
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: pat snap¬*¬*¬ Wednesday, August 27, 2008
>
> Always love you on this topic, Partick. It also explains why I didnae get
> a
> Christmas card from you. Unless you're just plain cheap. Is an atheist in
> England also known as a "humanist"? And, if so, why?
> Not-yet-newly-named friend of Partick
>
> 2008/8/27 Patrick McManus <[log in to unmask]>
>
> > IT SEEMED
> >
> > it seemed
> > that all hell
> > had broken out
> > had been let loose
> > but then
> > he remembered
> > that he was
> > an atheist
> > and relaxed
> > but a tad
> > tentatively
> >
> >
> > pmcmanus
> > q310
> > raynes park uk
> >
>
|