One More Thing to Celebrate about America

I couldn't resist posting this news story from Mexico (courtesy of Fox News) regarding new regulations on what residents can and can't name their babies.


Mexico Just Says No to Funky Baby Names

Oh baby! You can make it, carry it around for nine months and bring it onto the planet whenever, wherever and with whomever you’d like (theoretically, at least), but when it comes to naming it, one Mexican state says you’d better say adios to your favorite funky baby names.

Authorities in the state of Chihuahua are enforcing a new set of rules — extremely specific rules at that — on what the baby-makers can call their kiddos, KVIA reports.

It seems the state was displeased with a rash of tots running around with odd, creative and foreign names, so it decided to issue a reminder of what’s considered appropriate and what isn’t.
Among the names deemed “improper” by the state are Lluvia, which means rain, Azul, which means blue and Kevin, which means … well, who knows.

The rules dictate that if parents must name their child a foreign-sounding name, then it has to be followed by a Spanish middle name, like Maria.

And there’s more.

Parents who dare to be different by tricking up the spelling of a name better think twice — only “common spellings” are going to fly.

But bewildered baby-namers should know: the government insists it's not out to steal their moniker-making thunder, rather they’re just trying to prevent the kids from a lifetime of ridicule and legal troubles.
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Now, I've heard some...shall we say, interesting names in my life. (I think it's indigenous to Southern culture that we have families with names that sound like soap opera characters.) But regardless of whether or not I like what someone names their baby, it's still their right to choose (and consequently, their duty to pay for the therapy that some crazy-named children may one day need). If I wanted to name my future child Mayonnaise, I should be able to. (Don't worry Mom and Dad, I promise I won't!)

So on Independence Day, when I'm celebrating the many freedoms that being an American affords, I guess I can the right to name my children whatever I want to that list. God bless America!