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Believe it or Not: 10.02.03 Adolf’s Birthday Cake
Written by Jimmy
Little Hitler’s unhappy birthday: No cake for three-year-old Adolf in latest instance of parents naming and shaming their children
A three-year-old boy called Adolf Hitler Campbell has been refused a birthday cake with his name on it by a New Jersey supermarket.
Heath Campbell, 35, and his wife, Deborah, 25, say they are upset at the decision made by their local ShopRite not to write “Happy Birthday Adolf Hitler” across the cake, and that people needed to move forward.
Campbell said he named his son after Adolf Hitler because “no one else in the world would have that name”.
“They need to accept a name. A name’s a name. The kid isn’t going to grow up and do what [Hitler] did,” he said.
Not to be defeated, the family ended up getting their cake decorated at a Walmart in Pennsylvania.
The problem is likely to be one they face again ? their younger children are JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell, who is nearly two, and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, named after the SS head Heinrich Himmler. Honszlynn turns one in April.
Is this the most inappropriate ? or unfair ? naming of children you have heard of? There was, of course, the case in July this year of a nine-year-old girl from New Zealand whose parents called her Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii. A lawyer acting for the girl claimed she was so embarrassed she told friends her name was “K” instead.
She was placed into court guardianship so her name could be changed after judge Rob Murfit ruled it had set her up with a “social disability and handicap”.
He went on to signal his concern about other names given to children, including Violence, Midnight Chardonnay and Number 16 Bus Shelter. There was a set of twins named Benson and Hedges.
Thanks to Richard, see full article by clicking below:
Lee Glendinning
Wednesday December 17 2008
guardian.co.uk