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From: wolit@rabbit.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Subject: Name Change
Message-ID: <2445@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 30-Jan-84 10:25:28 EST
Article-I.D.: rabbit.2445
Posted: Mon Jan 30 10:25:28 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 1-Feb-84 01:36:19 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 22

The following is one of those true stories that belong in net.jokes.
My wife carpools to work with an Egyptian who told her, in complete
seriousness, of a cousin of his who came to live in the U.S.  He was
tired of people finding his name strange and unpronouncable, and
decided to get himself an American name to go with his new
citizenship, so he found a lawyer to help him petition for a legal
change of name.  The attorney agreed to this common request, and began
collecting the information he needed.  When he asked the man what name
he wanted to adopt, though, he drew a blank.  He'd never considered that 
question before.  Finally he said, "Oh, any American name.  I'll take
YOUR name."  The lawyer agreed to this, the man's request was granted,
and the Egyptian left the courthouse proudly bearing his new American
name, Aristotle Papadopoulous!

My mother told me of how her uncle, who came to this country under the
name of Itchkawitz, went to court to have his name changed after he
became a U.S. citizen.  The judge called the case, and said, "Please
state your reasons for wanting your name changed, Mr., uh, Itcha...,
er, Itkow..., uh, ...," banged his gavel, and declared, "Petition
granted!"

	Jan Wolitzky, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ