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That make ya go 'hmmmmm'
No time for a proper entry here. Just a passing note.
Most of the time, in news stories or in much public writing, a person is introduced with their full name or something very identifying, and thereafter on repeating occasions referred to using their last name or their title.
This is not so with 'President' Saddam Hussein. He's referred to by his first name, a chummy 'old school pals' sort of relationship with people. (Not counting President Bush's inability to pronounce his first name--obviously *not* an old school chum, really.)
I cannot imagine this is because people are concerned that he'd be confused with the King of Jordan accidentally.
Anyway. It's past my bedtime. Good night, moon. Good night, Saddam.
Most of the time, in news stories or in much public writing, a person is introduced with their full name or something very identifying, and thereafter on repeating occasions referred to using their last name or their title.
This is not so with 'President' Saddam Hussein. He's referred to by his first name, a chummy 'old school pals' sort of relationship with people. (Not counting President Bush's inability to pronounce his first name--obviously *not* an old school chum, really.)
I cannot imagine this is because people are concerned that he'd be confused with the King of Jordan accidentally.
Anyway. It's past my bedtime. Good night, moon. Good night, Saddam.
Re: By any other name?
Actually, Mao is (most likely) the family name in this case. Chinese names are typically two (or one) syllables for the given name and one for the family name, and in Chinese are reversed from the typical western (first last) convention. When they're imported/translated, sometimes they're flipped, and sometimes they aren't. But if you have a one syllable and a two syllable, most likely the one is the family and the two is the given.