My LA Times columns often generate nasty emails. My favorite for the week is this one from someone identifying herself as Mary Simpson. It arrived this morning, apparently in response to Immigration- The Game:
"Regarding your "Let reality games begin for members of Congress" editorial, it figures that someone with your opinions on imigration would be named "Rosa." I'm glad Mr. Brooks was progressive enough to marry the shampoo girl from his hair salon, but I would advise him to keep her on a shorter leash."
That comes a close second to my other favorite theory about the origin of my name: the parent of one of my Harvard classmates asked my mother if I had perhaps been named "for a favorite maid."
Actually, Mary, the truth is even worse... I was named after Rosa Parks and Rosa Luxemburg.
As another Rosa, I have to say I always get a few strange looks when my name is called at the doctor's office here in Tucson. But I was named after my great-grandmother and her family was about as English as it gets. Interesting how our names stereotype us.
Posted by: Rosa Sandwell-Weiss | March 22, 2006 at 09:15 AM
Interesting indeed.
I saw the name Mary Simpson and - couldn't help it - I instinctively thought of a blue-haired, yellow-skinned, green-dressed hopeless mother of three who stands by her ignorant, idiotic incompetent of a husband. And, indeed, the criticism was cartoonishly silly. But not really heart-warming.
FWIW, I am almost never stereotyped for being anonymous. Well, sometimes.
RB, thanks for the link to RL; I knew about the Rosa mentioned (but not discussed) by OutKast, but not so much the older one.
Red Rosa indeed! :)
Posted by: Eh Nonymous | March 22, 2006 at 01:58 PM
Other Rosas are always welcome here. As are the anonymous.
Posted by: Rosa Brooks | March 22, 2006 at 04:17 PM
sea isle city
Posted by: sea isle city, nj | February 08, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Nothing wrong with being named after Rosa Parks. If anything, that's quite admirable. It's better than being named after a casual aquaintance that your folks don't even stay in contact with, as is my case.
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-krisha-
Posted by: sunsilk philippines | August 19, 2009 at 06:44 PM