What's in a name

I have been referring to B. Hussein Obama to call attention to the Muslim inspired roots of his namesake. While some may take offense at referencing his middle name, I think it is part of the puzzle that explains who this guy is. I mean it's not like he's applying for a position as head barista at Starbucks; he's a candidate for POTUS, the next leader of the known free world.

And I'm sceptical. Why?

In 1995, I interned in Washington D.C. and stayed for a time with my cousin's uncle and step-aunt. My cousin's step-aunt worked for National Geographic and her home was filled with items collected from her travels. I was 23 at the time, my cousin, also 23, and we enjoyed her stories and she even took us out to eat at a very exclusive restaurant in downtown D.C. and introduced us to some political staff that she knew. With my own political ambitions to start a career in Republican politics, I was thrilled to have stayed with her. Her name was Ann Judge.

On September 11, 2001, Ann left D.C. on American flight 77. She was 49.

There were other things that motivated me, but from that day, I've researched as much as I can on the religion of Islam and what drives Muslims to do what they do. What I learned frightened me even more.

Barack or Baraq is also the name of Muhammed's flying horse with the face of a woman, that supposedly took THE PROPHET to heaven on the Night Journey. I realize some will say, yes but there is a Barak in the Old Testament too.

But not in combination with Hussein. You can decide on your own which was intended. What's in a name, indeed?