Quoted:
SF,
You're-right.We-should-all-base-the-name-we-choose-for-our-children-based-on-what-others-might-think-of-it.
I-guess-that-if-someone-got-beat-up-by-a-guy-named-Fred,-they-might-be-prejudiced-against-people-named-Fred.-So-if-you-named-your-kid-Fred,-there's-a-good-chance-that-he-would-never-get-hired-by-a-guy-who-was-beat-up-in-grade-school-by-a-guy-named-Fred.-Don't-name-your-kid-Fred.
Then-again,-there-are-a-lot-of-people-named-John.-I've-known-a-lot-of-guys-named-John,-and-some-of-them-I-didn't-like-very-much.-I-might-be-prejudiced-against-guys-named-John.-Don't-name-your-kid-John.
Also,-I've-known-some-18-series-guys.-Some-were-very-cool.-Some-were-elitist-assholes-who-wouldn't-give-an-11B-straight-leg-the-time-of-day.-Should-I-base-my-opinion-of-18-series-guys-on-the-label,or-on-their-merits-as-a-person?
If-my-name-was-Antwan,-would-you-want-me-in-your-foxhole,-even-if-you-knew-I-was-a-strac-warrior?
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GT:
You are killing me without the spaces, don't get me started on people giving their kids hyphenated Anglo- names.
It seems to me that you are missing the point. You seem to be a very broad minded individual. Clearly, as you should see here, everyone is not as enlightened as yourself.
There is a difference between someone who doesn't like the name John, or Fred, or any other name in common useage and spelling, and someone who doesn't like Antwan.
I have served with a Frenchman named Antoine, and had no issues with him or his name. Like it or not, the accepted language for the United States is English. If you want to give your child an accepted name from another country or language, at least have the intelligence to spell it correctly. I don't like Antwan for the same reason I dont lik peeple speling engleesh wurds annywa the wont too. I am not talking about an occasional misspelling or typo. Creative spelling indicates to me that the person who is doing it lacks either the intelligence or the motivation to spell correctly. Attention to detail is important, even in combat.
Last names are another matter. We are usually legally saddled with those.
If you want to name your kids Latoofus and Quineesha (or Lemonjello, or Moon Unit, or Dweezil), that is your (and the mother's) business. My wife and I decided to name our kids Thomas and Ashley, after much debate (and my rejection of "beat me up names" she proposed.
I have not seen too many elitist SF guys, due to the nature of training other countries' forces. SF personnel have one of, if not the highest percentage of non-US spouses in the military. I have nothing against Infantry guys. I used to be one. I do hate legs, though. That I will admit.
If I get a choice on my fighting position partner, I want the most strac warrior I can find, whatever his moniker. A quick search of the Medal of Honor winner database reveals no "Antwans", but a lot of Roberts, Johns, James, etc. OTOH, one of the rules of combat is never share your fighting position with someone braver than yourself, so that leaves me plenty of latitude. The only Antwans I have met have not been strac, or warriors.
Just my experience, not reflective of the totality of human experience. Certainly there are some cowards named Robert, John, or James, just as there may be some strac warriors named Antwan.
BTW, I think Estwing is a great name, and very unique. Have you considered naming your progeny after a hammer? [;D]