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Which is Saddam Hussein's first name, Saddam or Hussein?

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eeyore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:07 AM
Original message
Which is Saddam Hussein's first name, Saddam or Hussein?
Sorry, silly question, but I don't know this, and feel like I should?

Judging by listening to newscasters, I would say that Saddam is his last name, and that Arabs must refer to each other in the same way that most Asians do.

If Saddam is his first name, then why the hell are newscasters and our president calling him by his first name all of the time?

Can anyone verify for me?

Thanks! :)
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Loonman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:09 AM
Response to Original message
1. 'cuz it's like Oprah or A-Rod
Edited on Wed Dec-07-05 11:09 AM by Loonman
Everybody know who is being discussed. How many other Saddams in the news? Hussein is actually a pretty common Arabic surmane.
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eeyore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:14 AM
Response to Reply #1
3. So you're saying that newscasters are all essentially calling him George?
:wtf:

Is this commonplace in the Arab world, or is it just a little extra bit of psy-ops to not give him any respect at all?

I mean, Hitler was still referred to as Hitler, not Adolph, right?
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davidinalameda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:23 AM
Response to Reply #3
6. it's disrespect
it would be like referring to Bushie as George
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Codeine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-08-05 02:02 AM
Response to Reply #3
14. Does it bother you that someone might diss Saddam?
I think the war is bullshit, but I'm not going to be a Saddam fanboy as a result. The man deserves zero respect...
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MN ChimpH8R Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:12 AM
Response to Original message
2. Saddam, I think
IIRC, his full name is Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti, the al-Tikriti referring to his hometown. Any Arabists out there care to clarify?
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henslee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:15 AM
Response to Original message
4. Marvin.
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Aimah Donating Member (598 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:21 AM
Response to Original message
5. His first name is Saddam
Arabs don't do reverse names. Saddam Hussain isn't really his exact name. It's Saddam Hussein al-Majd al-Tikriti. In Arab culture children are given their fathers first name as their middle name. Hussain is his fathers middle name. Al-Majd is his familys name and al Tikriti is his tribe.

The Iraqis refer to him as Saddam or Saddam Hussain but usually not just Hussain(aside from any insulting names).
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GrumpyGreg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:25 AM
Response to Reply #5
7. Thanks for a great explanation--I learned a lot.
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eeyore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:25 AM
Response to Reply #5
8. Thank you.
So, is it considered a disrespect to refer to him as Saddam?
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soothsayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:45 AM
Response to Reply #5
9. Hussein, not Hussain, isn't it?
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eeyore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:46 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. Correct, it is Hussein.
n/t
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Aimah Donating Member (598 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-07-05 11:53 AM
Response to Reply #9
11. It's Transliteration
I have a habit of spelling it Hussain because that's the transliteration I'm used to. It's also sometimes trans.to Husayn. The media and probably even Saddam may use Hussein if he had to write his name in English.


Since he's no longer President it wouldn't be rude to refer to him as just Saddam.
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eppur_se_muova Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-08-05 12:36 AM
Response to Reply #5
12. SHaMaT?
I didn't know about the al-Majd, I was referring to him as SHAT...
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liberalpragmatist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-08-05 12:44 AM
Response to Original message
13. I think even in the Arab world he's known as "Saddam"
This isn't as common in the U.S., but in much of the world prominent politicians often are referred to in the press - even the "quality" press - by their first names or by nicknames.

The Israeli press, recall, often refers to Binyamin Netanyahu as "Bibi." And in India, they constantly refer to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as "Manmohan" (probably b/c there are so many "Singhs") and Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi as "Sonia."

So I wouldn't be surprised if Saddam were merely known as "Saddam" to his countrymen.
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MrSlayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-08-05 02:04 AM
Response to Original message
15. He's so infamous he only needs to have the one name spoken.
Like Madonna or Prince.
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