Assigmnment 2: Argumentative writing

This question should be the most important election issue 2010

Take one minute thinking about your name. Say it loud to yourself and feel what you associate it with. Does not it to a great extent feel as a part of you and you identity? Now, think about whom is the owner of your name. Is it you or is it the government? What if somebody would take the name away from you? What would then happen to your personality? Should we not have the right to have the name we want?

The name is for many people an important part of the identity. The name is something to be identified and associated with. Sweden is claimed to be one of the most equal states in the world, a state where all people have the same right irrespective of sex, age, looks and ethical background. Sweden is also a country where it is very important that individuals have the freedom to express themselves. That individual freedom is limited by the law (1982:670) that says you are not allowed to call yourself what name you want. There is a certain authority that decides whether the name is acceptable or not. In a modern country as Sweden that law is extremely old and does not correspond with the individualistic approach that is to be seen when dealing with other issues.

For me it is obvious, as an individual in a democratic country you should have the right to decide your name. The reverse is insulting. If you want a name that is in accordance with your personality and character you should not be limited by an old-fashioned law. Therefore I consider the most important election issue 2010 should be to abolish the Names Adoption Act.

People who disagree with me might claim that if you allow people to choose what name they want there will be no limit in what ridiculous and absurd names to expect. Of course that may happen but at the present time there are already such names and it is not worse giving a baby a ridiculous name than to treat it badly as is the fact in many families today.

To be called a strange name might cause bullying among children. If that happen, the reason is not the name itself, but the intolerance of people that look or act differently. Children can find any reason for teasing and according to me it is all about how the adults handle it. People will soon get used to strange names and then the risk of bullying will abate.

It can also cause confusion and misunderstandings if the name is not sex-typed. I am very well aware of that and once again the problem is nowhere else than in people´s minds. Look at it from this aspect: it would be much easier for transsexual persons in society and people will not be treated differently in for an instance a written assignment because of their sex.

To be a part of modern society and protect the individualistic freedom of people the Names Adoption Act need to be abolished.