What's in a Name?
I received a brochure in the mail today - Zakat/Sadaqa - Helping Hand - USA For Relief and Development sent by Muslims for Humanity. I knew before I opened it that it really wasn't meant for me. Yes, it had my name and address on it, but it was sent by mistake. I looked at the Arabic letters on the outside of the mailing along with the English translation and chuckled. You see mailings such as this are from a 'club' that isn't really intended for members with my background. The 'club' members are Americans with Muslim names. Apparently just like the Jews or the Irish there are certain names - think Goldberg, Levin, Schwartz, O'Hare, Delaney - that announce to the world that the person is Muslim. And, I had one of those names! My last name is Yalman which is apparently very common in Muslim Turkey. And that's how I landed on the comprehensive list of American Muslims.
I think it's humorous that a Jewish lady like me receives Muslim mailings. They arrive in my mailbox about 5 times a year. I have been asked to contribute to Muslim charities, sent a come-on for Arabic music, pleaded with to send money to a Muslim school. Every time I receive a mailing in English and Arabic I laugh. How ironic that when my grandfather changed the family name from Yalowitz to Yalman he unintentionally chose a very popular Turkish name. I'm sure it was the furthest thing from his mind when he decided it was beneficial to Americanize our Russian name.
On Facebook a young man, Sabri Yalman, who lives in Turkey asked me to friend him. I immediately confirmed the friendship although I couldn't read a word on his profile - it is all in Turkish no doubt. I think he was trying to find relatives and I didn't have the language skills to tell him otherwise.
One day an old lady called me on the phone. She asked me in very broken English if my name was Yalman. I answered yes, but told her that I didn't think that she knew me. She ignored (or misunderstood) my answer and went on to mention Istanbul. I repeated over and over, "You don't know me. I'm not the Yalman you think I am." She insisted that she was in Boston and would like to meet me. "No, I'm not the Yalman you think I am." I repeated once again. Eventually I just hung up the phone.
So, whenever I receive a mailing in English and Arabic I look it over very carefully. What can I learn about the inner workings of the Muslim community in America? I have been allowed a glimpse into an unknown world simply by name alone. Ironic, isn't it? My grandfather, who so desperately wanted to assimilate into mainstream America, chose a name that isn't American at all.
Real Estate Hint - Gear up for September! September always shows an upward trend in real estate sales. New listings, price changes, lots of open houses all happen right after Labor Day. Most people have a built-in calendar left over from their school days that shouts, "September is the beginning of new things!" So it's a great time to look at real estate! After shopping for new school clothes and notebooks many people start shopping for a new home.
I think it's humorous that a Jewish lady like me receives Muslim mailings. They arrive in my mailbox about 5 times a year. I have been asked to contribute to Muslim charities, sent a come-on for Arabic music, pleaded with to send money to a Muslim school. Every time I receive a mailing in English and Arabic I laugh. How ironic that when my grandfather changed the family name from Yalowitz to Yalman he unintentionally chose a very popular Turkish name. I'm sure it was the furthest thing from his mind when he decided it was beneficial to Americanize our Russian name.
On Facebook a young man, Sabri Yalman, who lives in Turkey asked me to friend him. I immediately confirmed the friendship although I couldn't read a word on his profile - it is all in Turkish no doubt. I think he was trying to find relatives and I didn't have the language skills to tell him otherwise.
One day an old lady called me on the phone. She asked me in very broken English if my name was Yalman. I answered yes, but told her that I didn't think that she knew me. She ignored (or misunderstood) my answer and went on to mention Istanbul. I repeated over and over, "You don't know me. I'm not the Yalman you think I am." She insisted that she was in Boston and would like to meet me. "No, I'm not the Yalman you think I am." I repeated once again. Eventually I just hung up the phone.
So, whenever I receive a mailing in English and Arabic I look it over very carefully. What can I learn about the inner workings of the Muslim community in America? I have been allowed a glimpse into an unknown world simply by name alone. Ironic, isn't it? My grandfather, who so desperately wanted to assimilate into mainstream America, chose a name that isn't American at all.
Real Estate Hint - Gear up for September! September always shows an upward trend in real estate sales. New listings, price changes, lots of open houses all happen right after Labor Day. Most people have a built-in calendar left over from their school days that shouts, "September is the beginning of new things!" So it's a great time to look at real estate! After shopping for new school clothes and notebooks many people start shopping for a new home.
Great topic, Peggy! Always an insightful and amusing take on the strange truths of our everyday lives. I knew a Kevin Brody, of Russian-Jewish extraction, one of those garbled names; he had a brother Michael, I think - as Irish sounding as you can get!
Reply to this