Posted on 10/08/2002 5:22:33 PM PDT by chance33_98
Man Changes Name To 'I Am Who I Am' Judge Would Not Let Man Change Name To 'God' Posted: 3:32 p.m. EDT October 8, 2002
LAKE CITY, Fla. -- Charles Haffey wanted to legally change his name to "God." It took a loophole of biblical proportions.
A Columbia County, Fla., judge initially denied his request in April to legally adopt the heavenly moniker, so Haffey took a passage from the Bible where Moses asks God who he is and hears "I am who I am or I will be who I will be," and asked Judge Vernon Douglas once more to change his name.
"That's kind of wordy, so I'm just going for 'I Am who I Am' as my full legal name," Haffey said before the court hearing. "My first name, of course, would be 'I Am."'
On Oct. 2, Douglas granted his petition.
Who I Am was so pleased he asked the judge to shake on it. Douglas politely declined.
"Well, Hallelujah judge," who I Am said, then walked out of the courthouse murmuring, "My heart's beating again."
The 55-year-old said he sought the name change as a way to gain release from feelings of "panic, anxiety, fear, rage, murder, suicide," that have plagued him since he served in the Vietnam War.
"I was fatally wounded in the mind and the spirit," he said. "I didn't suffer any bodily injury. It's just what I saw, what I did. I killed myself."
Who I Am said he became a Christian and was baptized in April. It was shortly after that when he decided to change everything, beginning with his name.
Last week, who I Am bought a tombstone to be inscribed with his former name. He plans to plant in the tall grass on his property.
He said it will read, "'Charles Walter Haffey, born Sept. 23, 1948, and died Oct. 21, 1968, Republic of Vietnam."'
He changed his name to Popeye????
None that I'm aware of in this country, though changing your name for fraudulent purposes is illegal.
In European countries there is a tradition of only registering approved names. France, for example, only allowed saints' names to be used. They must be making some accomodation for all the Muslims living there now. But they still wouldn't allow a kid to be named 'Moon Unit' or 'Dweezil.'
With a small "g" for humility.
(The pink card said FEMALE SMITH.)
Me's hopes this guy I am gets a name and prescription change from placebo to PROZAC.
Sounds like a convenient story, coming out as we debate war with Iraq. I'd almost bet he was on a lefty's payroll.
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