A few years back, a New Jersey family was in the news because a bakery didn't like their kid's name and wouldn't put it on his birthday cake. It sounds outrageous ... until you learn that the little boy's is Adolf Hitler Campbell. Then the store's refusal makes a whole lot of sense, as does a court decision today that denied the boy's parents custody of him and his two siblings -- JoyceLynn Aryan Nation and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie.
The question is whether Heath and Deborah Campbell have lost custody of their children just because of the names they bestowed upon them or because of something else. The children have been in foster care since the incident, and the courts say there is evidence of abuse or neglect (details can't be released due to a gag order). The Campbells, however, contend it's just because of the names, and that their freedom of expression has been thwarted. Heath told NBC 10:
Actually, the judge and DYFS told us that there was no evidence of abuse and that it was the names. They were taken over the children's names.
Honestly, even if it was just over the names, I'd almost say that's grounds enough for those children to be removed. I'm a passionate proponent of free speech, even when I don't like it, but bestowing a name that evokes such hatred and violence is just cruel and I think perhaps a form of abuse.
Yes, there's a lot of subjectivity when it comes to what is and isn't an acceptable name for a child, but there's really no gray when it comes to Adolf Hitler. Plus, you know that anyone who would name their child something like this is very likely mentally unstable and filled with hate.
Still, taking children away from their parents just for a distasteful name? I'm not sure I could fully support that, but I bet there are few cases in which a parent who chooses to name their child something like that wouldn't have other issues as well. So while it's disturbing to think the children were subjected to treatment worse than their names, at least they have been removed from it for now. And in a way those horrible names saved them, because no one may have been wiser to the abuse if they hadn't had them.
Do you think these parents should lose custody of their children because of their names?
Image via simononly/Flickr
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Comments 182
it is an awful name but fi there was no abuse they shouldn't lose thier children because of it maybe they should be made to change his name.
that poor child! If they done sometihing ridiculas like name their child that. What else could they do? Thank god they got took of the parents!
As much as I am against naming an innocent child after such violence, that's not grounds to take a child or children away from their parents. We allow white supremacy groups to keep their children, and these groups are actively violent. If these people are allowed to keep their children, teach them violence and train them in hatred, then parents who name their children after Jew-haters should be allowed to keep their children as well. A name alone is not grounds to remove children from their homes. But, if the gag order is covering information of abuse, neglect, etc., then by all means, take the children and protect them. Too many children fall through the cracks of the system and if these children are rescued from such a crack - thank God!
I believe that there was more than likely some other form of abuse going on in the home. My question would be....Where are the parents from and what is their heritage? This would explain the names of the children in itself. I can recall a few other names in history such as Joesph Stalin, King Henry, etc but yet we still give our children these names. I do not believe that these children were removed from the home based on their names. If this is the case, then shame on our justice system and the Child protective services. I believe that the whole thing needs to be checked into so that the whole story is told and not leave speculation.
I'm actually happy for the children that they were removed! I can not believe how many people think they should have NOT been removed because of their names! Who really sits around and tries to think up a name that would emotionally taunted their children for the rest of their lives? The problems in school they would have let alone trying to get a job or anything else. What these parents was cruel punishment for no reason! It's clear there is something that is not being said on why these horrible names were chosen for these poor kids. It honestly had to be drugs and a affiliation with a gang to provoke this! JoyceLynn Aryan Nation <~~~ Gang proof right there, white superemcy. They are no more than freaking skin heads. Skin heads worship Adolf and are affiliated with a gang. SHAME ON YOU PATHETIC PEOPLE for being upset they were taken from their familes and even bringing up something as stupid as comparing your child to a freaking fruit than to a mass killer!