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Melvin's blog
Nshima & Curry
Melvin's Blog
Nshima & Curry
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WHITE HOUSE CAT NAMED INDIA SHOULD PLEASE US
A couple of years ago, a loyal reader sent me a photo
of one of her cats, saying she had named it after me.
Melvin the cat was pictured in front of a computer,
probably trying to figure out how to send email to the
cute tabby next door.
I was honored and flattered to hear about my feline
namesake. I had never had any animal named after me,
not even a pig. (Though I've often been called a pig.)
So you can imagine my surprise when I read that some
Indian groups had staged protests at the U.S.
consulate in Mumbai and other places, incensed that
George W. Bush's female cat is named India.
They apparently found it insulting that the name of
our motherland could be heard around the White House
in sentences such as these:
--- "India, stop licking the First Lady's feet. That's
the president's job."
--- "If India doesn't stop fighting with the dog,
we'll have to give the dog a new name: Pakistan!"
--- "Does anyone know where India is? The president
has been looking for several hours, but can't find it
on the map."
Some demonstrators, demanding that Bush change the
cat's name, held a banner that said, "Mr. President,
don't make mistake. Indians are 'lion,' not the
'cat.'" Others burned an effigy of Bush. None of them,
fortunately, set themselves on fire.
No point in dying over the name of a cat, not even
what's probably the most influential cat in the world.
(No other cat gets to meet so many world leaders.)
The U.S. consulate's director of public affairs told
Reuters that the First Cat is actually named "India
Ink," because of its dark bluish-black color. The
Bushes, showing a lack of respect, usually shorten the
cat's name to "India," rather than the more honorable
and politically correct "Ms. Ink."
Searching the Internet, I found a website that lists
more than 6,000 cat names, including India Ink. Though
many of the names are cute, some could definitely be
found offensive: Egypt (offensive to Egyptians),
Africa (offensive to Africans), Earth (offensive to
earthlings), Meow Tse-Tung (offensive to the Chinese),
Lady Di (offensive to the British), Fidel Catsro
(offensive to the cat), Magellan (offensive to
explorers), Eggplant (offensive to vegetarians), Ding
A Ling (offensive to George Bush).
At least one of the names could even earn a death
sentence for the cat's owner: Khomeini.
I was disappointed to find that the website did not
list "Melvin" as a cat name. It's rather depressing to
realize that you're not as worthy as an eggplant.
My Internet search also found a number of other cats
named India. On one site, a cat owner writes, "I'll
never love anyone like I love my cat India. She is
named after a character on a soap opera." And who, I
wonder, was the character named after? A cat?
It's worth noting that at least a few dozen American
girls have been named India. According to the website
Parentsoup.com, "India has been a popular girl's name
in Great Britain since the Victorian era." That, of
course, gives new meaning to the statement, "Lord
William is off again to explore India."
Unlike those protesters, I'm proud that so many people
like the name India. Let's face it: India's a
beautiful name. You won't hear of people naming their
daughters or cats Afghanistan, Madagascar or
Kazakhstan.
But don't misunderstand me. I'd love to see George
Bush change the name of his cat -- as long as he
changes it to a great name like Melvin. To have the
world's most influential cat carry my name would be
such an honor.
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