Duplicate Names--Really Redundant

Stan Freberg here. I got to thinking about names the other day. Most people have just one first name, like Debby, Fred, Tom, Dick, Harry--they're not named Harry-Harry Jones or Debby-Debby Boone. How, then, do you explain Mr. Boutrous-Boutrous Ghali? Be right back. [:60 SPOT BREAK] Freberg here. We were talking about people with two identical first names, like the Secretary General of the United Nations, Boutrous-Boutrous Ghali. Do you think maybe Mrs. Ghali, when her son was born, said to her husband, "Let's call him 'Boutrous-Boutrous'"? Did her husband then say, "I was thinking of calling him 'Irving-Irving' or maybe 'Mordecai-Mordecai'"? But no, his mother won out, and "Boutrous-Boutrous Ghali" it was. There have been other people with repetitve names, where the first name was actually the same as the last. The man who shot Robert Kennedy, Sirhan Sirhan, comes to mind; and the sultry movie actress of an earlier era, Simone Simone. "Have you picked a name for the baby girl, Mrs. Simone?" "Yes--we were thinking of 'Simone.'" "But, 'Simone' is your last name." "I know, but 'Simone Simone' has such a nice ring to it." Didn't any of these parents stop to think that duplicate names were a little redundant? But I guess that's one way to get noticed. If Mr. Boutrous-Boutrous Ghali is listening, heh-heh, no offense, sir. Come to think of it, having only one first name is so...ordinary. Until next time, Stan-Stan Freberg here. Copyright ©1996, Stan Freberg/Freberg, Ltd. (but not very) Distributed by Dick Brescia Associates and Radio Spirits, Inc.