A New Jersey appeals court says a couple who named one of their children after Adolf Hitler should not regain custody of their three children:
The family drew attention after ShopRite refused to decorate a birthday cake for their son, Adolf Hitler Campbell. Adolf and siblings JoyceLynn Aryan Nation and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie have been in foster care since then.The appeals court ruled Thursday that sufficient evidence of abuse or neglect existed because of domestic violence in the home . . . .
“It’s not like he’s’ growing up to be a killer or nothing like that,” said mother Deborah Campbell . . . .
So why the names?
“This is America, they say it’s free, you have the right to name your child whatever you want to name your child, no matter what,” Heath Campbell said.
Another news report clarifies that “authorities have stated in the past that putting the children into the foster system had nothing to do with their names.”
Although I’m a strong proponent of parental rights, I’m not sure I’d have a problem with declaring the parents incompetent for simply giving their child a name like Adolf Hitler. Seems to me that giving a kid a name that ensures they will be verbal and/or physically abused everytime they step outside their home is a sign of parental incompetence and a justifiable reason for removing the children. I’m no legal scholar but I believe in the common law this is known as the “Boy Named Sue” clause.
