We don't make a big fuss of it. Nor do we think having a "Mennonite" name is of some value. As been said, it is a social tool. It is the people that don't have a "Mennonite" name that are misreading the importance and the motives.Erika wrote:
Well apart from the fact that isn't a few, it's true, a name means nothing at all, absolutely nothing. So why do North American Mennonites make such a big fuss of it in the 'Mennonite Game' ? We all know it happens, it is a long term theme in North American Mennonite circles. Makes no sense at all.
It's either an optical illusion or an optional delusion on your part.
Do we like our last names? Probably about the same as anyone likes their last name. Some probably really like having a common name, and others really don't like having a common name.
Do non-Mennonite people ever ask each other about family connections? Of course. I've been asked by non-Mennonite business associates about last name connections and they are not part of some racist, Nazi culture.
But while I have never seen wholesale bias such as I'm reading on this forum as I've said before, if there is this mentality of familial pride present, it is wrong and needs to be repented of. I've lived out west my whole life, so there is a lot of concepts that might be in the east that I don't know about.