Americana: What’s in a Number?

Remember that man in Minnesota who wanted, for various obscure philosophical reasons, to change his name legally from Mr. Michael Herbert Dengler to Mr. 1069? The one who had so much trouble obtaining a driver’s license and getting utility companies to accept his unique numerical self-designation? Last week Judge Donald Barbeau of Hennepin County district court reached his decision on the unusual case. “Dehumanization is widespread,” he declared. “To allow the use of a number instead of a name would only provide additional nourishment upon which the illness of the dehumanization is able to feed and grow.” With that, the judge rejected poor 1069’s request.