Yes, but he does need an editor anyway. Here’s what I would do:

This is such a wildly privileged opinion. Real people will get hurt under Trump. SCOTUS will be changed. Laws will be passed. The military will be deployed, affecting people around the globe. I get that you want a different political system but this is the one we live in. Don’t throw others under the bus in your quest…

So.... a 9 year old girl completed a course designed for what is the most elite outfit of our arsenal? I think? And we’re STILL having the conversation about whether women should be integrated into certain ranks within our armed forces?

Yeah, I think this guy is just making things up. I have three kids and I’ve never had to explain shit to anyone. And it’s not like I live in a big, multi-cultural city. I’m out in flyover country.

Why would you need a different name in the home? Change will never happen if women are always the ones to capitulate.

My maternal grandfather took his wife’s last name, my mother kept her name (which is her mother’s family’s name...), and my siblings and I have our father’s last name. My daughter has my husband’s and my last name, but not hyphenated, so she could treat one like a middle/extra name if she wanted and just not use it in…

My mom kept her name and then they flipped a coin when my brother (older) was born- mom won, so he has her last name. Then when I came along, I got dad’s. I suppose it might get tricky if you had an odd number of children, but it was never a problem for us. I got married recently and I kept my name - it was never even…

Yeah. I really hate paperwork and doing anything I don’t have to do. I also have been Punkin Skywalker for 30 goddamned years and Punkin Solo seems like a totally different person (plus my husband has a Punkin Solo cousin and I don’t want to steal; she didn’t change her name when she got married). And I really LIKE my…

Okay, so my oldest son has my last name (long story), my middle son has his dad’s last name and my youngest has 4 names (another long story), with the last two being my last name and his dad’s last name. My kids are all adults now and the conclusion I’ve come to? It really doesn’t matter what choice you make. You’re…

That is awesome! It’s crazy that there are some people who freak out about it, but trust me, they do.

My dad and his wife BOTH changed their names to a new hybrid name when they got remarried. They don’t share the same last name as any of the kids. It’s a total non-issue.

I’m not sure why what other people assume about my family should change what I call myself, but interesting.

Thanks for this. I think people serious overestimate how much of an issue this will be.

And again, your “next logical step” is that she take her father in law’s last name, not her father’s* because ... ?

I’m considering it. It might be worth it to see the look on my father-in-law’s face. He told me people would judge me if I didn’t weed my lawn. I took that as a challenge.

That’s exactly how I feel. I have to carry and birth the kids. Why can’t they have my name!?

So is the husband’s, yes?

I’ve seen and really don’t get this argument. My last name has been my last name from birth. Just like it was my father’s last name from birth. Is it more “his” last name than mine because he’s a man? Or because he’s older? It’s not “my father’s name”—it’s a whole bunch of “Keyser’s” (men and women) names. Including…

Honestly, the idea that my fiance would have to “allow” me do anything weighs pretty heavily in my wanting to keep my own name. I do think that if things were more even overall, it would be a less fraught choice and I would be *more* likely to consider taking his. Also! Congrats on the upcoming wedding/strong…

My college roommate and his wife choose a random third last name and both changed theirs, showing preference to neither family. Opening up the choice to any possible combination of letters might be a bit overwhelming, but it seems they were both huge Natalie Merchant fans, so it worked out for them.