Comments

1. Mary wrote:

   Hmm. I’ve read in several places that Jon Stewart has been estranged from his father for many years. So there may also be personal issues going on with the name.

   Posted 28 Jul 2009 at 11:48 am ¶

2. Matt wrote:

   Love it.

   Posted 28 Jul 2009 at 12:36 pm ¶

3. ladyguerita wrote:

   MMMM I’m waiting for jon stewarts response to this. I honestly don’t think it is beacuse his ethic background and the reason is more personal, Mr. Stewart seems to embrace his ethinc background, than resent it.

   Posted 28 Jul 2009 at 1:12 pm ¶

4. Sonic wrote:

   Sorry to nitpick – but is the letter from Salon originally? Because the site leads to Slate not Salon.

   Posted 28 Jul 2009 at 1:59 pm ¶

5. eHalcyon wrote:

   Not the main point of the letter, but I think the information about Michael Jackson is incorrect. As I understand it, he had a skin condition (vitiligo); the allegations that he bleached his skin or otherwise chose to turn his skin white are just ugly rumours.

   Posted 28 Jul 2009 at 2:51 pm ¶

6. gatamala wrote:

   Maybe he can go with his mom’s maiden name.

   Posted 28 Jul 2009 at 3:23 pm ¶

7. Whitney wrote:

   What’s in a name, though?

   He’s still just as Jewish with the last name Stewart as he was with the last name Leibowitz.

   Posted 28 Jul 2009 at 10:08 pm ¶

8. Robin wrote:

   What a load. If the guy wants to change his name, what business is it of anyone else’s? One of the most inane, non-issue open letters I’ve seen.

   Posted 28 Jul 2009 at 11:47 pm ¶

9. sweeterjuice wrote:

   I’m with Whitney on this. It’s not like Stewart’s trying not to be Jewish. He totally embraces it.

   Isn’t his mom Jewish? If that’s so, and he’s using his mother’s maiden name, what’s wrong with that?

   Posted 29 Jul 2009 at 10:55 am ¶

10. Whitney wrote:

    I can relate to this because my Jewish grandfather, upon entering the US from his invaded homeland of Czechoslovakia, changed the spelling of his name AND stopped practicing. But that was his choice, and i don’t blame him for it. He didn’t want to face the same persecution in the US that he did in Czechoslovakia. And then after being in the war. However, his brother continued to practice and still does to this day. It’s really all a personal matter.

    A lot of movie stars and rock stars changed their name. A lot of people change their names before they reach stardom because they wouldn’t have made it because of their name, unfortunately. Natalie Portman’s real name is Natalie Hershlag. Tom Cruise’s real name is Tom Cruise Malpother. Look at all of the unnecessary crap Barack Obama went through during the election because of his name.

    I really don’t think he changed his name to avoid people knowing he is Jewish, since he doesn’t shy away from talking about it on his show or in his comedy. Back in the 50s, however, they didn’t want people to know that they were Jewish. It was taboo. Hell, it was controversial when Kennedy ran for President because he was Catholic. But now, considering how many Hollywood executives are Jewish, and how many high-profile comedians and politicians are, it’s not taboo. But unfortunately, the taboo has turned to Islam. I really hope that eventually, people will can it with this “religion-ism.”

    Posted 29 Jul 2009 at 10:38 pm ¶