Dear Foxy,

I cannot blame your naivety - your intentions are good.

«David was the 2nd King of Israel.»

Yes, he ousted the first good King, besmirched his name and destroyed his family.

«As a young shepherd he defeated the giant philistine Goliath with a slingshot.»

Yes, that's what the editors of the Bible want you to think, but if you read carefully between the lines, it was not David, but another person called Elhanan who killed him. Why does this reminds me of Putin's heroic stories and photographs?

«The name has special meaning in Jewish culture with the Star of David being the symbol of Judaism.»

Certainly, because David was made the symbol of Jewish nationalism. In fact, the Messiah is supposed to be of his seed (well, but who edited the Bible to that effect?).
The star shape was originally called the SHIELD of David because it was inscribed on the shields of his soldiers. Now in English it is called after its shape rather than after its use. It is a symbol of David's authority, only later to become one symbol of Judaism.

«And David F., is highly respected and admired on this forum.»

Certainly so.

David F., I believe, is quite learned and knowledgeable of the true evil character of that fellow after which he is named (not through his fault), which made me sincerely curious as to how he copes with that.

David may or may not have taken a virgin or three since this was not at all unusual for powerful, rich men.

It is known that Augustus was convinced that deflowering young virgins enhanced his longevity and had agents scouring Italy seeking out candidates. Caligula took women on the day of their marriage although one such act may have led to his assassination.
The kings of Persia also had that notion. When they attacked Athens and Eritrea they specifically promised to take all the young virgins, male and female, back to Susa for the king.
Its hardly surprising that David availed himself of this privilege. Indeed it would be surprising and exceptional if he didn't.

As to the Star of David originally being a military symbol, this again is hardly unusual. Constantine the Great's armies marched under the banner of the Chi-Rho (derived from the first two letter of Christos) which ultimately became the cross.

The study of history is a cornerstone of a Bachelor's
Degree in the Humanities and is very popular even today.
It involves more than remembering people,
events, key dates and places. Historians are interested in
explaining how and why things happened in order to unfold
and understand why they occurred.

Historians can reach an agreement on the general "facts"
surrounding historical events but then they can interpret
things very differently.

George Santayana wryly stated:

"History is a pack of lies about event that never happened
told by people who weren't there."

We have Republicans of every discription wanting to write a new constitution that is inclusive of every culture, that accomodates all culture's values and laws.

Including multiple wives and child brides, which will be acceptable to aboriginals. The right to hit women, and destroy the life of a blasphemer, which Victoria has already tried. Freedom of critical expression will be banned as offensive and prision or heavy fines imposed.

By identifying human rights under laws means the rights of others are infringed. That is not the right of a free society to outlaw critics. Currently we are free to pubicly criticise the Bible, but not the Koran.

Dear Yuyutsu,

I am aware of the flawed character of King David. His flawed character is described in the Bible. However, David also means beloved, and there are those who love me or at least I think they do which will have to be good enough.

There are things I have done that I regret. I haven't sent a man to be killed in battle so I could have his wife or have been as bad as King David in other ways.

The name and the object named are different as the address of a house and the actual house at that location are different.

However, David is a name I have chosen to be called by as it is my middle, not my first name.

My mother wanted to name me Michael. My grandmother objected, “What kind of a name is Mike. Mike Smith is the name of the town drunk.”

My first name which I won’t reveal is that of a family friend who died in WW1.

When I was a little boy I did not like my first name so I told the teacher my name was David. She sent me home with a note to my mother saying I was deaf. I wasn't deaf. I just wasn't used to being called David so I didn't respond. Now I am old, deaf and unresponsive. C'est la vie.

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”

I don't care for Jewish or other nationalism and doubt my name reminds people of nationalism.

continued

We do have people of all kinds of views and values.
However, in this country, we also
have the rule of law that all of us have to abide
by. I doubt very much what you are suggesting will
happen. Voters will not allow it.