Palu hammers the point home

Palu hammers the point home

PALU, Central Sulawesi: William Shakespeare's classic remark
of "What's in a name?" makes the blood of people in this town
boil after being the brunt of jokes for years because they come
from Palu, the Indonesian word for hammer.

"We always hear officials from other towns make a joke of our
beloved town, by asking 'Walikota mana yang selama ini di-Palu?'
(a playful translation of 'Which mayor has been hammered?'),"
councillor Yunan Lampasio told Antara on Monday.

He said people outside the provincial capital were likely to
associate the town with the carpenter's tool.

The people's ancestors chose to name the town after a unique
plant which grew abundantly at the mouth of the river which
splits the city. The Dutch colonial government endorsed the
choice.

"Many of us feel offended by the joke. That's why the House of
Representatives should suggest a change of name," Yunan said.

Local legislator Rudy Mastura said residents here had since
1970 suggested that the town be renamed Bandar Kaili (Kaili
Harbor). Kaili is the popular name for raft. (amd)