Name That Dictator

Name That Dictator

Back when I was on the college speech team my best-known speech was a humourous look at spelling. One of the jokes I cracked was about the many different ways to spell the name of the dictator of Libya.

25 years later and I'm still recycling the joke. Who'd've though we'd still be worried about this guy?

In any case, as he doubles down and prepares to go out all Ceaucescu style, this may be the last chance. The Times of London has compiled a handy list. I only offered three different spellings; I was always lazy on the homework in college and three was enough for the laugh. But here we have a whopping 37:

1) Muammar Qaddafi

2) Mo'ammar Gadhafi

3) Muammar Kaddafi

4) Muammar Qadhafi

5) Moammar El Kadhafi

6) Muammar Gadafi

7) Mu'ammar al-Qadafi

8) Moamer El Kazzafi

9) Moamar al-Gaddafi

10) Mu'ammar Al Qathafi

11) Muammar Al Qathafi

12) Mo'ammar el-Gadhafi

13) Moamar El Kadhafi

14) Muammar al-Qadhafi

15) Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi

16) Mu'ammar Qadafi

17) Moamar Gaddafi

18) Mu'ammar Qadhdhafi

19) Muammar Khaddafi

20) Muammar al-Khaddafi

21) Mu'amar al-Kadafi

22) Muammar Ghaddafy

23) Muammar Ghadafi

24) Muammar Ghaddafi

25) Muamar Kaddafi

26) Muammar Quathafi

27) Mohammer Q'udafi

28) Muammar Gheddafi

29) Muamar Al-Kaddafi

30) Moammar Khadafy

31) Moammar Qudhafi

32) Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi

33) Muammar el-Qaddafi

34) Muammar Gadafy

35) Muammar Gaddafi

36) Muammar Gadaffy

37) and finally the Libyan Embassy spelling: Muamar Qadaffi

Try fitting all that on a visual aid.