These names and these people existed. Have you ever wondered why we don't refer to Daniel by his Babylonian name Belteshazzar but we are quick to use the Babylonian names for his friends? I think it is because of pop culture.
I cannot picture Shatchmo singing a soung about "Mishael, Azariah and Hananiah" but Shadrack Messhack and Abendego make a good sound together in English. We will remember them for what they did not for what their names mean.
But I am so sorry for the years of oppression they faced having to speak a language that was not their own and being forced to change their names to names that were not their own. This is the tragedy of colonization. Korean scholars were taken to Japan in the early 1900s. They were given Japanese names and forced to speak Japanese. They were not aloud to read or speak in Korean even with their friends. They had to secretly meet together at night to speak Korean and even then if they were caught they were put in prison and tortured.
We should remember "Mishael, Azariah and Hananiah."
I agree, and I think we will remember what they did too. Thanks.
You're welcome:)
Japan conquered Korea in the early 1900's? I didn't really know that. I'm American and was in Vietnam for 5 years teaching English & I learned Vietnamese history where China invaded Vietnam & Vietnamese learned Chinese words & customs. It is educational to compare that to how Babylon conquered Israel for example.