Ever since he came to power in 1971, the Ugandan director Idi Amin has attracted considerable publicity, mostly adverse. As Robert Funt points out in the November 1977 Word Ways, this tyrant is of special interest to palindromists. The time seems right for a short logological analysis of IDI AMIN

Grant, Jeff

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20 NIM AID, I D I AMIN JEFF GRANT Hastings, New Zealand Ever since he carne to power in 1971, the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin ha s attracted considerable publicity, mostly adver se. As Robert Funt points out in the November 1977 Word Ways, thi~ tyrant is of special interest to palindromists. The time seems right for a short 'logologi­cal analysis of IDI AMIN. The word AMIN is defined as 'amine I ih .The World Book Dictionary (Doubleday, 1970), and is shown as a variant of I ame.en' , a minor In­dian official, in Webster's Third Edition. AWN has at least eight transposals (there are probably more) - - ANIM, INAM, MAIN, MANI and MINA from the, OED, IMAN from Webster I s New Geographical Dic­tionary, MlAN from Webster's Second Edition, and NIAM from the Time s Index- Gazetteer. I have been unable to find a dictionary transposition of IDI A MIN , although MINI-AID seems plausible (a type of small hearing-aid, pe r­haps?) , and there is the two-word term IN ADIMI. I Adimi' is a town on the Sea of Japan in the Russian SFSR. Transdeletion is somewhat easier -- AMIDIN, DIMINI, DIAMIN, MI-DIAN and DAMNII all appear in majo r English dictionarie s. The only legitimate transaddition I have been able to locate is A MINDIVI Islands, tpe northernmo st group of the Laccadive Islands in the Arabian Sea. Othe r attempts at transaddition include the implied terms MID-INDI.A an(i DIAMINIC, of or relating to a diamine (c, f. , aminic' in Webster's Third). By adding two letters to IDI AMIN and then transposing, the 'words DIAMIDINE, INDIANISM, MIDIAN­ITE (all Webster's Third) and IMINO-ACID (OED) can be formed. It can be seen that IDI is the start of IDIocy, and AMIN is found in dre AMINg, Here is a quick quiz where the words described contain either IDI or AMIN. For example, the clue' dryness' would lead to arIDIty. 1. vigorously healthy 6. to look over 2. staying powe r 7. interbred 3. news 8. frothy 4. possession of ready cash 9. midday (obsolete) 5. starvation 10. breeding places If you remove the three I' s from IDI AMIN it leave s DAMN, which can 1:: Appa stude all tl: rep1a F dent his r 21 or Idi Amin )bert Funt f special logologi-Dictionary minor In-t eight .IN, MANI ,phical Dic­om the ~I A MIN , .aid, per­lS a town )lAMIN, e is slands in implied ( c. f. MIN lAN­rmed. s found d contain lead to , which can be quickly turned into the appropriate palindrome DAMN MAD. Apparently this phrase appeared on T- shirts worn by some radical students at the Idi Amin University in Kampala. However, it seems all these garments were removed (together with their wearers) and replaced with shirts bearing the inscriptlon AMIN ANIMA! or I DIG IDI. Finally, here are two compo sitions suppo sedly written by a dis si­dent Ugandan palindromist (and T- shirt manufacturer) shortly before his reported fall from the thirteenth floor of a police station in Entebbe. IDI To Idi Amin I say I Fie! 1 Did I gibe Big Idi? (Deify a sin.) II m a idiot! 10 stop, sedate bastard!' I bark. Rats! No casinos I oppugn. Is Uganda 1 s aging nig A sad nag using up poison? Is a con stark? Rabid rats abet a de spot, So to Idi Amin I say I Fie! 1 Did I gibe Big Idi? ( De ify a B in. ) - - 1 II m a idiot. t MISSIONARY'S LAMENT Idiots! 0 pen an epos to Idi; - - Cite negro fetor! Will age kill Amin, As I hem a newer enemy? A leer frets no man I' m aiding; I arraign Idi Amin, - - A monster! Free laymen ere we name His animal-like gall. I wrote for genetic Idiots, ! Open an epos to Idi ! I 

Nim Aid, Idi Amin

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Nim Aid, Idi Amin

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