How to convert a list of strings into a list of variables

[noydb]

On Aug 18, 11:12 am, David Robinow <drobi... at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 10:57 AM, noydb <jenn.du... at gmail.com> wrote:
> > How would you convert a list of strings into a list of variables using
> > the same name of the strings?
>
> > So, ["red", "one", "maple"] into [red, one, maple]
>
>   Why would you want to?

I am being passed the list of strings.  I have variables set up
already pointing to files.  I need to loop through each variable in
the list and do things to the files.  The list of strings will change
each time, include up to 22 of the same strings each time.