We've all heard it before, "Oh, I wouldn't want to find out about my ancestors, there might be one that was a horse thief or something worse!" or "I'm afraid of what I might find out about them."
BAH!If you don't have the time, say so! If you don't find it interesting, say so! I understand that not everybody finds history or genealogy interesting. But don't make up silly excuses for not wanting to do genealogy.
My response to the people that use these excuses is usually: "Oh none of that stops me. Especially since those are the people that leave so many records."
[followed by a short chuckle] Ok I'm not trying to convert anybody to genealogy. It's not like if I get one more convert I get a toaster! I mean don't just discount doing it because of the fear of finding out your ancestor didn't pay his taxes in 1854. Since when have we become a country of 'fraidy cats?
The more I think about it the more I think my future response may be: "I am not responsible for the actions that my ancestors may or may not have done." [delivered with a very stern look]
Of course it could also be said to those same people, "Maybe they don't want to find out that you are a descendant of theirs!"
Why does everybody want to take credit for or is ashamed of something that someone else did? Maybe it is the group mentality of humans: you know how we all are proud of our football/soccer
/hockey teams that win a tournament when we had absolutely nothing to do with the winning of said award. But I do believe that as a society we have got to make history a priority for our children. As Winston Churchill stated, "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." This is the same as with our ancestors, if we don't look back and see what they did, we might repeat the "mistakes" that they made.
I'm sorry for my outburst but sometimes people irritate me with their goofiness!
I will get off of my soap box now and return to my more pleasant self.
Hope you enjoyed, glad you stopped by and please come back again ;)
Very well said Deborah!
ReplyDeleteOh how I loved reading your "soap box" rant!! I was just thinking along the same lines today...even discussed it with my husband. Just this morning one relative said to me.."oh, I don't mind that you mentioned so-and-so in your blog, BUT.." Arrgh! The NERVE. YOU DON'T MIND? ("so-and-so" is grandfather to a number of descendants although he is an "illegitimate" grandfather if you know what I mean. Still he's a biological grandfather dad-gum-it-all!)This same relative also told me NOT to blog about it if I found other "ethnic" groups within the bloodline.....BIG SIGH! Just who's blog is this? Do we leave out or change parts of our history because one person is squeamish? No...we tell the TRUTH and tell it in a dignified and tasteful manner! And of course...said relative always thanks me for the hard work I do. Go figure! Thank you for allowing me on your soap box for a minute Deborah!
ReplyDeleteDeborah, It has been a long time since I've told somebody, because they've all known for years. Many don't understand. Anyway, I loved your rant. Between you and me, I'd rather have my ancestors than some of the living!
ReplyDeleteI agree completely, Deborah. Well said!
ReplyDeleteWell said. I have to say, I'm grateful that I don't (YET!) know anyone in our family with that kind of attitude! I love the quip suggesting that the ancestors might not be so thrilled with the descendant....
ReplyDeleteOh! I am so glad that you all agree and don't think that I was being too mean. It's very reassuring to know that I am not the only person in the world that feels this way.
ReplyDeleteLisa, I do agree that we are to tell the truth. My father always said, "you can tell anybody anything it's just in the way you tell them." I also equate it to a reporter that is reporting on a story. Just the facts!
Again thanks for being so supportive. :)