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Sorry, but family history really is bunk
The Spectator ^ | 30th April 2008 | Leo McKinstry

Posted on 05/08/2008 3:18:15 PM PDT by forkinsocket

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1 posted on 05/08/2008 3:18:15 PM PDT by forkinsocket
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To: forkinsocket

My wife did a geneology search on both mine and her family a couple summers ago. What we discovered only increased our national pride, not diminished it.


2 posted on 05/08/2008 3:20:19 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a 2nd BCT 10th Mountain Soldier home after 15 months in the Triangle of death)
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To: forkinsocket
I am an avid genealogist and I love doing the research. So far, I have over 22,000 names in my FTM. It is fascinating finding them way back in the 1400-1600’s and discovering how they died. Some died of the Plague when whole towns died. Some of my late husband's family were burned at the stake or beheaded in merry ole England. I love history and this is just a way to make the different periods come alive.
3 posted on 05/08/2008 3:21:56 PM PDT by MamaB
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To: forkinsocket

The family, not the state, is the foundation stone of society, and thus history. I am very interested in my bloodlines...and I teach them to my children and grandchildren. It is important to know who we are, where we came from, and the lessons learned from our ancestors. I see nothing wrong with the study of genealogy.


4 posted on 05/08/2008 3:21:56 PM PDT by LiteKeeper (Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
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To: LiteKeeper

Well stated. I love genealogy. I never thought I would say that. It is neat tying in the historical era with ancestors.


5 posted on 05/08/2008 3:23:07 PM PDT by MamaB
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To: SoldierDad

I have known for years that we have NA ancestors but one cousin does not want that fact mentioned. I feel sorry for him since that is what made us what we are today. Just wish I could find out more information on her.


6 posted on 05/08/2008 3:24:35 PM PDT by MamaB
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To: forkinsocket
GENEALOGY n. The tracing of descent from ancestors; alternatively, a particular account of such tracing for a specific individual or family. In the English-speaking world, all those who take up this pursuit announce sooner or later that they can trace their descent back to Edward III. This should surprise no one with a rudimentary knowledge of mathematics; there are probably one or two well-bred basset hounds who could also trace their descent back to Edward III. What is really surprising is that Edward III seems to be regarded as some kind of ultimate antecedent beyond whom the genealogist does not venture, even though anyone descended from Edward III is also descended from his father Edward II, and so on. The author can guess only that the prudery of the late Victorian age (when genealogy became a family pastime) chose to draw a veil before the memory of Edward II in view of the sybaritic Plantagenet’s bisexual reputation and appalling death (see impalement).

— Peter Bowler, The Superior Person’s Book of Words.


7 posted on 05/08/2008 3:24:52 PM PDT by dighton
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To: forkinsocket
prolier-than-thou

Where does this phrase come from?

8 posted on 05/08/2008 3:25:46 PM PDT by donna ("Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.")
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To: forkinsocket

When I learned US History as a kid, I learned about important events in our Nations history. When I studied my genealogy I learned that my ancestors were there. Fighting in those wars, moving West. They lived the history I only read about and it became more alive to me.


9 posted on 05/08/2008 3:26:36 PM PDT by passionfruit (When illegals become legal, even they won't do work American's won't do)
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To: MamaB

I’m not familiar with what “NA” refers to.


10 posted on 05/08/2008 3:26:58 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a 2nd BCT 10th Mountain Soldier home after 15 months in the Triangle of death)
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To: MamaB

Well said, indeed.


11 posted on 05/08/2008 3:27:09 PM PDT by Dick Bachert (INCENT)
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To: forkinsocket

I happen to believe I’ll meet the ansestors on the other side so looking up their names now is a total waste of time. I agree with the author.


12 posted on 05/08/2008 3:27:20 PM PDT by DManA
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To: forkinsocket

It seems this author doesn’t have an appreciation for history. Family histories are important to people within the family, nothing wrong with that! If the conversation bores you, politely say so and move on. Don’t criticize the interests of others and decry it as “bunk.”


13 posted on 05/08/2008 3:27:35 PM PDT by republicanequestrian
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To: forkinsocket

Liberals would like to ban genealogy studies because it discriminates against the artifically-inseminated & surrogated children of gay couples.


14 posted on 05/08/2008 3:27:46 PM PDT by Alouette (Vicious Babushka)
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To: passionfruit

Same here with what we learned about my family’s history.


15 posted on 05/08/2008 3:28:26 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a 2nd BCT 10th Mountain Soldier home after 15 months in the Triangle of death)
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To: forkinsocket

It sounds as though Leo McKinstry is a bit ticked off that he doesn’t have the library archives all to himself anymore ... the peasants are running amuck and Leo has decided to do something about it ... whine!


16 posted on 05/08/2008 3:28:26 PM PDT by TexGuy (If it has the slimmest of chances of being considered sarcasm ... IT IS!)
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To: forkinsocket
There is nothing whatsoever wrong with understanding your family history and taking pride in it. In many, many cases, it only serves to increase one's pride and thanfulness for their nation, particularly in these United States.

My father's side of the family goes back into Georgia into the late 1600s and very early 1700s. They escaped England so they could worship ALmighty God as they saw fit. From their they literally spread across the nation, north and south...east and west.

My mother's family came from eastern Europe (Slovak Republic area) in the mid to late 1800s, and her father came from Austria right around the turn of the century. They escaped despotism and persecution and poverty to find a new life in America. They were successful.

Both families sacrificed life's blood in defending freedom and this nation.

The contention that somehow it is wrong to take pride in these things is ludicrous. I guess it depends on what a person is looking for and what they want to hold up.

17 posted on 05/08/2008 3:28:34 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: SoldierDad

Native American. Sorry!


18 posted on 05/08/2008 3:29:55 PM PDT by MamaB
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To: blam; SunkenCiv

Ping.


19 posted on 05/08/2008 3:29:59 PM PDT by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: SoldierDad
I’m not familiar with what “NA” refers to.

Native American I would suppose ... unless, of course, it's North African.

20 posted on 05/08/2008 3:31:03 PM PDT by TheRightGuy (ERROR CODE 018974523: Random Tagline Compiler Failure)
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