Record Keeping
Hi.
As we all do sometimes is overlook or disguard what we do not like to see or hear. So I wrote this for my records.
Genealogy will bring to you information that sometimes makes you want to bury your head in the sand. At the least "let's not put it in the record"
Many people feel that way. So for instance, do we not enter those that past if they were slave owners? , Were jailed, could not read, were rich or poor, beat their kids or wives, used liquor too much. Belonged to the Wiggs Party or was an abolitionist or for that matter was a member of the Communist party. Maybe they weren't married but had seven kids. Were they Gay and living together? Did they have a Homosexual marriage? (Same sex marriage). Was there a mixed blood you do not want to talk about? How about uncle Charlie that was the father of your sister. Where they a member of the KKK? And so it goes....
But you see, that’s life. It is the history of your past. It is the behaviors that have affected who you are today. Even to the fact you are here. Keeping it a secret is not the answer. It does not help you understand who your ancestors were. Many records have gone by the roadside of life because of shame or just a misplaced sense of pride.
We cannot predict how what we do today will be looked upon tomorrow. We cannot or at the least, should not fail to record our stories. (Even thought I fail in this not because of shame but because of pain of remembrances. I do my best) Better to examine and understand and learn than to miss the opportunity of self-betterment and development of self.
Give compassion to the human frailties of our ancestors. We may need, for ourselves, the same consideration.
Not "logging it" to avoid an embarrassment is not going to change the past. And may be a reason for that "brick wall" we often hear about and find in our own search.
It was not so long ago that being a member of the Nazi youth groups was a prideful thing and later becoming a member of the Nazi Party was the ultimate achievement. The time period and place was the determining factor of acceptance. Time and place changed and so did history. Not recording the events regardless of our acceptance does not change the past. It does provide us insight to the people and the events that shaped their lives. And will also shape ours.
PJ Mathon.
If you have time,see...www.Sentimental-Lane.com
More Replies:
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Re: Record Keeping
Rose Jarvies 5/18/03
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Re: Record Keeping
kathleen anderson 4/25/03
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Re: Record Keeping
TJ mathon 4/26/03
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Re: Record Keeping
kathleen anderson 4/26/03
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Re: Record Keeping
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Re: Record Keeping
TJ mathon 4/26/03
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Re: Record Keeping
kathleen anderson 4/26/03
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Re: Record Keeping
kathleen anderson 4/26/03
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Re: Record Keeping
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Re: Record Keeping