Recently,
TLC brought back the show “Who Do You Think You Are?” My wife and I enjoy
watching the weekly episodes and learning about the interesting family
histories that some celebrities are willing to share with the world. Seeing the
reactions on the faces of those people can also be just as intriguing as we
both know that feeling well of when something unexpected is discovered.
However,
for me there has always been something missing. One of the fascinating aspects
of genealogy for me has been the vastly different stories that our ancestors
have. Many times, if you trace enough lines, you can find your ancestors in
opposition whether it may be north against south, Indian versus settler, or
some other means of conflict. These are the stories that shape us.
We are shaped by all our ancestors and the lives that each one of them lived both the remarkable and the ordinary. Sometimes it is more about the place rather than the person that adds depth and understanding. For instance, knowing that one of my ancestors came from Alsace Lorraine region in France by considered himself and was recognized upon immigration as German adds an interesting complexity to my ancestor’s life and to our family history.
Do
we consider ourselves only German as our ancestor did or do we more accurately
consider ourselves both? This is the kind of interesting internal question that
really doesn’t have an answer as it is nearly impossible to balance the
considerations from an ancestor’s life and how they view themselves with the facts
that shape the world around them. This is the type of question that is
frequently missing from the series.
During
each episode the story of discovery is fascinating but it is by no means an accurate
depiction of the process. Anyone who has done any kind of in depth genealogy
understands the time and energy it takes to sometimes find just one item.
Generation after generation the tedious process repeats until finally, after
countless cycles the leaves of the tree begin to come into focus.
There
are times when information is readily available, especially with the constantly
expanding digital databases like ancestry.com, but that is still not the norm
as many records remain confined to paper or microfilm. When you have to sort
through piles of paper and reels of film in order to find a single document you
have a much deeper appreciation of your heritage and you hold fast to the
knowledge that you had to earn. It was not given to you in front of a camera;
you had to work for the information, you had to sweat to find out who you are.
That
is what is missing from this show. It is not about being handed your family
history, it is about earning your heritage and connecting with your ancestors.
That is how you truly find out who you are.
Many
of you in the states may have missed this episode about J.K. Rowling as it is
part of the UK series of the same name so I thought I would share it will all
of you. There are subtle differences between the UK and US but they are equally
entertaining. Enjoy!
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