At 02:11 PM 9/26/00 -0400, Roy Stockdill wrote: >Cyndi wrote..... > > >>Actually, you explained my reasoning for me. I use the term "locality" >because there is no "nation" called Benelux and a site like GENUKI covers >more than one nation as well (the United Kingdom and the Republic of >Ireland). Of course, a site such as that for Federation of East European >Family History Societies (FEEFHS) represents numerous nations that exist >today or existed at some point throughout history in what is now Eastern >Europe. Therefore the word "national" doesn't describe the contents of the > >list, but "locality-specific" does. In genealogy we research based on >localities, not on nationalities (just ask anyone with Prussian >ancestors...)<< > >I TAKE your point - it was just the term "locality-specific" that somehow >smacked to me of Harvard Business School-type jargon which I abhor, just as >I hate government civil service officialese and gobbledegook terms like >"workstations" (I still call them desks) and "downsizing" (I call it giving >people the sack) and "interpersonal workplace relationships" (bonking >somebody in the office, we call that!). > >I would agree with you about genealogy often transcending nationalities and >national boundaries and I can sympathise with people whose ancestry is >rooted in countries that no longer exist. However, it's not so much of a >problem in Britain since the last time we were successfully invaded by >anybody and had our nationality seriously challenged was by a fellow called >Bill of Normandy in 1066 (unless you count all those Yankee GIs and airmen >in World War II who walked off with half our womenfolk!!!). You don't >really hear people talking much about having Norman ancestry, since the >number who can actually trace their pedigree back over 900 years to the >Normans is infinitesimal. And even those who can wouldn't think of >themselves as being French! > >Likewise, coming from Yorkshire for many generations I undoubtedly possess >some Viking ancestry, but I certainly don't think of myself as being Danish >or Norwegian since the likelihood of my being able to trace my ancestry >back to the 8th and 9th centuries, when the Vikings arrived in Yorkshire, >is absolutely zilch. Nor do we think of ourselves in the wider context of >Europeans - that is an entirely political concept which Mr Blair is keen to >foist onto us. Genealogically speaking, we are English, Welsh, Scottish and >Irish, with influxes of Jews and Huguenots in earlier centuries and Asians >and Afro-Caribbeans in more recent times. > >It would seem to me that the longer a people become settled in a country, >then the more likely they are to think of themselves in "national" terms. > >Roy Stockdill Roy - I feel you may not want to be reminded of this, but there really *are* other countries and other groups of people living across the water (in all directions) from the British Isles. <G> Migration and movement of people is common throughout the world, so this isn't something unique to the United States. Therefore this isn't coming from a "U.S.-centric" viewpoint. After many years as Operations Officer in the International Division at Puget Sound Bank, I see the world as it is -- encompassing all countries, all localities, all nationalities and all types of people. After many years as a genealogist, I see the world as it is -- encompassing recent, ancient, religious, ethnic and political history. In other words, all things apply and all things should be considered as we research. There is a big, worldwide picture that needs to be remembered as we all take our places in this society that is the Internet. It is global. Political and physical boundaries do not apply here. If I were to push an American viewpoint and apply it all across the Internet, I would be wrong. If I were to push a historical viewpoint that only takes into account the history of "my" country or my family, I would be wrong. If I were to push the idea that an atlas published during any one specific period in history is correct, I would be wrong. All things apply. This is one world with many people, many ethnicities, many beliefs, many locations, and many versions of reality. It isn't appropriate to view everything from my own perspective. That wouldn't be fair to everyone else. My Grandad Nash had a favorite traditional Indian prayer that I feel applies to all things in our daily life: "Great Spirit - Grant that I may not criticize my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins." For what its worth, I don't subscribe to pc-babble either. And I am far from Harvard. I was born in Seattle, Washington, raised in Puyallup, Washington, and attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. My father's family has roots in Washington, North Dakota, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Germany, Canada, England and Ireland. My mother's family has roots in California, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Connecticut, Sweden, Canada and Ireland. And to hammer my point home just one more time -- I wish I could recall which genealogical lecturer said this, but my brain refuses to recollect just now -- genealogy is like real estate. It is all about location, location, location. I'm off to fix broken links, Cyndi