Quote
vlinden
But for those of us first-world (mostly white) wanderers in the bleak terrain of the 21st Century, with no real roots or community or tribal paradigms to guide us, there is a new set of responsibilities to self and to the world. We have to maintain our humanity, dignity and sanity all on our own now, and learn to stand alone. I'm starting to feel that those of us who can do this will really stand out amongst the crowd, and that's how we'll find each other and start to feel the community we all do miss on one level or another.
Here is where I usually feel left out. I can trace my roots back to the founding of this country, unlike most Americans, from there back to when England and Spain controlled North America. Back even further to Europe. For me growing up it was difficult for me to understand that people didn't know their ethnic back ground or family history. I've learned even more about my ethnic background in the last few years and months. Often times people confuse me for being a forigner in my own damn country. Especaily people that aren't American's! Some people might think it's cool. Sometimes I do, but it's always accompanied by an ache in my gut to know that most of my family has been in America for 500 years, other members much much longer than that and people can't even tell it.
But one thing is for sure. I know where I came from and where I'm going to take it! I encourage everyone to take a look at ones history with an open mind and accept it for what it is. If you can't trace it back past yourself, so what? Start now and create your own family history from this point on. Plus with the rapid advancements in DNA analysis eventually you'll have the chance to trace your lineage and know your history.
This is a facinating subject unto itself.