No.

Why do some people go in search of their roots? (I am not talking about looking for family)

I find weeds have stronger roots than flowers...

Nah,I only knew one grandparent.

No. I'm a tumbleweed

It's said that we should never forget them. We might have to back to them someday 

The reason I posted this thread was "Barack Obama" revisiting his "Roots" in Ireland.....

Made me remember the $ spent in Ireland to ignite/prolong  the "Troubles"....

All day since I read the thread title I have been hearing the theme tune to Roots in my head and the name Kunta Kinte.  I was very young when it was on and have very little knowledge of it.

As for family roots, yes I find it very interesting, busy trying to do a family tree for my parents for their 50th wedding anniversary next year.

I watched it Cinds, but can't remember a lot of it now.  Oh, and I'd love to do the family tree thing if I had the money 

I just find it uncomfortable, that people dig about in their "roots" and cling on to the "good"  parts....and dismiss the bad...............Being Blue Eyed...God forbid I find out that my Great Grandmother spent a weekend away in Germany..............

Been doing mine too, Cinds.  It's become an obsession

Fascinating stuff though, and quite surprising what you can unearth.

It'll be a lovely present for your parents - do they know you're researching or is it going to be a surprise?

I wish they'd show Roots again.  I've forgotten far too much of it but I can remember Ben Vereen playing Chicken George; he was fab.

I'll watch it again one of these days Cosmo..............but will probably be about 5 years down the line when I get rid of all the other stuff and get my photos on the comp and sorted and music on the comp sorted too 

  Believe me, I know exactly what you mean, Sprouty.

I've had Wonderful Life on DVD for about three years and haven't seen it yet 

What if the "roots" are bad........will that effect you and your families feelings?............

Syd, I've unearthed all kinds of 'bad' stuff - why should it affect me to such an extent?

Yeah, I'm saddened by the more recent stuff; my gt grandfather committed suicide and there's a murderer who hung even though he was found to be 'unwell'.   It's sad that's for sure.  Most of the 'sad' tales are known anyway - they're accepted as something that happened in the past.  Doesn't mean we're all going to follow suit or wear sackcloth because a rellie was a bad 'un.

That's the way I'd be looking at it too I think Cosmo 

I know Cosmo.......just grates on me, when Americans (and others) claim some kind of homecoming because of a long lost relative........

And the Angst of the Country they are a long lost relative of,  is carried into the present day on their shoulders......

But the Americans have only a very short history, Syd.  It's natural that they'd be interested in their 'roots'.  Flip side of that - I'm interested in the Americans because some of my forefathers were amongst the early settlers.

Ireland is rich in history.  Some want to know more about it and go looking;  others are more ambivelent.  It's the same for the Scots-Canadian link.

Sprouty!  Watch that video - it's a corker

Will do   I bought Polar Express at the same time and only managed to get to see it just before last christmas!  

I am just thinking, that ....."Agitation" is often caused by people with a feeling of "Roots" whilst the people living now, have dealt with it,  and are just, living today............ 

I think that's lurking in a dvd rack here too.

And no, of course I haven't seen it yet!

Well in many cases that's true enough, Syd.

As in all walks of life there are some that could start WWIII in an empty phone box, but I think in the main most people just want to know their past out of pure interest.  I bombed out of history back at school so this is a double whammy for me:  I find out what my lot were doing AND research a bit of the social climate at the time too.

Have you an indepth knowledge of your roots..ever traced your ancestry at all?

Tis good  a bit of escapism 

Cosmo.....I know what you are saying about finding individual "Roots" and I agree and understand the interest...............

I was talking about "Race" (Don't know whether that is the right word, I mean the Country you trace your ancestors back too )  "Roots"

Well said Cosi! I don't think finding about ones roots is always a negative experience that fuels bitterness. It can give some people more affinity to other parts of the world and a sense of being international and broadening horizons. I actually liked the way Obama paid homage to all sides of his ancestry. My mum is African so is grounded in her history, I know many African-Carribeans and African-Americans that have a conflicting and complex relation to Africa because of the circumstances of slavery. For them going back to the continent or retracing their ancestry offers a sense of closure and peace of mind which can be beneficial and positve.

My roots are important to me. I don't rule my life by it but .............I'm very interested to know who my ancestors were and what they did and how I came about.

Me too Soozy. I'd love to do it in the future. It's quite low down on the list of my priorities at the mo though.

Yes they know I am doing it, as I need their help.  My mothers parents were both born in the 1890's and her father was adopted by family because both of his parents died before he was 3 and it's that side my Mum would like to know about.

I have family roots....and I love them and I'm proud of them..............but I am talking about people perhaps leaving a country and 6 generations later the offspring claim alliance to that Country and its woes................

Hi Syd, I don't know if I can put this into words properly but, what has happened has happened? 

My father was Lithuanian ,when Lithuania got it's freedom it was very important for me to visit and find the other part of my family.

All the family were there to meet me at the airport,it was the most emotional meeting I have ever had and I will never forget.

I was taken to visit with my uncle ,he came out of his house to greet me,he looked just like my deceased Dad.

We could not speak a word to each other,his daughter told me that we were going to the lay flowers at the family grave.We were walking along and my uncle just took my hand,we didn't need words.

That's nice Erin, a 'bond' 

OK, Syd   But can you expand a bit please?

Is there a specific problem with tracing back and finding you're from another country or continent originally?

Is it a myth that the African-Caribbeans (in particular) were renowned for passing on their history through song, Suze?  I was led to believe - so may be way out of whack here - that they did it in a way to disguise it from their slave masters.  One of my first friends as a kid was from St. Kitts and I can still recall her telling me that story as we sat on the doorstep.

Funny what you can remember from yonks ago...especially when I can't recall last week in full detail!

I always thought all sides of my family (from gt grandparents going back) were just born and bred in the London area.  I got that wrong big time.  There's a long line of Scottish, Irish and Canadian which I'd never known about.  Prior to that it gets more international.

xx

Adoption is always hard to trace, Cinds - but not impossible even if you have scant info.

The 1890's are well documented and the records are pretty detailed.  Hope you get the leads and links that you need.

Oh, and the local parish churches around the time you're researching are pretty helpful too.

It's just a case of making contact with the right person.  Failing that, a local historian will offer all kinds of info too.

Good luck x

Perhaps that's more a case of misguided romanticism than any thing else, Syd?

But not everyone's angle is to concentrate on historical 'woes'

That's a wonderful account, Erin.

Did you ever see Lisa Kudrow's Who Do You Think You Are?  She traced eastern European relatives and her meeting reminds me of what you've described here.

That's lovely Erin.