Memorial Day 2013

I'm traveling this year for Memorial Day weekend, but my thoughts are never far from my ancestors and family members who served in the military, especially those who died in service for their country.

Above is a photo of my cousin Kenneth VonRonn, who died at the age of 20 while serving in the Army in Iraq. If you don't know Kenny's story, please take a minute and read it here. I never get tired of telling this story and I hope I never will.

For my readers here in the United States, please take a minute to tell your own story of someone who served - whether it is in a blog post, out on social media, or even to a stranger while having coffee or a beer. If we don't remember our loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice and if we don't keep telling the story, then that sacrifice is diminished. And it fades away and is lost to history.

There are stories like Kenney's to be told. Tell them, especially this weekend.

© 2013, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Tweet

Reasons to Stop Saying "21st Century Genealogist"

Readers who follow me on Facebook over at the Technology for Genealogy group know that I am a big fan of Richard Byrne and his blog Free Technology for Teachers. As a genealogy educator, I find that much of what he shares at his site is applicable to the family history community as much as it applies to grade school teachers.

His recent post "21 Reasons to Stop Saying '21st Century Teacher'" made me consider whether or not the term "21st Century Genealogist" is overused. While I won't actually list 21 reasons, I think that several bullet points do have merit and apply to us as genealogists:

• We live in the 21st Century. If you're researching genealogy today, you're a 21st Century Genealogist.

• We live in the 21st Century. Even if you're using older methods (many are and always will be valid methods) you're still a 21st Century Genealogist.

• No one worth impressing is impressed by "21st Century Genealogist."

• A century is a long time.

• Good genealogists have always consulted with other genealogists. Social media didn't invent professional learning networks, personal learning networks, or professional learning groups.

• Good genealogists have always been life-long learners looking to bring tools into their research. Google didn't invent that.

• Writing or saying "21st Century Genealogist" is meaningful if you're trying to help someone win at Buzzword Bingo.

As many of us use different tech tools in searching our ancestors and we work to share them with others in the genealogy community, perhaps we need to avoid terms and labels that can be divisive such as "21st Century Genealogist."

I remember when I got started in genealogy: Yes, there were those "Blue Meanies" who could easily have been road blocks to my progress in finding my ancestors.  But I simply ran them over, turned them into "speed bumps" and sought out those giving, helpful souls who shared their wisdom and shared it freely. Those who did it best were those who avoided marginalizing terminology.

So, my fellow genealogists, what good stuff did you find today? And can you share it?

© 2013, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Tweet

Marriage Equality: What Would My Ancestors Think?

It isn't uncommon that a United States Supreme Court decision impacts our daily lives as citizens of this country. The Court was created to sort out the conflicts of law and to align practices and procedures with our Constitution and its intent as our Founders envisioned.

But it isn't every day that the course of my life hangs on the decision of those who sit on that bench and who can determine whether or not I have the same rights as others. My partner of close to 13 years and I would like the benefits and protections of marriage which are offered to others.  That's all - plain and simple.

What I want in terms of marriage doesn't take anything away from anyone else. What I want doesn't demean anyone's marriage or make marriage a travesty. What I desire in having the right to marry doesn't really impact the rights of others. It doesn't mean you'll pay more for a car, a house or a latte. It really has little to do with you; but everything to do with me.

All I desire are the same protections that any committed, loving couple would received on a state and federal level. I want the same benefits in terms of taxes and inheritance. I want the same protections when it comes to health care and property rights. I want the same legal recognition of my relationship with another person.

And I wonder what my ancestors would make of all this. Would their thinking have evolved to a point where they could understand marriage equality? Perhaps they even knew of a same sex couple, even if they didn't understand their "lifestyle" or "choice." Of course I'd like to think that they'd understand any or all of the issues involved, but I've not deluded myself in such thinking. Many of my ancestors thought that enslaving others was permissible and that treating women as property was acceptable.

What I do know is this: my ancestors did evolve from such beliefs held by previous generations and were forced - sometimes even by court decisions - to recognize that the universe bends towards justice.

And so we live in a country where equality is not just a lofty goal set out in a 225 year old piece of paper, but a reality we all deserve to see in our own lifetime.

© 2013, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Tweet