Dick Eastman (in his recap of the Helen Hunt episode, http://bit.ly/H6KXsp) states, in so many words, that he can identify with Helen Hunt's episode on
WDYTYA because, in part, it didn't reference slavery, terrible crimes, or
anything else sensationalized. Helen Hunt's family tree, with its mixed stories
of wealth and poverty, is typical of millions of Americans; and as such Mr.
Eastman can identify with this episode.
I, too, can identify
with this episode.
Persecution, civil rights, and human rights are a part of
the stories in my family tree. Anti-Semitism is just as awful and heinous as
American slavery. Ms. Hunt's ancestors were able to dodge a nasty bullet by changing
their name from Rothenberg to Roberts. That's a HUGE genealogical point to
consider.
Alcoholism must be
seen as a terrible crime. The Women's Christian Temperance Union, or WCTU, was pointing out the resultant behavior of
excessive drinking - the beatings and abuses to women, adults, and children -
was the crime. How many people escaped that
environment and changed their names? Helen's ancestors profited from such
behavior. They made their fortune by importing sugar that went into the making of rum.
They also fought it; her 2nd great grandmother was a member of the WCTU. She fought for women's right to vote and was able to cast her ballot before she died. My ancestors and elders had to fight for the right to vote as
recent as 1964 and today.
Those are
significant genealogical take-aways from this episode.
More than once did
Helen Hunt want to know where the money in her family came from and how was it
made. She is happy to be associated with the Wells Fargo Bank by way of ancestry. It's the same
bank that used predatory lending practices and has foreclosed mortgages on millions
of Americans.
So yes, we both can
identify with this episode if only for different reasons. Helen Hunt's family
tree really is typical of millions of Americans - but in so many different
ways. And that's why this episode of WDYTYA was so good.
The episode can be seen online at http://bit.ly/H6M2QT
Peace &
Blessings,
"Guided by the
Ancestors"
