Nationalism, patriotism and a whole bunch of other -isms. I am baffled as to why people feel the need to point out they have x% Viking ancestry… Or that their great-great-grandparents were German.
If you have ever dared to look closely at your country’s history, what were you told and what did you find out?
I am intrigued as to why people believe heritage (a rather one sighted version though) is so important.
Did humanity not begin in Africa? Do you claim African heritage?
From then onward it depends on what sources you consult. The general consensus will announce first civilizations in the Fertile Crescent of the Levant. People started farming and hence had to settle. Do you claim Mesopotamian/Western Asian heritage?
Makes one wonder how humanity’s cradle and the birth place of our first civilization are nowadays regarded as uncivilized and savage regions. Funny how losing one’s pigmentation changes things.
It takes quite a few generations to lose pigmentation. In regions with fewer sunlight, skin tone adapts in order to absorb the sunshine vitamin.
The first settlement in mainland Europe was in Crete, the Minoan civilization (Knossos). Then mainland Greece had the Mycenaean civilization followed by the Celtic civilization. Only then the Roman empire popped up. Some people would only recognize the Greeks and/or Romans as first civilizations as if the former were uncivilized. Fits right in the European mindset that only themselves were civilized and everyone else Barbarians. Apparently in Greek blah blah blah translated as “bar bar bar”. Perhaps that is why the Greek tourist spots always sport a Bar Street. Romans took over the term. Initially it just meant, one that does not speak Greek. The Romans adjusted the term to anyone perceived non-civilized or non-Romans. Later even evolving from lack of refinement to primitive to outright violent behavior.
Funny how some people will claim Roman or Greek heritage (I am referring to people without Italian or Greek ancestry). Is that the reason why they need to label their “opponent” (or those not sharing their views) as barbaric?
When the Roman era came to an end, many tribes were ready to took over. Welcome Dark Ages. At some stage European royalty wore wigs and plenty of perfume to hide their fear of water. Fascinatingly the Islamic Golden Age helped Europe literally into their Renaissance.
And still there seems no love lost and Europe does not value the region. Sure, Europe excelled, but was it advantageous for humankind? Colonialism, exploitation, imperialism, slavery,…
Since Europe got rich, they found some land ‘down under’ to dispose ‘their criminals’, well, even hungry English children were imprisoned. After looking for a shortcut to Asian spice markets ‘a new world’ was discovered. The indigenous people of both continents were most probably not amused. After WW2 Europe even offered some territory to a people they disliked and a third case of displacements, slaughter, colonialism and apartheid happened. All in name of civilization? Sounds more like wanting influence, control.
Anyways, in Europe it was no paradise either for the people. A few certainly got filthy rich. And christianity made sure to take their share (and even more). In feudal times the foundations were laid for capitalism. Nobility and royalty controlled the land. then quarreled and the villagers became soldiers. Afterwards the borders were redrawn and life continued as nothing happened. Sort of…
In a previous blog I wrote that Jutes and Anglii (from current Denmark) and Saxons (Germany) moved to England. The Anglii gave their name to the land and the language. The Franks, that gave their name to the country of France, came from the Rhine region, yes, Germany.
So, the people now calling themselves French, do they claim German heritage?
Everyone speaking English or English nationality, do they claim German or Danish heritage?
I realize the heritage thing is mostly American. All of the above is just to point out where to draw the line.
Perhaps it’s worth mentioning that the x% African and x% Mesopotamian are the most important of all. But I imagine those are blatantly ignored. Not?
Are we human or are we looking to create more minorities to oppress, bully, exploit, etc?
So, What ancestry do you claim?
Celtic Belgae 