Out! Out! Out!

I would lament, but when I look 1000 years back, a good number of my ancestors were Norman.

Besides, didn’t the Normans help promote the growth of the common law?

Please send reparations check soonest

Please send 1000-year genealogy first.

Tolkien believed that ancestry went beyond genetics. Certainly, whether it is genetic or not, I have found the English/ Norman ruling class to be missing something from their psyche – they seem to lack depth, either deep emotions are absent or else they are cut-off from them. This presumably leads to their characteristically superficial affect, psychopathic behaviour and *unnatural* vices. And this defect seems to be somewhat transmissible to those upstarts who lack the ancestry but pledge loyalty to the rulers.

Significantly, the Mormon founding population from the UK was apparently from the lower classes almost entirely – especially from the more vigorous and conscientious skilled artisan class.

“Significantly, the Mormon founding population from the UK was apparently from the lower classes almost entirely – especially from the more vigorous and conscientious skilled artisan class.”

That describes my ancestors very well! The Norman ancestry came through some illegitimate kids of nobles, the way those things happen…

The more I learn about my ancestors, though, the more I agree about the power of ancestry. In their stories, I see the same attitudes and strengths that I see it my now-living family. And, as I can see a lot of my extended family via social media, I see those same attitudes across the generations, not just down the generations. It is very interesting to me to see so many of us with common ancestors 100 years removed that think and behave so similarly.

JRL: I see three possibilities:

a) genetic transmission. (nature)

b) social/behavioral transmission by training and example. (nurture.)

c) Parents/children had similar traits and personalities in pre-mortal life, and we were “scheduled” or lined-up (who would be born to whom) based on those same traits and personalities.

I think all three can be be in play, separately, serially, at the same time, and to varying degrees.

I understand this, but I do have a question. Do you mind answering?