We've been pondering the question, does family History matter? at Pharos Tutors.
From an immediate, medical perspective its easy to justify why an understanding of your nearest generations and their medical conditions could be important.
But what about those of us researching our family roots going back generations, hundreds of years? Does it matter? Or is it nothing more than idle curiosity? A mere narcisstic fascination with our own lives that drives us forward?
If genealogical research does matter then perhaps its because it teaches us how incredibly resilient we are at overcoming adversity. Each of us is the result of thousands of years of procreation and survival against migrations, invasions, plagues, persecution, wars, natural disasters and man-made menaces.
We know that extensive research into our roots can trigger a deeply emotional response, which include feelings of both pride and shame. But it also shows us how interconnected we are to one another and this knowledge of a common heritage could inspire tolerance and understanding among groups that are more closely related than anyone ever admits.
We think that matters.