How to Appreciate—and Get Over—the Cultural Influence of Your German Ancest
Submitted by Marci on Thursday, April 19 @ 01:16:40 MST |
 We all know that the advent of certain technologies has allowed information—and a lot of it—to be dispersed to even those who in past historical epochs would have been the gentry and the peasants of the medieval caste system. Today however is a great age…an age in which even students with moderate pecuniary allowances can spout off the rich cultures of “c’est la vies,” “buen provechos” “Eppur, si muoves” and German Zeitgeist theories with an air that says “I’ve arrived, and walked through the door of refined culture.”
…..And yet, have these students stopped to acknowledge the strange new mentality that is only beginning to be embraced en masse? Have they stopped to consider the mentality, which until this moment has been scarce and savored by only a very minute minority?
Why it Didn’t Make a lot of Sense for Your German Ancestor to be Learning Other Languages (Unless he was Martin Luther of course)
In the beginning of time—okay not Adam and Eve—but a little later perhaps, when people began to make their own groups, kingdoms or tribes, they did so because they wanted to be with people who were like them, could live with them, and could struggle with them. There wasn’t a lot of time and resources to learn what others were doing. Mainly people had to take care of their own needs and wants, and in general people stuck together with people who were like them. These groups created mutual laws and standards and became even more melded and when others groups did catch a glimpse, they were easily labeled as different. There were the studious cultures, the philosophical, the lazy, the serious, the passionate, the live-it-uppers. The interesting thing is that they probably didn’t know they were abnormally philosophical or lazy. What stereotypical culture does your German ancestor come from?
Your German Ancestor has Played Two Parts
When it comes to your German ancestor, he or she has influenced you with both biological and cultural influences. Where the biology begins and ends is not conclusive so we will assume that cultural influences play a part in the following characteristics that will be mentioned. So, how has he or she influenced your own attitudes and views? Let’s take a look at some of the characteristics that are associated with people from Germany.
Typical German Stereotypes
I have to admit that I had to smile and internally chuckle when I found a cleverly direct and even (do I dare say it?) German–like description2 coming from one “Thumberlina,” about how she views German people. She describes Germans as follows:
- “[…] blonde, blue-eyed pale aryan
- No humour
- Diligent
- steal the sun loungers
- Goes on holiday to Spain - like the Brits
- cold
- direct
- beer drinking
- meat eaters”
Sure, some of these descriptions might not be exactly flattering but many stereotypes and words actually have a sort of duality; a good/bad, yin/yang sort of meaning. In other words, there is a bright side to most stereotypes. So, if you have any of the following attitudes or traits, you can thank your German ancestor for them.
Can’t your German ancestor take a joke?
Do you have a sense of humor? If you are not sure, then ask a friend. Germans are not known for their sense of humor (at least not in the British/American viewpoint). Instead, they are known for their rationality. This cultural tendency is portrayed in a joke3 that I found online about a German child who is supposedly born to an English couple and does not speak until he is 17 years old because it wasn’t until then that he needed to express dissatisfaction. Perhaps this stereotype means nothing to you but perhaps it hits a sore spot for you or your family. Don’t worry. A reputation of rationality is definitely a good thing, but keep in mind that a reputation of rationality combined with a sense of humor is even better. So, if you would like to further develop your sense of humor I found an online article4 that suggests reading literature and watching programs that “are funny to YOU.” Another article5 suggests “surround[ing] yourself with people who make you laugh,” and “pok[ing] fun at yourself,” which doesn’t mean that you make fun of yourself but that you realize that things you do could be perceived as humorous by others.
1 http://genealogy.about.com/od/germany/a/basics.htm (information on Prussia and past German culture, etc.)
2 http://malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070414045243AApUan7
3 http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/article/0,,1781004,00.html
4 http://www.clown-ministry.com/index_1.php?/site/articles/humor_for_social_situations/
5 http://www.onlinedatingschool.com/sense-of-humor.htm
Marci Crane is a web content specialist for Innuity. For more information about how you can find out more about your own German ancestor, please feel free to learn more about the Price & Associates genealogy services.
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