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WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
Fri Oct 13, 2017, 09:51 PM Oct 2017

Bernie and Larry David on the PBS show, Finding Your Roots

Not only does Larry do a great Bernie but it was interesting to see how similar the lives and ancestry of these two men is.

The thing I found the most interesting was watching how they each reacted as they learned more about the history of their family members. It was very moving and as they learned more I too gladly learned a bit more history that I hadn't known that much about.

http://www.pbs.org/video/episode-1-the-impression-t9e1xe/

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WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
4. I did too. Unfortunately what we learn...
Sat Oct 14, 2017, 03:49 AM
Oct 2017

About our family's history isn't always something to be proud of. IMO knowing it may be an opportunity for learning and growth though.

Rhiannon12866

(206,252 posts)
2. Thanks so much for posting this! I did watch it, but I meant to watch it again...
Fri Oct 13, 2017, 11:40 PM
Oct 2017

It's pretty amazing since Larry David did such a great Bernie impression on SNL, but it all makes sense now, LOL. I'm interested in genealogy - my brother just sent me 123 and Me for my birthday - and I wouldn't have known about this show if the Larry David-Bernie Sanders connection hadn't been so well publicized. It was very entertaining, too!

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
3. I love this stuff. I'm an adoptee and in August I finally did...
Sat Oct 14, 2017, 03:44 AM
Oct 2017

The 23andMe & then in early September I did Ancestry. Between the results of those two tests, uploading my raw data to a few other free (or cheap) genealogy sites, the 'non-identifying' info NY gave me, my knowing my birth name from my adoption legal decree/name change, some helpful 1c1rs (1st cousins once removed) and a lot of detective work by my eldest daughter and I... I now not only know who my birth parents were (sadly both deceased) with 95% certainty but know I have half-siblings (I'm not sure if I'll ever meet but they're there.. lol) and I have quite the family tree growing and some of my ancestors stories are being revealed.

For an adoptee especially DNA tests 'can' give us some answers and, if we're very lucky, a degree of closure.

If you're really into genealogy I'd highly suggest taking the Ancestry one too at some point. IME the 23andMe was a good start for knowing my genetic (incl Neanderthal) heritage (and mostly because I got my raw data downloaded and uploaded to other sites) but they don't offer the ability to build a tree and I got more hits and info on Ancestry.

Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

If you need any tips like on good sites to upload your raw data to omg me know. DUs Ancestry/Genealogy group is also excellent.


Rhiannon12866

(206,252 posts)
5. Wow! That's just wonderful!
Sat Oct 14, 2017, 04:14 AM
Oct 2017

I think I know my background since 3/4 of my family "came over on the last boat" as my mother put it - maternal grandparents both came from Poland and my paternal grandfather's parents both came here from Ireland. But my maternal grandmother's ancestors were Dutch and came in the 1600s, so there's a lot I obviously don't know. But my grandmother's aunt commissioned a book that traces them from the very first ancestor - I used to pour over it - so I'm not expecting any surprises, but you never know.

And that's something I never considered - how this could help adoptees! It could be pretty amazing if it could help you locate family members! What an incredible find that could be! I really hope you are able to learn what you're looking for...

I also read that if you're female, it's helpful to have a close male relative do it, as well - since we have only Xs and a Y chromosome gives additional information. I want my brother to do it for that reason, but he figures he knows all he needs to, isn't particularly interested. I told him that all I need is some of his spit...

As for the DU Genealogy Forum, I helped start that on DU.2, kind of lost track of it...

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
6. Some people are quite surprised to discover...
Sat Oct 14, 2017, 04:35 AM
Oct 2017

relatives they never knew they had. None of my first cousins knew about me. The one on my paternal side is very close to my father's (her grandmother's) while side and was flooded but especially at who my father ended up being, she was sure it wasn't him but rather his closest older brother. It was my non-identifying info that finally convinced her since the description of the birth father made it very clear.

As an adoptee I'd LOVE to see more people take these tests AND be willing to reach out to their newly discovered family member... At least please don't slam the door in their face. I'm on a few adoptee search boards and have seen the heartache of adoptees who were rejected by those whose genes flows through their veins too just because of what I see as a type of prejudice.

If you can get your brother to spit it definitely can help. If you have any older close family still living that DNA can help too by helping you reach back just a bit further in time and it may open up a branch back down too.

If you helped establish the group... Get your butt back in there. I'm just starting to post in it since I finally feel I have something, along with a slightly different perspective, to contribute now.

Rhiannon12866

(206,252 posts)
7. I'd be delighted to discover new family members, hadn't considered that before
Sat Oct 14, 2017, 05:08 AM
Oct 2017

My housemate did it with a sibling and discovered some differences, so I was curious to know if I took after one side or another - and my grandmother's mother died when she was only 13 and back in those days (1913) it wasn't unusual for relatives to lose touch. All I know is what my grandmother told me and I'm sure there's a lot she didn't know. She was close to her paternal grandmother - and it's that line of the family that was traced in that book.

I was particularly close to that grandmother - and know my Dad's siblings and first cousins quite well. My grandfather died young - he was 48 and my Dad was only 12 - but she was good with keeping up with my grandfather's family. It was a big Irish family, he was the eldest boy of 11 siblings, and so I knew the majority of my great aunts -
the boys in that family all died young. My Dad was also good with keeping up - so I knew - and still know - many of his first cousins and their kids - second cousins, my generation. I even met a third cousin once...

But it sounds like a wonderful tool if you're looking for family. I had never thought of that before. I know that several of my second cousins are interested in genealogy, too - they have researched the Irish branch and even met some relatives still in Ireland. Maybe I'll run across them since they might well have participated there, too.

And I'm planning to get my brother on board after I see how it turns out for me. He may not be interested, but he's all I've got for a sibling, though I could probably get some of my cousins interested, too. As for my aunts and uncles, I've lost all my parents' siblings at this point. I have two remaining aunts, but they were married to my father's two brothers, my Dad was the eldest boy.

And I have checked out the forum just recently looking to see if anyone had posted about these genealogy tests. I know there were posts about it awhile back, but I just got involved myself.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
9. It doesn't surprise me that you'd be open...
Sat Oct 14, 2017, 05:52 AM
Oct 2017

To new family members. I would like to hope that most liberals would see adoptees as having a basic human right to know their genetic roots and story.

I had mostly signed up on 23andMe for the health and to learn more about my genetic background. The DNA matches were a plus but I'm half Canadian and with the lack of foreign matches on 23andMe I found myself quickly frustrated and wanting to see if there were more matches out there. So my eldest daughter and I did more research and she uploaded my raw data to MyHeritage (free), GEDMatch (free for most) and Family Tree. I discovered that while Ancestry and 23andMe allows you to download YOUR raw data, you can't upload DNA results done elsewhere to either of them so I snagged a good sale price (I had gotten the 23andMe for half price with Amazon's big sale) and did Ancestry where my youngest daughter had done her DNA and I knew there were a lot more sort of close matches there (my assertive and much more interested in her roots eldest DD is now on there too).

If you're interested but didn't already get the health one with 23andMe and want health info there's an excellent site called Prometheus where for $5. to $10. you get a much better report IMO.

Oh and if you know someone who'd like to get more info but can't afford the tests University of Michigan is going a huge genetics study and you get your raw data to download for free once they've processed it (which may take months). They use a FB app and there are a bunch of questions to answer before you might get a kit but they're legit and the DNA you donate might help find causes and cures for diseases, etc. It's called Genes For Good. This is the one my eldest daughter and I talked our reluctant partners into (so far) since they both can see DNA helping find critical info for cures, etc.

Justice

(7,188 posts)
8. Ive watched every episode- great show
Sat Oct 14, 2017, 05:33 AM
Oct 2017

Many people learn about ancestor’s connections to slavery - either as slaved or as slave owners.

One of best ways to teach about Civil War and history of our country. One of my favorite episodes was Anne Deveare Smith - ancestor was free black man who became a vet. Moved to Gettysburg from Virgínia only to see war follow him. Hired by US government to bury the dead.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
10. I'm working my way through the episodes and...
Sat Oct 14, 2017, 06:08 AM
Oct 2017

Find the history and stories all so very interesting.

After watching DNA shows, recently getting my own and becoming increasingly involved in genealogy and adoptee groups, I tend to think that if more people took DNA tests and learned their true genetic roots/history that there might be less prejudice and more understanding.

 

Sen. Walter Sobchak

(8,692 posts)
12. My family jokes about this a lot
Sat Oct 14, 2017, 07:06 AM
Oct 2017

We don't have any slave owners in our past, but it is hard to imagine a more loathsome bunch than the criminal element of my father's family.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
14. Maybe you should look back for the ancestors who weren't so loathsome.
Sat Oct 14, 2017, 07:51 PM
Oct 2017

I'm sure there are some decent folks in your line too. You probably got your non-loathsome genes from one of them.

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