Salt Lake Tribune | 1996-01-14 | Page 139

J5 ‘The Salt Lake Tribune ATTITUDE! Sunday, January14, 1996 Genealogy: For Some A Sniffle, for Others, An Incurable Disease huddled and shivering together in a duck blind asking each other. ‘Whydo you hunt?” Genealogists are bombarded with the "why" question, by family, friends and other genealogists. If we must havea reason for our peculiar pastime, I recommend answering: “Whynot?” Religion motivates many, from the ancient Chinese to modernday Mormons. We have, of course, several genealogies in the Bible, in the Old Testament and the New. Genealogy was a pas- GENEALOGY TERENCE L. DAY that her maternal grandfather was a race-car driver who was killed in an accident. “Once I found out everything I could about my grandfathers, I couldn't stop there. Genealogybecame a wonderful, big, exciting puzzle, and I was (and still am) de- terminedto find all the pieces — orat least as manyas possible,” she said. It was a daughter’s homework assignment that ensnared Andy Davidson, Newburg, Ore. I got started mostly due to a disagreement with my daughter's elementary schoolteacher several years ago,” Davidson said. “As a c project all the kids were to do a family tree as far back as their great-grandparents. sionate pursuit during the Middle “So we gave our daughter all Ages as royaltytried to prove descent from Adam, the first gar- the info we had — which wasn't a dener, gradefor ‘obviously not even try- For many others. genealogy has nothing at all to do withreligion. ing’ “After I got done reaming the For someofus, it is the voice of generations past calling to them through the enveloping years of death. For others, it is a puzzle in which we haveto furnish our own pieces. Manygenealogists are attracted by unending mystery, For teacher, I to go see That was still at it. some, genealogy is a form of searching for self. For others, a lot — and she got back a bad decidedit might be fun what could be found eight years ago and I'm The puzzle-solving and the personalizing of history are the two main reasonsI continue,” Davidsonsaid Sharon Donnelly writes from Arkansas that she stumbledinto quest for genetic information. Hereare a few ofthe why-I-dogenealogystories that I'vecollected from myInternet friends, via electronic mail Michelle Taunton, Arlington, Va., was trapped whenher sey- genealogy when enth-grade social studies teacher a family connection to mystrong sent her home with a blank fivegeneration pedigree chart That was when she discovered do more than speculate, but I love feeling that my ancestors are somehowa part ‘of me. Pieter Donche writes from Belgium, “Genealogyis like a jigsaw {puzzle for which] you haveto collect the pieces yourself, and put them together in the correct way, without an imageof the final result.” In The Devil’s Dictionary. Am- brose Bierce defined genealogyas an account of one’s descent from an ancestor whodidnot particularlycareto trace his own.” Perhaps Bierce knewmyancestors, some of whom not only didn’t care to trace their descent. but apparently were very careful to obliterate the trail before me No doubt they would wonder why I want to poke aroundin the past like a frontiersmanstirring hot coals and ashes in a campfire People do genealogy for many reasons, but, frankly, I don't knowwhywehave to have a reason. SomehowI find it hard to imagine hunters freezing their keisters around a campfire or ties from our ancestors. There’s too much missing information to someone gave her a copyof her great-grandfather’s obitu: ry. Herancestorhad been ajudgein pioneer Iowa. T he obituary said he was well for compassion andfairness It was the first time that I felt feelings about injustice. I wondered whether we couldinherit more than physical characteris- Gwyneth Thompson writes from Ontario, Canada, that her husband, a social worker, is drawnto genealogyby his profession andshefinds the hobbya logical connection for her accounting profession as well George Waller. at the University of Connecticut, has manyreasons for his pursuit of genealogy. One of them is that search for identity. “I moved so manytimes as a child, I'm probably looking for roots,” he says. “Myancestry is mongrel, so I have no ethnic connection . genealogy replaces that sense of bonding with place, history and society.” Texan Anne Schmidt's entry into genealogy came bywayof being obstinate. “I do it because I Breasts: Advertisers Women areobsessed. too. Women size. Weiss says these worries are viewpoint that having a great bust Ogle Women rooted in assumptions about men want and what fashion whim- line is so much more marketabl for a woman than having a grea @ Continued from J-8 the book Transforming a Rape entation in pop-culture images of Culture and publisher of Mi weed Editions, a smal! Minneapolis press, says women’s breast in- only gender is strippedandthe other is not. Who has the power inthat situation? Those who profit from the breast obsession see nothing wrong with using women’s bodies to boost the corporate bottom line. The marketing people behind were addedtothe lingering pain from his surgery and he often couldn't sleep, so he spent his nights doing genealogy Eventually he got beyond the pain, but he couldn't get beyond genealogy, which proved as addictive as the morphine. It reminds me of a ditty making its rounds in genealogical circles. Genealogybegins as aninterest becomes a hobby: continues as an obsession; and inits last stages, is an incurable disease. It may not be the best reason, but whenallis said and done. the onlyreason we needto do genealogyis the reason givenrecently by a genealogist on the Roots-L dis- cussion list on the Internet: “Becauseit is there.” send greetings to America’s hos- pitalized veterans through your Ann Landers-Valentine Vet program, the responsehas been overwhelming. Year after year, millions of cards and letters are received. Last year, more than 1 million valentines were sent to our 172 Veterans Affairs medical centers across the country. With some 61,000 brave men and women hospitalized on any given day, that was morethan 15 valentines for each veteran Cards and letters camefromall over the world — Australia, Germany, Canada, just to name afew. And again, teachers used this programto provide a history lesson for their students. It gave them the opportunity to talk about veterans and who they are. Sundayschool students, scouting groups andsocial organizations also sup- ported the program generously In someareas, students delivered the valentinesin person. It is always touching to see how young children brightenthe lives of our elderly veterans with their colorful valentines. Cards were made in every shape and size — some with baseball cards, construction paper, colored doilies, stickers. crayons and markers. But as different as each card was they all had one thing in common. They were madewith love and respect ANN LANDERS ans, especially the brave men and womenwhoarehospitalized The National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans just around the corner, Feb. 11-17. We hope your readers will again let our veterans knowthat they are appreciated and not forgotten Jesse Brown, secretary of Veter- ans Affairs I've alders are the most warmhearted responsive peoplein the world Dear Jesse Brown: ways known that myre their sy dictates security starts with Ba Al a young age. the impossible physical ideal is implanted in girls’ minds, Buchwaldsays Implant breast-size conscious ness in childhood and implants y followlaterinlife. Buchwald s, wryly. She is troubled that womenand young girls are condi tioned to believe that cleavage is mous pleasure to our vets, to whomwe owe so much. These men and women served in World War I, World WarU WEDDING/ENGAGEMENT AD INFORMATION like the W brain.” campaigns for things rbrathat present a Fish says. In feminist literature, thisoriwomen is called she says. “hetero-visual "This is the idea that certain kinds of womenqual ify to represent all of what's con- sidered normative femininity, and this is a woman who has acertain bodysh and size and who illus: trates sexiness and grace as per: ceived from a male gaze. Market fragmentation is driving the flesh parade, Fish sa With mass media becoming ever morefragmented, with more me- lingerie catalogs. In other words. it is everywhere andit has. of cause of the risk of offending a precious portion of an already course. to do with the fact that advertisers believethat this is what sells — that the commercialization of women’s bodiesis the best dwindling universe of consumers. “During sweeps period on TV anywhere else,” according to a eswoman for the breast-in“Entertainment Tonight whoquicklybailed out of a phone interviewonceshe sensedthe topic was serious. “It’s what people want. The ratings will show that that’s why every show that you see on TV will use [breasts] durAs for the paradeof skin-baring calendar models on “ET,” the spokeswomansaidit is news that so many people are making so much moneyfrom these calen- dars. The showbaresall and airs all because swimsuit models are consideredcelebrities. she added Overat “Baywatch,” the theory is that viewers like the show becausethey aretakenwiththeCali- fornia lifestyle and escapism, ac: cording to Richard Mann, vice president of creative services at All-American Television, the show's distributor. The show has been called Babewatch’ and that kind of thing. But we have done focus groups and havelookedat the demographics and ratings on the show, and people would be sur- prised to know that we get more female viewers than male. David Hasselhoff likes to call it ‘broad being adver- tised in the newspaperas well as way for them to move merchan dise People respond strongly to physical cues for certain parts of the body, so advertisers take advantage of ancient survival strate- gies related to reproduction Buchwaldsays. dia outlets vying for the same lim: ited audience, advertising and en- tertainment use shock value to attract attention This is a gamble. Fish says. be- But the mass media have determined that the camera's "'softcore. gaze” pornographic. voyeuristic is acceptable to mainstream viewers And as always, the messages are mixed in American culture. Fish says. t's very strange that in a society that presumably has become more concerned about sexism in I saw an article in which wo: men in their 60s were showing the workplace. we're having such that their bodies werestill ‘just as minethe ideathat it’s not OK to goodas ever.” treat womenas sex objects.” that they coulddo stripteases and meaning they were an ideological bombardment of sexism in messages that undershe displaying them as a stripper would. to show that they were still says with it.’ This is what's perceived In our workplace we're supposed that the society esteems. values to cares about, wald says will pay for.” Buch- You have this schizophrenia be equals. but outside the workplace we can revert back to men ogling women’s breasts Some women quietly protest by boycotting companies whose products or ad campaigns offend them. Marjorie Fish, professor of mass communications at St. Cloud State University, refuses to shop at Mall of America becauseof the Hooters restaurant there We'redefinitely regressing. it seems to me, back to perhaps the 1950s notion of women’s breasts For more information. Media Action Alliance is a grass- ots group that organizes letter-writ ing campaigns protestingimages that objectify women For infor mation about the organization call [phone] or write P.O. Box 391, Circle Pines, MN55014 0391 casting’ — no pun intended — Terence L. Day, genealogist andjournalist, is on the faculty at Washington State University. Hewelcomes E-mail at terenced- meaning that it hasa lot of appeal to a lot of different people.’ Mann says. “The show is a beautiful show to watch both for menandfor women. There are great-looking @moscow.com say that people watchit be- causetherearealot of breasts on the show.’ Korea, Vietnam and the warin the Persian Gulf. They represent every race, color and creed. We Some are upfront about using breasts to push product. Mike McNeil, president ofthe Atlanta based Hooters restaurant chain, is blunt: “The Hooters girls, with their charmandall-Americansex appeal what our customers they havenot been forgotten. Teachers, I'm depending on you comefor, MeNeil said during the recent flap over the chain's wo- once more to makethis a class project. Those handmade valentines are real heartwarmers When my staff and I passed them out personallyat the Lakeside VA Medical Center in Chicago, those were the most enthusiastically receivedofall. Theveterans wouldbethrilled if you could dropoff your valen- men-servers-only hiring poli tines in person at your local lela guys as well. It is a little simplistic to MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY! Prey Ty Aadded pears ead WOOLENS AND MONDAYONLY! NORTHERN LIGHTS FLEECE SOLIDS AND PRINTS MONDAY ONLY! SPECIAL GROUP DRAPERY PRINTS Karin Weiss, a Minneapolis sex therapist and founder of the Human Sexuality Program at the University of Minnesota, boils down the American breast obsessionto its most primal essence Breasts represent that kindof safety or ultimate nourishment But that’s pretty deep.” Weiss says, VA laughing. “Our current adult generation, most of them werebottle-fed because there was hospital. If you don’t know where your local VA hospital is, check your telephonedirectory orcall the VA toll-free numberat 1-800827-1000 I know of nothing you can do that would costsolittle and bring so much happiness to those who deserve to be remembered Thank you and Godbless. — Ann Landers a wholeperiod of time when womenwere advised not to breast- feed. Maybe some ofit is that these people have never had the breast, andtherestill is that hunger forthe breast that never was satisfied as aninfant Weiss says it is not only men ENTIRE STOCK SWEATSHIRT FLEECE yy CUT PRICE whoarefi <0) 8.88 OFF CUT 5 i PRICE ALL WEEK! ENTIRE STOCK 45” WIDE 100% COTTON AVoRnge_ 0% ALL WEEK! ENTIRE STOCK Bridesmaids Prom Cocktail Mothers Career Wear and Wedding Dresses Starting at ‘100° 20 VALENTINE PRINTS BRIDAL * FORMAL * DAYTIME WEA? ‘Wealetin 1S ats oS EDSugenent A\PROMREGERES advertising yousee more breasts on TVthan It’s interesting that we ve seen the various bras with their cleav- So, dearreaders. it’s once again time to let our veterans know we appreciate them. It won't cost much, andit’s sure to bring enor- emblem of tk and the emphasis on d age opportunities for the sacrifices they have made. but we can do something to cheer them up and let them knowthat for ournation’s veterans. We in the VA are committed to in the wayto success can never repay thesevaliant vets caring and courtesy by “putting veterans first’ and meeting the ever-changing needs ofourveter- their That's the spin when the ads are ing sweeps month and decided to kick the drug habit “cold turkey.’ Withdrawal pains pride aimed at women. Therationaleis different when the intended audienceis broader. genealogical conference. He be- certain cleavage, is about “taking control and empowerment.” Valentines Made for Vets With Love, Respect Dear An nce 1989, when you first asked your readers to the Wonderbra say print ad campaign, which features models with trussed-up was always told it couldn't be done!” she says of her particularlydifficult line The most unusual path I've comeacross wasthat of a Nebraska septuagenarian who I met at a recovering from major surgery a breasts. she says. and they worry about whether they're the right Emilie Buchwald, co-editor of tensive cameaddicted to morphine while take OLFA PRODUCTS OFF CUT PRICE Pes UNBLEACHED baia ET ALL WEEK! BATTING BY THE YARD 25% betteen) hd BOLT PRICE soc te MAILER IN PROGRESS... Remember. We're More Than the Bridal Store OVER 25 ITEMS ON SALE NOW! 340 East First South « Salt Lake City 363-1200 ADDED ATTRACTION Weorder your Bridesmaid dresses in the size and ¢ olor you need, Mothers dresses can be ordered in her cc in sizes 6 to 22 = BEDS « 2050 5 river ns STORE HOURS: MON THRU SAT 9:30 AM TO 9 PM CLOSED SUNDAYS West Valley fs S. 700 East, Sandy ey. G2 726228 © 633 E 3300 South Salt Lake 0717 N Main Layton . ~.ale 467-2542 547-0206 226. 8425 964-5775 565-8465