Tin Tức

The theory with which we are so familiar is that as we are born, we carry half of our father’s biological features, whatever that may be according to actual science, and half of our mother’s. It would be quite simple if there was only one community of people and that man and woman come from that same community. However, mankind’s long history of intertwining immigration has given birth to a vast diversity of ethnicities and mix-matched genetics, from which generations after generations have proliferated, further weaving into the tapestry that is our ancestry. It is, then, understandable why one would like to look into their own ancestral background. However, one must also keep in mind the highly divisive nature of this conversation, for the world today still unfortunately harbours destructive phenomena that could easily be tied back to aspects such as races and ethnicities. In that sense, it may not be wise to put such an emphasis on one’s ancestry.

Research into one’s family history could yield very interesting results and, in many cases, highly valuable demographic data that could help us achieve a further understanding of how different cultures have intertwined back then. Needless to say, even if research could be done into this, it would require the tireless effort of experts from multiple disciplines to bring out any actionable data. However, no one can justifiably the potential research value of these data. On a more layman aspect of this topic, this could be an individual’s way of finding a lost relative, or perhaps a lost homeland, by narrowing down the possible ethnicities to which they could potentially belong. To many, this may be but a superficial aspect of life, impertinent to day-to-day happenings of one’s life. However, to some, tracing who they really are could have a profound meaning, and to a select few, this could be a lifelong journey. To crave that sense of belonging, after all, is intrinsic to being human.

For the reasons mentioned above, no one could justifiably undermine the importance of such research. However, it is equally as important to stay grounded in the here and now, in the reality in which we live and breathe. Time and time again, we have seen the unpalatable consequences of an unhealthy fixation to a person’s background and ethnicity. Such hyper-fixation is often the cause of phenomena such as racism, or discrimination in general. One might argue that there is a distinct difference between the impartial research of a topic and the aforementioned social phenomena. However, one must remember human perception is all but incapable of acknowledging that difference, as we have seen time and time again in countries that are home to a wide range of different ethnicities. To a certain extent, focusing on the present is not meant to undermine the act of looking into the past, it is only to remind the masses that there are matters much more important than who did what in which era. 

At the end of the day, such concerns should not be enough to bar such meaningful research from taking place. However, in our pursuit of the truth, as with any other kind of research, one should remember to exercise moderation, for it is the here and now that we live in, not the past. 

VOCABULARY
 

proliferated (v): tăng nhanh, nảy nở

ancestral (adj): thuộc tổ tiên

divisive (adj): gây chia rẽ

tireless (adj): không biết mệt mỏi

intertwined (v): quấn vào nhau, kết nối chặt chẽ

actionable (adj): mang tính quyết định, có thể thực hiện được

superficial (adj): nông cạn, hời hợt

impertinent (adj): vô lễ

undermine (v): làm suy yếu

unpalatable (adj): khó có thể chấp nhận được