eric_ives' VirtualTourist Home Page

I am Eric, son of Chris, the son of Arthur Donald, the son of Arthur, the son of William, the son of Simon Peter, the son of Levi, the son of Ebenezer the Junior, the son of Ebenezer the Senior, the son of Benjamin, who probably came into the New World from East Anglia in the reign of William and Mary. I am also the son of Virgina, the daughter of Victor Craddock Ives, the son of Earnest Edward Victor, the son of Earnest Ferdinand, the son of Ferdinand, the son of Jeremiah of Colton, the son of Jeremiah of Catton Hall, the son of Jeremiah known as "Justice Ives" who came out of Lincoln into Norwich probably early in the reign of Queen Anne.

Introducing myself this way is an attempt:
1) to reject the notion that American's don't care about family and forget their roots,
2) to identify myself with a Puritan heritage that cared about genealogy and the spiritual well-being of ancestors and descendents,
3) to demonstrate that in this concern for one's family roots European-Americans are not necessarily so different from the so-called "traditional" cultures, and thus express my opinion that cultural differences are not always so profound,
4) to recognize my European-American and English heritage, which is rather deep and pervasive, although I am also a descendent of persons from Germany, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden, and some of those cultures may have made trace influences upon my personality.
5) to show my love of history by connecting myself to it.

I have recognized Baha'u'llah as the Messenger of God for this era in human history, and this implies an acceptance of all the other Manifestations of God. Although what I mean by "recognize" and "acceptance" and "God" may differ profoundly from what you would mean by the same terms.

And in introducing myself with that I am expressing my opinion that the only thing that really matters is spiritual growth and submission to God, whatever that might be.

And finally, I am the husband of Peng Chun-Chih, and the father of Sebastian and Arthur.

And in taking this entire approach to what would normally be a very cursory introduction I am trying to be creative and different, and in a way funny, as I see this whole approach as ridiculous.