Adrian Grenier’s Conquistador Ancestor

Comments

• Lora Wood Smith

  May 17, 2012 at 10:31 am

  We all want to think that every one of our ancestors was kind and loving and did great things for God and country. But we know that this cannot be the case. I know that some of my ancestors held slaves. Some were on the ‘wrong side’ of the Civil War. But it is still important, I think, to know where we come from. People who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it…isn’t that how the saying goes? I think that includes our personal histories. I am continually amazed when I think that if this person had not met that person, I would not be here! Anyway, I love this show!! Thank you, Dr. Gates, for doing this.

• kls

  May 17, 2012 at 12:03 pm

  We should always remember the past..but we are not responsible for it..

  My grandfather fought in the Civil War for the north..Should I get credit for that..?

  I think not.

• Yvette Zamost

  May 18, 2012 at 1:37 pm

  I am enjoying your shows so much–fascinating stories — keep up the good work.

• Lindsey

  May 20, 2012 at 12:49 pm

  I discovered that I am the 10th great grandaughter of a notorious pirate of the 17th century…who did some bad things…
  However bad he was in one area of HIS life, he is one person out of the family of now 100′s of thousands of descendants…and those are probably, a majority of them, decent human beings…and would not have existed if it were not for him. And, yes, unfortunately, as history shows us, times were brutal and people did things to survive those time periods accordingly.

• Anna Flores Pena

  May 21, 2012 at 12:55 pm

  I watched this last night’s program with great personal interest. My own ancestor traveled with Juan de Onate to New Mexico and was at the Acoma pueblo. After the masacre, the Spaniards testified to the maiming of the Acoma and and some Hopi people. Their testimony was recorded and submitted to King Felipe, II of Spain. It is said that the Acoma people had initially helped the Spaniards, but when the Spaniards returned later that winter asking for more supplies, the Acoma denied their request because they needed to take care of their own people. Not all who traveled with Onate agreed with him, but Onate executed at least one Spaniard who requested permission to return south to Mexico with his wife and child because the extreme winter conditions were too much for his family to endure. My ancestor, Bernabe de las Casas, married the widow of the man Onate had killed, then later settled near what is now Monterrey, Nuevo Leon in Northern Mexico.
  I visited a museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico a few years ago to learn more about the Pubelo culture and history. I have always felt a connection with New Mexico, it’s a beautiful state with much wonderful culture,history and art. I have always felt welcomed by the people of New Mexico everytime we’ve visited the state. However, after reading about the incident in Acoma, I definitely felt some guilt over the atrocities which occurred at Acoma in 1598 at the hands of the Spaniards. I’m a good mix of heritage, Mexican, Spanish, English and German, and I know that over the many generations, I can expect quite a mixture of characters in my lineage. Thank you so much for your wonderful program Dr. Gates. I have found it to be so interesting and historically enlightening! I always look forward to your future shows.

• Brian McNeill

  May 31, 2012 at 4:19 pm

  Smoking the peace pipe? I expect more from a show exploring ethnic roots than to be engaging in cliched ethnic stereotypes. While you are at it, Did Oñate have to “circle the wagons” or did the Natives have “too many chiefs” or were they “off the reservation” ? Please…!!