Primogeniture is alive and living everywhere

I met a Boston cousin of mine who came to California for a visit about ten years ago, and somewhere in the daylong sightseeing and talking she corrected me about family lineage, some remark about the male lineage being the important one. I am geneologically ignorant, perhaps just as well. Ever quick with palaver, I just stared at her.

Osso, I'm really not talking about geneology. I'm simply thinking about how important a son seems to be in the eyes of the world and even in the family circle.

my father had 4 sons, none of which he wanted as he only wanted a daughter.

I wasn't talking only about geneology, Letty, but using it as an example - or my cousin's view as an example - of the importance of men in lineage, whether first or second or fifth son. She cut off interest in who might have been born of the daughters.

Or - perhaps you will also take this as an aside - if you can only have one child, the importance of its being a son, as has been acted upon in a number of countries, is startling to me.

How would the notion that a father gets along better with his daughter fit into this discussion?

Ah, dys. Typical male. He only wanted what he didn't have. <smile>

three more and you would have been...............................

Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
(Harris)

Here they stand, brothers them all
All the sons, divided they'd fall
Here await the birth of the son
The seventh, the heavenly, the chosen one

Here the birth from the unbroken line
Born the healer, the seventh, his time
Unknowingly blessed and as his life unfolds
Slowly unveiling the power he holds

Seventh son of a seventh son
Seventh son of a seventh son
Seventh son of a seventh son
Seventh son of a seventh son

Then they watch the progress he makes
The Good and Evil which path will he take
Both of them trying to manipulate
The use of his powers, before it's too late

Seventh son of a seventh son
Seventh son of a seventh son
Seventh son of a seventh son
Seventh son of a seventh son

Today is born the seventh one
Born of woman the seventh son
And he in turn of a seventh son
He has the power to heal
He has the gift of the second sight
He is the chosen one
So it shall be written
So it shall be done

The Prophecy
(Murray / Harris)

<smile>Michael, Osso, Dys.

"A son's a son til he takes a wife,
but a daughter's a daughter the rest of her life."

Sorry all, That's the best that I can come up with tonight.

Gonna climb into bed and watch "Inherit the Wind"

Goodnight. From Florida

Good morning, all. Perhaps I had better refine my post. In speaking with my sister about the slight tremors in Virginia, the discussion led to birth order and sons. We agreed that primogeniture was still a strong factor in America. Perhaps it is a carry over from old world culture, but I do think it is more than that. The factor may involve the war in Iraq and the thinking that a man is ultimately the head of the household, and, as Osso implied, the tradition of carrying on the family name. Whatever, I find myself eternally curious about stuff such as this.

This is an interesting question, Letty; over here, it seems to be the opposite. It's not uncommon to have six children, waiting for a girl. Daughters stay allied to a family for longer, so people thrive after them more.

Now that's a real switch, Drom. Perhaps that's where the saying comes from about "....a daughter's a daughter the rest of her life."

We're big on extended families, too, for the most part.