Very Angry with nephew.

[Teufel Hunden]

To withhold family information is, in my opinion, inexcusable. You don't need to provide the originals. A day spent with a scanner and a cd burner will allow the whole family to share in the information. You can give the originals to the family member that meets your 'criteria'.

SPOT ON!!!

Inchessi, I view the withholding of family records as a FAR worse crime than him choosing the tartan that is not your brother's. So he's decided not to be a military man... so what? You've essentially told him he's not good enough to view the precious documents, so who here really has the lack of respect? I'm going to say it isn't him. The military isn't for everyone, to try and force some family tradition of service like that both cheapens the service that was done, and might be done in the future, and drives a wedge between family members. A poor choice of action on your part.

When you focus your attention on something, it has to start SOMEWHERE, he just chose to focus on the half of his family that YOU WEREN'T A PART OF. Unless there's some sinister reason for him choosing to focus on that part first, why would it bother you?

Also spot on.

Inchessi:

Basically you've told your nephew two things:

1) he isn't good enough to view the family history
2) it's disrespectful of him to honor his mother's side

In what way does this young man owe you respect? He doesn't. It seems you've been the one doing all the disrespecting around here, and honestly, with an uncle like you withholding documents and insulting my mother, I wouldn't want to honor that side of the family either.

Your priorities are all out of whack. You remind me of one of my favorite trilogies, the Lord of the Rings, where Gandalf is speaking of the decline of Gondor:

"...and counted the names of their descent dearer than the names of their sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls, musing on heraldry... "

Of course you're not a childless lord sitting in an aged hall, but you've certainly decided that musing on heraldry is more important than LIVING members of the family. You've snubbed your nephew twice, and also threw in an insult to his mother's heritage while you were at it, then have the nerve to turn around and be insulted yourself? I'm not sure how that works.