Should people be proud of their race, sexuality, etc?

I did not explain myself well (no really, I didn't), I was not talking about personality when I said what I said about green eyes and pride but rather by looks and things that we cannot control. By talking about green eyes, I am just saying that I would look better with green eyes. However, I do agree with you that being proud about things outside your control are not healthy (as well as having too much pride on things that you can and cannot control) but then again, I support the division of society and the isolation of humans (as I hinted in Could technology destroy evolution?).

Originally Posted by POLICEMAN Gamzee

I, personally, am not proud of being white, or a male, or straight. Just kinda is what it is. I'm more proud of my accomplishments - such as the person I've become, my writing, etc.

But I certainly understand how some people can feel proud of these things, and by no account do I dislike it. Feel how you wanna feel brah.

I agree. I'm a white, straight male myself. Should I be proud of that? It's just what I am. That's like me saying I'm proud to be both hearing and visually impaired. Why would I be? It's what I am. I'm proud of the accomplishments I do, not the body I'm doing them in.

But I agree that some may feel proud of it, especially if they're told that they should be ashamed, and they're defying what others have told them. That's good.

I find pride in general to be sort of a weird thing. I don't like the idea of being proud of anything.

which is not to say that I'm not proud of anything, I just haven't intellectualized it to the point of being totally okay with it.

To a degree. However if taken too far, feelings like those can promote supremacists, gangs, societal isolation and violence.

I guess the message is to ultimately be happy about who you are, because you are unique and all that jazz. That covers everything, your eye color, race, hair color, shape, size, etc. Although, I easily take it as, "you may as well be happy about the things you can't change anyway." (unless you decided to take it in your own hands to change the things you were born with.)
Naturally, it shouldn't be seen as an "Take pride in your race, because your race is better than others." sort of thing. There is a huge difference in being proud and complimenting yourself based on who you are, versus putting others down to make yourself feel better. This includes race as well.

On one hand, I shouldn't feel proud of my race or gender or sexuality, since it's nothing I chose. But on the other hand, I can't help feeling proud of something an Italian or Irishman did, even though I had no effect on it. I don't know, it just feels good to know that some of my ancestors helped this world, and it gives me motivation (again, this doesn't have to do with race as much as something good happening).

Are you really born gay or is that just an option. Sorry if this sounds dumb but I mean it.

Originally Posted by Melody of Fantasy

Are you really born gay or is that just an option. Sorry if this sounds dumb but I mean it.

I am pretty sure I read somewhere sciencetists have said a person is born gay. Atleast in males it is because the female body thinks that the male baby is a intruder and sends hormones along antibodies. But if it was a option who would wilfully chose a lifestyle where you are left aside and mostly hated by society.

Edit: This is not what i read but it does answer your question Are people born gay

interesting


edit: Hope you did not think I hated gays. Just asked a question. Felt weird what you said about gays on the last sentence not the edit.

I have to say that xTama expressed my own thoughts on this quite well. To me, the word "pride" has a negative connotation. Why? Because I compulsively think of others' feelings before my own. How is that relevant? Because I interpret pride as having a side effect of alienating others and promoting supremist thinking. I do feel pride sometimes, such as when I write a new short story or record a new song. However, with that pride comes a sense that my writing or singing is better than other people's, and I have to quickly squash my pride because I don't really believe or want to believe that I am better than anybody else.

At the same time, I feel like I have relatively high self-esteem. I am pleased with my creative output.

When it comes to race and sexuality, I am pretty neutral. I am "white." So what? It's a skin color. I am gay. So what? As long as I'm not trying to get in bed with straight guys, and as long as women aren't trying to get in bed with me, there's no harm done to anyone. There's nothing that is worth being proud of. And race and sexuality are hard to be displeased with (especially when you don't take our society into account).

Here is my answer:

I am Muslim so go on and hate like you "Americans" do every time. Not to be racists but majority is Americans. I lived a life as kid that every day I was hated. I was spit on. I was stabbed, I was un liked, I had had a car run over me, I could not go to the public because when I do some one attacks me or yells terrorist. I lived that life. I lived the life where I was treated at the most poorest extent. I had a teacher throw a stapler at my face. I was locked in the bathrooms for a day or more sometimes. Let us just say I am the most hated guy in America maybe. I got arrested last year for holding a knife at my dad's shop cutting fabric and I was arrested with my dad for thinking to hold weps. I was at by big sister's wedding when a cop came to check if we have bombs. Kids would grab me in the corners and kick me in my stomach intill I would bleed out of my mouth. I was held gun point in my life once from an American. It was a cop. I was going to the mosque and I was tackled and at gun point and arrested after. Why? I was claimed to be holding a wep. I am despised in the airports as I told Ezlo how I am always questioned and takes me hours and miss my flight. I was treated like dump.


My opinion: I don't hate gays but I do not like them either. They are people who I believe just want to be an outstanding person on Earth and the pattern is boy girl boy girl then boy boy? Why? I believe they are not born like that. All the proofs say MAY!!!!! Meaning mabey. This is how I think. I would not hate a gay but I would never in mylife love one or support one.



Back to me:


Gays are not the ones that are hated most but Muslims are. In secret. If I were to say Islam right now all of you would think terrorism. I rest my case. I never gave a tear in this world. I have been kicked in the stomach intill blood losing up to half a gallon I have been stabbed, car ran over me, doctor not treating me, accused of murder, never really had a true friend of life, always hated people stepping on me and on my face at concrete floors. I was never played with.I was that lonely, unexperienced, kid on the swing not crying but thinking what I did wrong. Before I sleep I always think what happened. I was to nervous to tell my parents. but one day they saw the marks. They reported it but nothing was done and it exceeded. I am a sad person who was steppedon Americans who had pride in them selves thinking they are better then Muslims and will be stepped on and spat on......................I today cry.I a grown man who is 17 cries in at night to sleep............................................. ..................................




This video by source fed also shows the NYPD spying on the Muslims and stff as me is not only being affected
NYPD FAIL! - YouTube

Originally Posted by Melody of Fantasy

i Hope you did not think I hated gays. Just asked a question. Felt weird what you said about gays on the last sentence not the edit.

No I didn't think that. I just said that to make a point of why it is not a option.

Should I not be proud of who I am?

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

Should I not be proud of who I am?

This oversimplifies the argument. It implies that if you aren't proud of your race, sexuality, etc., then you're ashamed of it. It's possible to just feel neutral to things beyond your control.

If you're proud of something beyond your control, whether it be race or a personality trait (lets say you're more extroverted than most), then I have to ask why? You had no part in deciding any of that. I'd understand if you were proud of your accomplishments and what you've done with what you were given, but why be proud of what you were given in itself? It seems to accomplish nothing but putting yourself on a pedestal (personality traits) or deepening divisions in society which is what you're claiming it's trying to prevent (things like race, sexuality).

You can feel perfectly fine by ignoring the intolerance you face and not letting the crowd affect you. Easier said than done, but saying 'oh well, I'm gay, so I should be proud of me being gay because other people don't 'agree' with it' while also claiming 'people who put me down because I'm gay are ignorant supremacists who take pride in being straight' is beyond stupid, in my opinion.