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

So I know in the thread about being proud to be American, some people said something about how it's dumb to be proud of where you were born, because you had no choice in it.Which, while I somewhat disagree, does admittedly make sense. Why should you just be proud of things beyond your control?

So then I realized: Why should there be pride for your race, sexuality, etc? I mean, it stands to reason that pride for things that you were born into is pointless. You're born black, white, Asian, gay, bisexual, etc... so why should a black person be proud of being black, or a white person be proud of being white? Why should a gay person be proud of being gay, or a straight person be proud of being straight?

I don't have an answer beyond "well it is a good way to encourage activity to give these groups equality", and that is true. But if that wasn't an issue, wouldn't gay pride be the same as being proud to be American? I mean, that's how I see it.

So what do you guys think?

I think it's more of a "I know it isn't culturally accepted, but I'm not afraid to admit I'm _____!" It works for things that are simply controversial, too.

Although I, too, think that pride in something beyond your control is dumb - no one should have to prove themselves to anyone - I understand why people say it.

"I respect everybody’s feelings, beliefs and desires, but I believe that religious and ethnic identities are blind. One’s true identity is their humanity. It’s not that you belong to this land, or this nationality, or this group: you belong to a universal humanity. And when you belong to humanity, your identity is always open. There’s an old Arab saying: ‘All countries that have become my home, are my country.’ I think the fact that ethnic and religious identities are becoming more ingrained is part of the crisis of civilization." - Adunis

Good question. As a guy who's pretty racially diluted, I can say that my race is something I can't really say I'm proud of. I'm not ashamed of it, mind you, it's just something that I have no reason to be proud of. It's not really any sort of accomplishment or anything like that, just something that happens to be. Like Autumn said, being proud of something that you can't control seems kind of stupid. Like what exactly is there to be proud of in situations like that?

I don't really understand the whole point, to be honest. I think people should strive to be comfortable with who they are, not proud. I'm a straight white male, and I have no "pride" in any of that, but I'm comfortable with who I am and also happy.

Honestly, I don't understand how people have pride in something regarding themselves that they have absolutely no control over.

I think the sense of pride comes from being told or shown that you're supposed to be ashamed of something you've no control over, like your cultural/ethnic background, sexual orientation, etc etc. At least it is for me anyway. See, I'm Polynesian and there's a lot of assumptions where I'm from that being born as a Polynesian means you're gonna end up being a criminal or fail in school, or it's some sort of dirty heathen backward culture. I've experienced my fair share of prejudice and racism, like there's something -wrong- with how I am. But being told it IS something that is wrong with me does make me more determined to show that I CAN be proud of being a Polynesian, and values from my culture can complement how I live life as a person today. In an ideal world for me, I would LOVE it if we could just be what we are without any sorta judgment that makes you wanna fight back. I can't say it's been that way for me, though.

Well it doesn't help to be ashamed of any of that stuff. Doesn't matter what you are as long as you're not ashamed.

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 don't see any problem with having pride for what you are, especially when you're part of a group that can be discriminated against and such, but actual accomplishments are more important.

No. You shouldn't be made to feel bad for it but I wish people would just see themselves as people, not black/white/gay/etc. I think we divide ourselves from each other enough as it is.

I don't think that they are naturally things that we should have pride in. However, the 'pride' that African Americans, women, and LGBT people have is typically nothing more than a direct result of the society they live in.

Again, they are not things that are normally to be proud of. However, just take into account what the LGBT community has to deal with alone. Constantly being told that they're wrong, that they're 'sinful', that they're going to hell, and stuff like that. It's not rocket science that such a group might come out with 'pride' simply to say "No, there is nothing wrong with what we are.". In the majority of cases it is not mere "Oh yeah, look at what I am. It's something to be proud of." It's just a rejection of society's misconceptions.

It most certainly isn't rocket science with African Americans or women either. 50 years ago Jim Crow laws and segregation were still in place in South. Only 50 years ago. My parents were well into their childhood when those were taken down. And women? I don't think I even need to go there.

I'm sorry, but I just don't see why others have such an hard time understanding where this 'pride' comes from. For some people in those groups they actually feel they are better than others, but that's because they're human as well. For the most part, this 'pride' is just to say "No, I'm not less than you, and I will not accept being treated as such."

Eh, there's a difference between being proud of facing challenges and discrimination successfully because of something beyond your control and being proud of something beyond your control in itself. So 'I'm gay and proud of it!' is ridiculous as you've had no control over it, but 'I'm proud of surviving what I've had to deal with because I'm gay' makes sense.

Oh ♥♥♥♥, if I stopped and thought about all the things about me that are out of my control, I would have a hard time finding anything to be proud about. However, I interpret feeling pride to be a countermeasure to all of these things in my surrounding that are making me feel less than comfortable. In other words, if someone told me my ears look big, a good remedy is thinking of being ♥♥♥♥ing proud about them bigness; if someone tells me that the way I love is abhorrent, I'll be sure to send a proper sextape to their mailbox. healthy pride is rejection of bigotry.

Originally Posted by AutumnMuse

I think it's more of a "I know it isn't culturally accepted, but I'm not afraid to admit I'm _____!" It works for things that are simply controversial, too.

Although I, too, think that pride in something beyond your control is dumb - no one should have to prove themselves to anyone - I understand why people say it.

I'm with you on this one.

Other than to defy the culturally accepted; I don't see any point in being proud of something out of your control.

As a Christian I think anyone who says someone can go to hell for being LGBT is not basing that on God's Word. The Bible teaches that we ALL are condemned to hell because we are ALL sinners, but by accepting the sacrifice made by Christ and trying to live by his rules we can be forgiven and thus not burn in hell. While I do think homosexuality is a sin (and I don't believe that anyone is born that way) that DOES NOT mean they are going to hell automatically. That's equivalent to saying "Anyone who gossips is going to hell". According to God ALL sins are sinful, not more or less. So unless you are perfect then mind your own business and let people believe what they want to believe and be who they want to be and do what they want to do.

And on a side-note, I am proud of my Faith, and think it is perfectly acceptable to feel pride in who you are

And on a side-note, I am proud of my Faith, and think it is perfectly acceptable to feel pride in who you are

But isn't religion different than race and sexuality (okay, you think it's a choice, but lets assume it's not a choice or just dismiss it out of the discussion)? You have a choice over what you choose to believe in (or not believe in), so it's something you chose for yourself (unless you're in a cult/brainwashed).

I'm not ashamed of my heritage (I'm an Indian Muslim), but I'm not proud of it either. I'm proud of the things I've accomplished, but I don't see why I hold particular pride into being born into a specific group of people. It ultimately has no bearing on my life.

I think that you should be proud of what other people want and cannot get (e.g. you should be proud of your spouse, of your children because somewhere in this world, another person would want to have a child, they would also want your spouse (even as sick as it seems)). For example, I have no control over my skin, I am as white as an albino but my skin can tan (although only from a light to medium tan degree) without actually going tanning and I am proud of that. However, what would I not trade for having green eyes and thus, a green eyed person should be proud of their green eyes. So yes, you should be proud of what you cannot control because if you are not proud of something and you are not shamed of it, you are just taking it for granted when other people want to have certian qualities and traits that you have.

I have no problem with my race (Caucasoid). But there's a certain ethnicity in my ethnic background I wish I didn't have. That isn't do say I don't like said ethnicity and its peoples, I'd just much, much rather not have it diluting my other ethnic bloods. I feel sick to my stomach by simply validating the fact that my ethnic background is partially comprised of that particular ethnicity. It can be a quite frustrating being part of an ethnicity you want to have nothing to do with.

But at the very least it's washed out a fair bit by my other ethnicities.

Originally Posted by Link from the Void

However, what would I not trade for having green eyes and thus, a green eyed person should be proud of their green eyes. So yes, you should be proud of what you cannot control because if you are not proud of something and you are not shamed of it, you are just taking it for granted when other people want to have certian qualities and traits that you have.

Or blue eyes. Why wish for green eyes rather than just be happy with yourself as you are? You're never going to get green eyes, and even if you could, does something like eye color *really* have an impact on who you are? Also, no, you aren't taking it for granted. 'If you aren't A or B, then you must be C' rarely applies. As for traits and qualities that aren't based on appearance which has no impact on your personality, what's stopping them from acquiring those qualities themselves? But that falls under 'something that's under their control.'

Pride isn't healthy to have for something outside of your control just to combat people who look down upon whatever it is that's out of your control. All it does is emphasize divisions in society which is hardly useful.