White American (proud to be...)

[HAL 9000 96]

can't we all just be proud to be americans no matter what color our skin is?

My thoughts exactly

Take it beyond that. We are all the same freakin species... 23 pairs of chromosomes and the ability to create perfectly viable offspring. Note how that doesn't preclude the collection of "stupid genes" and their ability to make us do stupid things to people that have very small variations across the gene pool.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

can't we all just be proud to be americans no matter what color our skin is?

My thoughts exactly

True. And we all come together for Thanksgiving and 4th July...

[SMOKE 1,426]

How can someone be proud of a label that has no nationality or ethnic origin?

dunno. but, if your talking about being proud of being white...white people would be european in origin.

can you explain why black pride & latino pride are okay & not white pride?...not white supremacy white pride.

Actually... if you read the thread in its entirety

you know i'm not going to do that. it hurts my head. so just gimme the answer.

[IAMX 3,055]

can't we all just be proud to be americans no matter what color our skin is?

Not really. I know I'm not going to get too many positive responses for this, but I didn't choose the country to be born in, so, for me, I don't see a reason to be proud. I see a reason to respect accomplishments, like the Constitution, the rights it granted, and the evolution of this new social contract. I get teary-eyed when seeing the Miracle On Ice (not the movie Miracle, which I think was a joke) because it represents an astounding accomplishment in several ways. But I don't get terribly proud just because of a piece of land I was born on. To me it's just like the race issue.

Reason is, if I were born in Sudan, right now, I just might not be feeling very "patriotic". Maybe I'd be excessively patriotic and stick to the same land and fight for it. Maybe I'd move somewhere else where I thought opportunity and the things I want were greater. If it was really that great to be proud of a piece of land we'd have never strayed from a single continent.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

How can someone be proud of a label that has no nationality or ethnic origin?

dunno. but, if your talking about being proud of being white...white people would be european in origin.

can you explain why black pride & latino pride are okay & not white pride?...not white supremacy white pride.

Actually... if you read the thread in its entirety

you know i'm not going to do that. it hurts my head. so just gimme the answer.

I do? Silly me I guess.

Still if you wait 6 months you can start a new thread on this subject and pretend that noone else said anything. That's pretty much what seems to happen with this topic.

can't we all just be proud to be americans no matter what color our skin is?

Not really. I know I'm not going to get too many positive responses for this, but I didn't choose the country to be born in, so, for me, I don't see a reason to be proud. I see a reason to respect accomplishments, like the Constitution, the rights it granted, and the evolution of this new social contract. I get teary-eyed when seeing the Miracle On Ice (not the movie Miracle, which I think was a joke) because it represents an astounding accomplishment in several ways. But I don't get terribly proud just because of a piece of land I was born on. To me it's just like the race issue.

Reason is, if I were born in Sudan, right now, I just might not be feeling very "patriotic". Maybe I'd be excessively patriotic and stick to the same land and fight for it. Maybe I'd move somewhere else where I thought opportunity and the things I want were greater. If it was really that great to be proud of a piece of land we'd have never strayed from a single continent.

Patriotism is optional I agree. I've never felt particularly gung-ho about being British - its part of my identity and I have a connection to it, but its not something I feel a need to chestbeat or about - or flag wave.

[Nagishkaw 510]

can't we all just be proud to be americans no matter what color our skin is?

My thoughts exactly

True. And we all come together for Thanksgiving and 4th July...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

How can someone be proud of a label that has no nationality or ethnic origin?

dunno. but, if your talking about being proud of being white...white people would be european in origin.

can you explain why black pride & latino pride are okay & not white pride?...not white supremacy white pride.

Then you'd say, "I'm proud to be Irish", but 'white' doesn't imply any specific ethnic characteristics beyond color of skin. Can you think of anything unique to being 'white' by which you'd be proud of?

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I'm irrationally proud to be 1/8 Lithuanian, but I'm deeply ashamed of the rest of my ethnicity.

I am, however, justifiably proud of my booty.

[PlatyPius 5]

Then you'd say, "I'm proud to be Irish", but 'white' doesn't imply any specific ethnic characteristics beyond color of skin. Can you think of anything unique to being 'white' by which you'd be proud of?

Same could go for "black".

It's just a skin colour.

As for Americans.... do you really think we're going to say "I'm proud to be English-Irish-Norwegian-German-French-Swedish!" No, those all get covered by "white" and "American".

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Perhaps we could spearhead a movement to replace "proud" with "pleased to be associated with." A bit clunky, but it would make for a nice long bumper sticker.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Perhaps we could spearhead a movement to replace "proud" with "pleased to be associated with." A bit clunky, but it would make for a nice long bumper sticker.

I am pleased to be associated with Big A and Joyce in the Cool Whip circles

[peejay 327]

I'm irrationally proud to be 1/8 Lithuanian, but I'm deeply ashamed of the rest of my ethnicity.

I am, however, justifiably proud of my booty.

What is there to be irrationally proud about being Lithuanian? What are the others...and why are you ashamed of them? Enquiring minds wanna know.

BTW my mom's people are from next door in Belarus (aka: Byelorussia).

[IAMX 3,055]

Perhaps we could spearhead a movement to replace "proud" with "pleased to be associated with." A bit clunky, but it would make for a nice long bumper sticker.

As long as it's not a support ribbon. Pretty sick of looking at those.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Then you'd say, "I'm proud to be Irish", but 'white' doesn't imply any specific ethnic characteristics beyond color of skin. Can you think of anything unique to being 'white' by which you'd be proud of?

Same could go for "black".

It's just a skin colour.

As for Americans.... do you really think we're going to say "I'm proud to be English-Irish-Norwegian-German-French-Swedish!" No, those all get covered by "white" and "American".

Not quite - at least that's not really true in this country. It also has subcultural associations that are unique to itself - there is no African American equivalent of Irish descendency - unless a black person can link to an identifiable national heritage. I don't know whether many black Americans can do that...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Then you'd say, "I'm proud to be Irish", but 'white' doesn't imply any specific ethnic characteristics beyond color of skin. Can you think of anything unique to being 'white' by which you'd be proud of?

Same could go for "black".

It's just a skin colour.

As for Americans.... do you really think we're going to say "I'm proud to be English-Irish-Norwegian-German-French-Swedish!" No, those all get covered by "white" and "American".

Black Pride as I understand it was a movement against the oppression that black people have experienced because of their skin color, much like Gay Pride. But things like St. Patrick's Day Parades or Greek Festivals are celebrations of culture and ethnicity.

Don't forget the Moors who conquered Spain in the 8th Century... many Europeans are not anymore 'white' than they are 'black'.