This is annoying to me, because I feel you can't

This is annoying to me, because I feel you can't be proud of something, you don't have control over, I feel you should only be proud of accomplishments..I refer to George Carlin on this subject

It's just another form of tribalism which I abhor... except for sports fandom.

Glad you raised such an interesting point here. I am in agreement with you with regard to something that I have done and not where I was born. However, as we both know many people seem to derive some sense of identity and belonging when they refer to their national heritage, whilst conveniently ignoring the facts that their national heritage has a long list of wars in which there was murder - rape - pillage and plunder.

I find this rather annoying as well. Though, occasionally, I am guilty of referring to my Sicilian heritage, but only half-heartedly, and normally with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Almost everybody I know constantly refers to their '(fill in blank) blood'. We are who we choose to be, not who people were before us.

An Australian comedian Paul Hogan summed this up for me once in an interview.
He was asked "Are you proud to be an Australian?"
And he said to paraphrase as it was a long time ago" I am an Australian, once you start having to say you're proud of what you are it is if you think other people have a problem with it or you are secretly ashamed of it."

Sorry, don't meant to offend anyone or annoy anyone. I am Proud I may have in my DNA descendant of original tribes dwellers of the caribbean islands. They are just "Tags" Man don't get hung up in too many negative things. We all are proud of our heritage. Were we come from.

If I say I am not proud of being Canadain. Many would say, why don't you move to Iraq or North Korea?

That is why I am not proud of being Canadain because US says we have to fight Iraq or middle east or US will harm our trade deals. Proud is overrated.

Personally, I think it's pretty silly.

I am proud of my parents. They gave me a great upbringing. When I was 5yo i skipped sunday school and took off on my scooter, never had to go again

I agree with this so much.

However, this points to something I get into alot of trouble about. I understand that people shouldn't be ashamed about their immutable traits. I understand that the opposite of shame is pride. I understand that fighting shame is the motive of the gay pride movement and I am happy it exists, but it irritates me on an intellectual level.

Thinking about it has lead me to a slightly different opinion on pride. I am proud of being Indian American AND joining the military. The immutable facet of my life makes the action slightly more difficult because they are rare and Indian American's in large part are not supportive of the choice. Margaret Hamilton envisioned a way of approaching programming that changed the world and lead a software development team at NASA in the 60's AND was a woman. Her being a woman in 1960s America enhances her achievement somehow. Hidden Figures has a similar story arc for black women.

I think that when a strong, successful woman or black woman says she is proud of that immutable facet, it is shorthand for their full story. I think Irish Americans and Italian Americans had similar challenges decades ago and some of that meaning has been diluted as the added challenges have been reduced, but I try to think of the big picture when I run across it.

It all depends upon the situation, but if you’re an American, you’re heritage is so broad that to be proud of it is questionable. If I was a second generation Iranian, then perhaps being proud of ferdowsi would make sense, but a family that’s been in the US since the mid 18th century, it seems silly. I’m Scottish by name only.

I think it depends if you look at your heritage with open eyes. We have a great country, not sure if it's the greatest. We done some pretty shitty things but want better for all. What a dichotomy.

Agree 100%
To be proud of ones country or heritage or similar is not just stupid, it is often also damaging and dangerous because it keeps that virus of nationalism alive that has been responsible for so many wars and conflicts.

The best example that sprigs to mind is during Churchill`s second term. He was awakened early by his aid with "We have grave news prime minister".
"Are we at war"?
"No prime minister. A junior minister was arrested last night after being found with a young guardsman on Clapham common".
"It was very cold last night".
"Yes prime minister, the coldest night of the year so far"
"Makes yer proud to be British".

What the person proclaiming pride in one's heritage is doing is saying indirectly that he or she identifies with the values and beliefs of that culture. . When an American southerner says the he or she expresses pride in his or her southern heritage, he or she is says (in a masked manner) that he identifies with racism, prejudice, discrimination, extreme religiosity, and disapproval of our federal government.

It is for that very reason that I , whose family roots in the deep south go back 280 years, absolutely reject my so-called southern heritage. That heritage does not exemplify who I am or want to be.

I think you can be proud of your culture and its achievements, Whether that be Jewish, English or US or anything. Most of all you can by proud if your community does something good in the world. Even if you only played a small part. The last time I felt this was at a festival and I heard this song.

Good point. Ex: me saying I'm proud of you makes more sense than saying I'm proud of your blond hair.
The one thing that annoys me is when a person says."everybody" believes or said something or agrees with in defense of something.

Agree with you one hundred percent.

'Personally I can only be proud of something I've done, not something that happened by chance.' Thanks for a clear, simple and unambiguous statement on this entrenched attitude.

You should what George Carlin he says the exact same thing!

As an Italian I am very proud to be one. Sure we had some bad spots in History but name me one nation or country that doesn't. We should be proud of where we came from and never apologize. shit happens move the F on. This guilt trip shit will not fly with me.

I think your right about that. Your dna is not a source of pride since you had no hand in its designation. Only thing you have to be proud of are your own accomplishments.thanks for pointing that out . I hadn’t thought about it from that perspective before.

It doesn't bother me. I wish I could say I'm proud to be an American but with that piece of shit in the White House I am not. I think I could say I am proud of my Jewish cultural background -my grandparents coming from the Ukraine-the music, the foods, the dancing, etc.

I'm proud to be a part of the family I was born into because they have made good choices over the years, imho.