Thankyou. We don't know so much about George Carlin in England, but I'm learning. And I like Happy to be... much better.

Love this, very good

Excellent.

love george

@GoldenDoll George is funny . You got to watch "religion is bullshit" its my favorite

Ya just gotta luv George! My favorite also is Religion is bullshit!

My roots are in the Midwest. I've lived in the South since age 8 ( more or less). There are parts of Southern pride that you didn't list, some that I have come to appreciate.

@BenPike What are some examples of those parts you appreciate, Ben?

@BlueWave Tough one. I'm tempted to say it's indefinable but that's a cop out.
Courtesy maybe. And the problem in answering this is that there are exceptions everywhere. Labelling vague undertones is difficult. Maybe when I meet a person I respect for their quiet dignity and honor, they're southern, because that's where I am. And I'd probably meet folks like that anywhere I lived. But the idea that a smile and hello is okay with complete strangers is one I like.

Please tell me what you think of Louisiana.

@BenPike The courtesy you mention extends primarily to fellow whites who are not outwardly of different political or religious beliefs. And, some of the people you mention for their gentility have no tolerances for people who look different from them, or who show cultural differences.

Louisiana has been noted for its political corruption since the days of Huey Long and that corruption extends down to the local level. It is not uncommon for local school board members and county officials to be indicted for bribery and fraud.

Further, educationally, Louisiana's public schools have always been among the bottom tier of states in terms of student achievement and graduation rates. That has been the case since the Civil War.

Finally, Louisiana sold out to petroleum interests long ago and that control remains. As a consequence, Louisiana has suffered hugely from oil=related industry pollution. Those are facts.

@wordywalt If you think I tag people with terms like honor without knowing them well enough to know whether they are bigots, then you don't know me well. Wait. You don't know me at all. And it shows.
Lump sum categorizations do you a disservice.
My question about Louisiana was not for you.

@BenPike the funniest thing I ever heard was one of the black Real Housewives of Atlanta saying she was proud to be A Southern Belle. Loud guffaw!

But, but....I could swear I just read about ten posts of people saying they are NOT "proud" of heritage, where their ancestors are from, etc. Maybe I should go back and read again..... ?

Sorry but I have zero feelings of pride in who my ancestors were. To me such matters of chance are totally irrelevant. And that fact that all Europeans are related to Charlemagne leaves me indifferent. And which line do you choose to take? Your mother's? Your father's? Your grandmother's? Your grandfather's? Ad infinitum. Except that after just a few generations any DNA traces may disappear, which doesn't mean your not related to somebody, just that their DNA didn't make it to the top!

@BlueWave when I am proud I am proud.

@GipsyOfNewSpain That’s great, but you also said that “We ALL are proud of our heritage.” (Emphasis added.)

I think that the teams you support are very often decided by birthplace as religion typically is.

I totally agree about the tribalism point of view which I also abhor ... but without the exception of sports fandom

I'm the same ways. You see that kind of tribalism I see as different. We know it is not really important in the scheme of things. It is a great form of escape.

I appreciate that you shared this side of the issue and explained it so well. Many ways to approach this concept, and you've helped broaden my perspective on it.

@Naeem I agree with you wholeheartedly. If you said you were proud to be Syrian, it would irk me a little bit, but I try to step back and just see it as shorthand for the full statement. I try the same when someone says they are proud of being gay or being a woman. I consider it giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Yes, he's great. Unfortunately he also says he's 100% Irish because his parents were born there.

@GoldenDoll He says he is 100% but that's because it is his heritage and he is tracing back his roots. In his monologue he states that you can be happy to be born with a specific heritage but being proud of that heritage is what annoys him.

@Yourdaddy22 I'm hoping he was being sarcastic. Too much?

Agreed - I've just posted a question about that very subject - I'm waiting for the hate mail!

@GoldenDoll I ask them " Are your parents Italian / Irish / Polish....? " and they answer me "No, my great/great grandparents were. " My parents were French, I was born in Argentina and I have lived a lot more years in USA than anywhere else. When I travel I use my USA passport. Period.

@DUCHESSA A weird bunch, grappling and grasping for an identity which doesn't exist. A bit like religion.

Yes! That's very well put and I agree totally! I will modify my thoughts to include yours. Thankyou.

@GoldenDoll , I can sense that you are capable of apprehending and perhaps appreciating the Buddhist idea that pride (in general) is "unskillful" and best avoided. Not in the "it's sinful; you're a bad person if you do it" kind of way but the "this doesn't help; it's problematic and an impediment on the path" kind of way. No guilt, just deepening levels of awareness as to what is "skillful", i.e. leads to awakening. I

Im reluctant to discuss this attitude with people in meatspace because I suspect very few people here in the West could believe that the total abandonment of "healthy" pride is a mentally healthy thing to do. I'm already alienated enough as it is; I don't need to get the weight of popular perception of the mental health establishment cantilevered against me!

@stinkeye_a - I like the idea, and am glad you shared it, and if it had to come from buddhism that's fine.

Some people like a bit of bald, so you might not be lucky there....

@GoldenDoll Truth. I just like being different and feel that it's just luck.

@GoldenDoll And, the other side of that coin... I wasn't able to grow a full beard until it had turned completely white. Go figure.

Errr- nationality?

@GoldenDoll Not sure what the comment means. Are you asking my nationality?

@Silver1wun - No, the post was actually about feeling proud of something that happened by chance, for example your nationality or heritage, not about other people commenting on our beauty or "grooming". If you read some of the other replies you might get the idea.

Ben detta amica!

Maybe the suggested alternative "I'm happy to be .........." would work?

1. I give 10percent of my happiness toward my country or healthy enough system.
2. About 30percent toward my family and friends
   Than the rest of happiness for achieving my own desires, attitude, focus and least important my natural talents.

It always did feel silly saying I'm proud of such general things.

Actually, everybody's heritage is so broad, the American one is just more recent.

Yes and no.

This makes sense

While conveniently glossing over the bad bits? Sounds like cherry-picking to me.

Again, I can't understand why you can be proud of something you had no part in. There's a very good comment on here about the word "proud". Setting yourself apart from others - having something other people don't.

@GoldenDoll I'll have to think on it. Seems I've always had a little pride about my Indian heritage, but I don't wear it like a significant honor, and those I wouldn't flaunt. I look for it in my kids, so far I can see only one similarity in head shape in a grand kid.

Excellent. And what a twinkle in his eye I bet, when he said it. I always loved that twinkle.

Well said.

One expression I really dislike is, "Who doesn't like ...?" Bet there are plenty of people who don't. Just because something is popular doesn't mean EVERYONE likes it.

Ma non c'e mai nessuno che dice "sono fiero di essere italiano, (ma non le parte cattive)". It's not a guilt trip, it's just trying to make sure we think about what we're saying. Being "proud" that one line of your ancestors (which line do you choose?) lived in Italy at some time is a very tenuous foundation for pride. I could say I'm proud to be Italian too, but I'm not.

And I like one of the comments that says even pride in your own achievements is unnecessary, and that it does tend to provide a reason to feel superior to others, which we are all trying not to do I suppose.

Jewish cultural background is awesome, being person of book.

Sorry could you translate "noddy talks" for me - I see that it's derogatory but to what does it refer? And do you mean "intelligence" when you say "intelligent"? Keyboards are so tricky aren't they.

I totally disregard guilt by ancestry too. It's a bit of a biblical concept as far as I'm concerned. The sins of the fathers, etc......

@Red_Cat -- Something he did that affected the world for the better is a source of pride. My son and daughters are proud of what I did too, and I don't tell them not to be. It is a little embarrassing at times, but hey, it's family.