Looking at how much we celebrate the defaults (Our country, our parents, our language, our religion) that our birth has given us, I wonder if its more appropriate that we strive towards all these celebrating our existence instead of the other way around? What I am trying to say is that if we genuinely believe that things like the country that we are born in, the family we are born into are indeed a privilege, then first recognise that we did not work to earn or sacrifice anything, it was GIVEN. So lets put that bit of effort into doing something worthwhile to show the person (open to interpretation as per your religious views) who gave you this that you acknowledge the gift and have done this good thing to show your appreciation. Who would you rather be, the ferrari engineers for whom the Italian National Anthem is dedicated to or the rest of the Italians who are on their couches feeling 'good' and 'proud' about the Italian National Anthem being played?
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If I'm reading this right you're pretty much saying that we should justify our reason for pride? Like having a reason for supporting a football team - do you just support the team your parents supported or go figure out the team you find is in line with how you want football to be played -right?
I know many people feel they have no other choice that feeling pride for thei "defaults" but that doesn't mean they have any less reason to feel proud of their country. Foremost Ferrari engineers work hard so that they can get paid and their drivers become popular in the world. It is driven by capitalism and I'm sure they are proud of Italy; but Italy is not the primary motivation here.
Every one has their right to be proud of what they believe in. A the least, pride is a way of saying thanks to the ability of having a homeland or a good primary education.
I know where you are going with this but I think your example and analysis is not in the right direction. You don't have to serve your country to have national pride. Every one isn't a leader. Those who are capable will of course aspire to be a reason for someone else to be proud of the common "default".
Anyone has the right to be proud of their country or parents or religion - it is a cardinal right. But to be one to advocate those so called "defaults" then one must truly understand what else is out there. I.e. if you're going to go out there and stand in the name of Hinduism and proclaim that as the religion you're proud without knowing anything about the other religions out there - thats fine. But if you want to advocate Hinduism as the ultimate path then it is unfair to do so without giving yourself the chance to experience and understnad the other paths.
I belive this became complicated because you put country, parents, language and religion in the same bucket - but each word has its own complexitivities when it comes to display of pride and what one show aspire to, in the respect of each of those words.
It’s the attitude, no one needs to defend their choices, and all I am asking is to beware of the thin line that separates pride and vanity. Its about people who turn ambassadors for a cause, when they do, I hope their actions do the work for them rather than words.
Not all employed by Ferrari are Italians; in fact Ferrari owes its recent success to a Frenchman, a German and an Englishman. But when the National anthem is played, an Italian engineer on the ground can be proud that he has a part to play on why the Italy is honoured with its National Anthem being played.
Capitalism – I personally think you use the term very loosely J
The post is not accusing anyone of anything, its just urging them to do something good with that. If you are proud of your parents, do something that makes your parents be proud of you, that is the tone not don’t be proud of your parents because it was a default…
I just think we're both trying to sum up a lot in a little words and summarize multiple topics along the same lines.
I get what you're saying, we have different perspectives especially because we have different definitions for the word "pride". We agree with what needs to be done, but the difference exists in the order of events.
I believe that pride is a starting point to aspiration and shouldn't be denied for the citizen exercising it (i.e. a 5 year old is allowed to be proud of his/her nation by holding a flag without necessarily understanding it).
You see pride needing to be exercised as a result of making something out of yourself for a cause or that society/group that emanates that "pride". You can argue both ways really on that but it is important to understand both ways.
Of course I do use the word capitalism very liberally to encompass a myriad of worldly desires. I know its not dictionary correct usage but you get my point and its I guess my way of weaning off lets say "chocolate".
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