If there nothing wrong with being proud of your nationality, why is it wrong to be proud of your race?

Question

Nationalism and religion have caused far more wars and suffering than racism. Are they not all wrong perhaps, as causes of division?

For me there is nothing worse than the person who says "my country right or wrong". .Agree?

Answer 1

There's nothing wrong with being proud of your race. There is something wrong when you can't feel that pride without debasing another race.

I can take "I love being white. White people have done this and that in the world."

I can't take when you add: "Unlike the -------- and ---------------- people who are all lazy etc. etc."

You know what I mean?

Answer 2

I don't think that race (or nationality) is something that you should wear like a medal - you did not do anything great or valuable to deserve it. There are good and clever people in every race and nationality - and there are idiots, bullies, criminals and such also in every race and nationality. So, there isn't much to back up the idea that some race or nationality is better than the other. Everything is in the person, and it does not matter what's the color of her skin or where she was born, in what manner does she make the sign of the cross across her chest or does she pray bowing, the Muslim way, or does she worship any other way.
I survived the civil war here on Balkan. Take it from me - there are only good people and bad people. That's the only possible division.

Answer 3

Nationalism is at least a clear point of delineation, if we're going to separate ourselves. People can claim very clearly, and with good reason, to be pledged to different nations. Nations are very different and distinct from each other. Racism, on the other hand, makes much less sense. The lines between races are fuzzy and ill-defined, really only defined with any zeal on a case-by-case basis by your average racist.

Nationalism and racism have both caused lots of problems, but let's not downplay what racism has done. It's done plenty, including more than a couple attempted genocides and thousands of years of slavery in various parts of the world.

However, what is a nation without nationalists? Nationalism can be a force for great progress as well as great suffering. A nation without supporters can number its years very short.

On the other hand, what is a race without racists? Nothing either way, since the whole idea of race is groundless to begin with.

Answer 4

It's not that it's wrong to be proud of your race. It's that the only thing that makes a race a group is physical characteristics. Nationality and religion is a much stronger bond. Complete societies exist on these ideals. While races can share some similiarities, it isn't the same as actually living through the same things together and believing in the same thing. This is a very complicated issue.

Answer 5

I am not particularly proud of my nationality, nor of my race.
I happened to be born in a country that is like many other countries. My race can be wonderful and dreadful.
Nationality or race should never be the reason for any kind of violence.

I do not even understand what it means: 'my country is right or wrong'. I denies that people can have opinions of their own.

Answer 6

I don't think that there's anything wrong with being proud of your race. I think what's wrong is how people go about showing their pride.

I think the best way to show pride is to be good at what you do, and be a decent upstanding person--people will make the conclusion themselves without you having to raise a native flag or blowing your own horn.

as far as being nationalistic and adhering to religious beliefs...respect yours' and respect others' beliefs. Get to know what the differences are so you don't rub each other in a way that is insulting.

We are all ultimately human and we have a basic belief in respect for life and an innate love--follow those instincts.

Answer 7

Because your "race" is just a damn skin color. We might as well be proud of having blue eyes or black hair. Now, being proud of a culture is completely different thing, and although a majority of people in that culture may have a certain skin color, that does not mean that other skin colors are not in that culture. For example, I had an African American friend who was white. How is this? He was a real African American FROM A..F..R..I..C..A and his family is white. But, his culture is African. That is what he grew up with and it is a part of him. We need to stop defining people by the color of their skin.

Answer 8

please replace the word 'race' with 'ethnicity' as its much more fluent and applicable. Racism is often part and parcel of how a people express their nationalism or religion. A person who states that their country is right or wrong is just backward as a country can never be personified in such a manner as its continually influx

Answer 9

Generally the proudest members of a group are the ones in the lower rungs of the ladder. So if you are proud of your race, you are probably seeking some kind of glory by association with your betters. A person should be recognized for their own achievements, not those of their race.

Answer 10

There's anything wrong with being proud of your race. People need to be appreciative of who they are and thus be able to take ownership of their own histories with all their vices and virtues. Hopefully a healthy pride of one's race will lead to tolerance and genuine appreciation of diversity and other races.
Racism is barely an instance of pride on one's race because it assumes the validity of only one race thus dismissing diversity, and diversity lies at the center of creation (if you believe in a creator) or nature (if you hold to different views).