Pride

[Bruce Bradley]

Our country is a proud country. Most are proud of what our country has accomplished over the past 200 years. By right we should be proud. We went from one of the poorest countries to the riches in less time than any other country in all of history.

Our forefathers were willing to work to make our country great and the depression almost destroyed us. Even in a time when people were starving there was still a since of pride in our country. I believe it was because a lot of our countrymen at that time were not born here. Everyone appreciated everything our country had to offer.


Now all we appreciate is stars and their families. It is in our nature to reward winners who have so much talent that they don’t have to try. We leave the people in the cold that work and try there best to be good and fall a little short of stardom. Even so most would be able to do the same as the great ones but never have had the opportunity.

Our country was established on truths and justice for all. Is it justice to praise someone for doing their job? If that is the case why not praise everybody who does their best. No, to most this could not happen. Why?

I work as a Technician and I go in when there is trouble in power plants and work around the clock to get them back on line. Does the media go nuts over me, no? Why? Isn’t what I do much more valuable than someone singing a song or playing with balls?

There was a time when I would have been thought of as a hero. Now I am overlooked and some clown catching a football is praised. Our society has gotten so perverse that these guys doing nothing but what we do for fun and think of themselves as heroes.

I do believe in this day and time of haste, that the reason stars are the ones who are in your life more than the ones you never see. You are the one that is bought and sold not the fool who catches the football. You are one who idolizes him and makes him great, he just takes the money and runs because he is getting paid for doing something he loves. You can watch or not he will still be there it is hopeless.

In ancient times the same fool had to give his life if he lost in similar type game. There was no pay it was fight or die. Now that was sports. Singers sang to beg for food. In a democracy you can stop anything if you have a enough people following behind you. Then you could be like the fool with the football.

Can’t you see it’s a vicious circle and you go back to you where you started? Wealth is top and hunger is on the bottom and either can be turned around in the blink of an eye. Nothing is guaranteed in this day and time except what you do for your self and you can let yourself down at times.

There was wonderful time when you just had to get up and feed the animals and farm to live. You could walk for hours and not see anybody. You could live off the land that you now have to pay to see. It didn’t matter back then if you didn’t have anything you could live as well as you were willing to work.

Well to close, we are stuck in a time of welfare and riches and I just hope to stay in the middle of that circle of life. Leave me stuck in the middle. Please don’t take me wrong I love life and all it has and had in store for me. I am comfortable and love my world and country. I just hate it when people dwell on some star who didn’t wear shoes in the bathroom. It is sickening to me when you are really the important person to yourself and no one notices you.


If you’re in the dark don’t fear
Even though you may feel a little queer
Before long I will appear
Until I finish I won’t disappear
So don’t shed another tear
I will fix the problem here
Then we can all have a cold beer

I can’t wait to see my replies to this.

Bruce

[Anza]

I tend to agree with you, that America as a whole tends to dwell on Stars, but I think that it's not just the ones that act well or play football well. America loves Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie and Britney Spears. Mind you, Britney earned her fame a long time ago, but she's going supernova. I think that if we have to worship stars, we should like the ones who keep their names out of the dimestore tabloids.
But we don't dwell on just stars, America likes fashion, too. I think that fashion is garbage, especially since everything is large and gaudy and cheap. America has given up on the refined fashion. Pretty things like small, shiny jewelry, and clothes that don't have to be revealing to be attractive.
I think I shall elaborate more, tomorrow, but now I think I shall go to bed.

[motherhubbard]

Please don’t think that Americans dwell on stars all the time. Allow me to speak for the rest of us. I am not consumed with consuming. Just because they are selling doesn’t mean I’m buying- Anna Nichole Smith is not famous because I couldn’t get enough. I don’t know a single person who gives a flip about any of the mainstream media celebrities. I think the situation is so bad that I don’t allow my children to watch commercial television and we end up having to make a lot of their clothes because it is hard to find things that don’t sexualize my twelve and eight year old daughters. Ridiculous. I like to think that I'm the norm, but you don't see us on commercials because we don't sell well.

[Midas]

There is a simple answer to why things are as they are. The problem is that it is so simple the vast majority will never see it. To condense what I mean into one word it is - CONDITIONING.

The masses think as they do, because they don't really think. They move with the herd. They have been programmed not to be an individual with a well developed sense of reasoning, and logic.

They do not want (dare) to be out of step with the crowd. Even in primitive communities that exist today where life has not changed for thousands of years - yes, there are such places in Africa, and I believe, to a great extent in South America where you will find that all move as one. By that I mean, they are taught to behave as a 'herd'. It is the way the tribal leaders have found is the best way to control them. There is the 'witch doctor' or the one who injects the fear to anyone who should attempt to step outside the 'circle'.

Today's large numbers in societies (nations) and the sophistication of life has
brought about vastly improved means of projecting the 'conditioning'.

Basically, it differs not from the primitive. It still preaches that if you think like the crowd you are normal, if you don't, well language. especially the American English language has thrown up many words like - odd ball, and nerd. (check your thesaurus for many more).

Those at the top, who control the rest, ensure that we are programmed for profit, just as the tribal leaders found their ways to live off the rest. They never did the work.

While we tend to focus on the celebrity be it a sports one, or stage performer, they merely perform for those above who feed off them, and who can make them, and break them - and often do when it suits. Sometimes, to get the celebrity to debase him/herself, brings publicity that excites and attracts the 'goulish' unhealthy, instincts of the crowd. (Are we yet really civilized?) Good for box office.

Most, if not all of you are familiar with the 'Emperor and his 'invisible' clothes'
by Anderson. Well, even Anderson took the basis of the story from much earlier folklore. Only the little boy dare step out from the crowd, because as a child he had not yet succumbed to the full conditioning.

The story contains a strong message, but not effective enough to override
the power of the opposing force to conform to any opinion you have been convinced is that of the majority. That is how 'polls' produce that which is desired, not that which is truly representative.

To be a true individual, you have to be very brave, or very naive. For most, it is better to take the easy way and cheer the Emperor as you admire his 'invisible suit'.

Today they can label you a 'conspiracy nut' or even 'terrorist'. Yes, terrorist can be one who does not agree with the system being advocated as the one
the 'leadership' say we MUST follow. You do not have to act, merely think, and express your thoughts.

You want (dare) to step outside the circle? Dare to call out - 'The Emperor is naked'. Yes, you can do it, just be careful where, and how you express your thoughts which are not mainstream.

* * * * * * * *

An interesting post Bruce, but, to me, would be better if you did not inject too much 'prejudice' with your 'pride'. Do you not think most people are proud of their country - warts and all?

These websites reach the far corners of the world. And, when one travels extensively one finds that people in general are not that much different, once there is communication.

All part of the conditioning - 'our country is the best, or our way is superior',
We cannot applaud something when it suits us, and decry it when it doesn't. Well, we can, if we indulge in hypocricy. It's an easy enough trap to fall into,
as I have said a number of times, - it's all part of conditioning.

[Bruce Bradley]

Midas,

You are right in everything you said and it is not polite for me to discredit our people. They just are what they are. I really understand where you are coming from. I just can't be one of the pack and I think you are the same.

I really love reading your comments on things. I can tell you are a thinking person as I am. I just sometimes think about things and forget who I am. Writing has helped me find myself again. I know p

Hey to everyone else,

Please don't take offense to what I have written for I am really writing about myself and the things I noted through life. I never point fingers unless it is at myself.

Everyone in the United States has the right to be who they are or what they want to be. Don't ever give up and keep kicking and you'll get there at sometime. It may not be easy but it will come to you if go out and grab it.

Bruce

[Midas]

Thanks Bruce, glad you did not take my footnote the wrong way. Keep writing. it's a great exercise in many ways. We should never take our growing modern technology for granted. Some of our not so distant ancestors did not even have running water from the tap, and that could be in the USA or the UK, or anywhere.

I do not feel it my mission when I write to get people to see the way I do. I like to make people think with an open, positive, mind. I like to read that which makes me think, so I guess that is my influence.

We live in a most exciting world. Change is never ending because life is one of change. We are becoming conscious of change in nature - climate, and even plant life. We are now growing plants in England that we could only see before if we moved to some hotter climate. We are growing foods that had to be imported a few years ago.

But the fastest change is taking place in communication in its full lateral sense. And technology is aiding the mind of man to think, and create, faster.
More wonders have yet to come - for better, or for worse depending on the point of view.

We should see life as a child sees it - one of wonder and excitement. A child comes into the world and has to face, and adapt to everything new. And a bright child does it with wide eyes, and a mind working overtime seeing how everything fits in.

But, as I said, when we use the internet we must remember that most people who come to the site do not post, many are still struggling with the language
because it is not their native tongue. Many don't feel they have the education, or think they have nothing of value to add because that is the way they have been made to feel. They lack confidence.

But they come from many countries, some we have termed 'third world', but I will guarantee that they are proud of their country, if not their leaders. And of this we should be ever mindful.

Keep posting!

[blazeofglory]

There is a simple answer to why things are as they are. The problem is that it is so simple the vast majority will never see it. To condense what I mean into one word it is - CONDITIONING.

The masses think as they do, because they don't really think. They move with the herd. They have been programmed not to be an individual with a well developed sense of reasoning, and logic.

They do not want (dare) to be out of step with the crowd. Even in primitive communities that exist today where life has not changed for thousands of years - yes, there are such places in Africa, and I believe, to a great extent in South America where you will find that all move as one. By that I mean, they are taught to behave as a 'herd'. It is the way the tribal leaders have found is the best way to control them. There is the 'witch doctor' or the one who injects the fear to anyone who should attempt to step outside the 'circle'.

Today's large numbers in societies (nations) and the sophistication of life has
brought about vastly improved means of projecting the 'conditioning'.

Basically, it differs not from the primitive. It still preaches that if you think like the crowd you are normal, if you don't, well language. especially the American English language has thrown up many words like - odd ball, and nerd. (check your thesaurus for many more).

Those at the top, who control the rest, ensure that we are programmed for profit, just as the tribal leaders found their ways to live off the rest. They never did the work.

While we tend to focus on the celebrity be it a sports one, or stage performer, they merely perform for those above who feed off them, and who can make them, and break them - and often do when it suits. Sometimes, to get the celebrity to debase him/herself, brings publicity that excites and attracts the 'goulish' unhealthy, instincts of the crowd. (Are we yet really civilized?) Good for box office.

Most, if not all of you are familiar with the 'Emperor and his 'invisible' clothes'
by Anderson. Well, even Anderson took the basis of the story from much earlier folklore. Only the little boy dare step out from the crowd, because as a child he had not yet succumbed to the full conditioning.

The story contains a strong message, but not effective enough to override
the power of the opposing force to conform to any opinion you have been convinced is that of the majority. That is how 'polls' produce that which is desired, not that which is truly representative.

To be a true individual, you have to be very brave, or very naive. For most, it is better to take the easy way and cheer the Emperor as you admire his 'invisible suit'.

Today they can label you a 'conspiracy nut' or even 'terrorist'. Yes, terrorist can be one who does not agree with the system being advocated as the one
the 'leadership' say we MUST follow. You do not have to act, merely think, and express your thoughts.

You want (dare) to step outside the circle? Dare to call out - 'The Emperor is naked'. Yes, you can do it, just be careful where, and how you express your thoughts which are not mainstream.

* * * * * * * *

An interesting post Bruce, but, to me, would be better if you did not inject too much 'prejudice' with your 'pride'. Do you not think most people are proud of their country - warts and all?

These websites reach the far corners of the world. And, when one travels extensively one finds that people in general are not that much different, once there is communication.

All part of the conditioning - 'our country is the best, or our way is superior',
We cannot applaud something when it suits us, and decry it when it doesn't. Well, we can, if we indulge in hypocricy. It's an easy enough trap to fall into,
as I have said a number of times, - it's all part of conditioning.

I wholeheartedly agree with you Midas. Indeed I subscribe to your views. Why should one be so proud of being an American? Why not being an Asian? Why this nationalism creeps in? Why should we delimit our state?

To be proud of something is to be superior to others? Hitler's approach was a bit similar to it, if not in whole. He advocated for nationalism backed by racism . Today's youths are very open minded. Why this, as Midas said CONDITIONING?

All of us are under the skin, the same beings, and Americanism, nationalism, whiteness or religiosity, richness are bunks, and nothing else, indeed baser elements. These are divisive forces, and of course they divide or split up along baser sentiments.

We must be open to all. Today I am in Nepal and tomorrow I can be in America. Then should I sing the song of American nationalism or Nepalese nationalism.

Of course we are conditioning, and are unable to do away with the same old wrong tribal feeling as Midas has very pointedly put.

Down with nationalism. I feel all the planet is common to us beyond of course the idea of political or cultural geographies. All of us are related to one another. And if you really need a label, this is the label of humanity I choose to tag all with.

The tag is a tag and finally I feel not only we human beings, the rest of other living beings on this planet are the same entities, of course they too come to be related to us.

Let us broaden our horizon inclusively of course, not narrowing it to Americanism, white color, Developed and undeveloped classes.

[loggats]

Pride is a difficult thing to be worked against. Humility is perfect.

[dramasnot6]

As an American who has lived overseas, as I am sure many here on LitNet have, I can assure you that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to generalise about Americans or American culture. I know that often a very jingoistic portrayel of Americans is shown in the media, but,just like any other country, America is very diverse and Americans show many types and degrees of "pride". But I agree with blazeofglory, it's a bit unfair to discuss a concept and just associate it with America. Pride is an element of the human condition and is found in everyone.

Pride is a tricky concept. It's up to the individual to determine when it is appropriate to feel proud, what you can feel proud of, and to what extent. Pride has certainly caused trouble for many, in a way it's largely interlinked with stubborness. We don't want to do something because of our pride, it can distance us from reality and cause us to only think about ourselves.

[blazeofglory]

Pride is a difficult thing to be worked against. Humility is perfect.

Yes, exactly, for indeed pride is vanity and there is nothing significant to be proud of in life except the pride of us.

[byquist]

Well, you might want to focus on "subjectivity" rather than measuring the notoriety of others, such as the so-called stars that your mention. A worthy task would be to still any envy over others' apparent success; even to wish them success, the very ones that appear to be loaded with it already. When you master envy or jealousy, then you cease to make a distinction between the lowly or the high-and-mighty.

For instance, in the film "Micky Blue Eyes" there's the blond gal who is working through her envy for her cousin who is getting married. "I'm so happy for you," she says. She means it, but she is also struggling with the fact that she is not having an equal good luck in her own life. But she tries so hard, and succeeds at not being envious.

[jgweed]

One might very well argue that as our educational institutions have failed to educate and present the goals of civilisation in an adequate manner, our society has become vulgar in its estimations and taste.
Certainly if economic rewards is an indication of social merit, we pay barbaric rap stars, or football heroes far more than those individuals who make a contribution to the advancement of humankind.
Certainly, if we judge the precious time that TV newscasters spend on the trivial, on the private lives of the famous entertainers, or upon pictorial bites that only serve to heighten the audience's emotions, as indicative of what really interests the public, then we must conclude (especially if we compare this to news presentations a few decades ago) that our values are--- at the kindest--- those which satisfy the uncurious and intellectually unwashed with short attention spans.The motto today seems to be: "Give me entertainment, or give me death."
And in politics, we find more and more that government at all levels is allowed by its citizens to take upon itself the burden of individual accountability for actions; it is both big brother and big mother and allowed to dictate what is best for everyone for their own good.

[blazeofglory]

To speak the truth, today we have nothing to be proud of compared with our ancestors.

[Anza]

You are perfectly correct, Blaze. Our forefathers had pride in our country because it was their child. They worked for it. Nowadays, we have had everything handed to us. My children (when I am grown and have children) will never know the gratifying feeling of the fruits of labors. They will be accustomed to instant gratification. They will not know what it's like to cook or clean or grow something. They will not enjoy the wind in their face or the sun on their back, playing as today's children do in the green of the world. They will not know what it is to earn an allowance or do petty chores. It's actually kind of depressing.

[blazeofglory]

Do not take pride in pride, and all prides melt away at the end of the day.