HolyCoast: Pride? I Don't Think the Word Means What You Think it Means
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Friday, June 10, 2011

Pride? I Don't Think the Word Means What You Think it Means

This weekend is apparently the time for Gay Pride parades all over the country. I took a moment to look up the word "pride" to see how it would fit with being gay:
noun
1.  a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.
2.  the state or feeling of being proud.
3.  a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one's position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.
To me pride has always been associated with accomplishment, not just existing. For instance, when my daughter gave a virtuoso Senior Recital and then played in front of 5,000 people at the commencement in which she graduated magna cum laude, I felt pride as did she in her accomplishments. She earned it. She did the work and won the plaudits based on her efforts.

We're told that sexual orientation is not something that is developed or earned, but just is what it is when you're born.  So why would that be something to be proud of?  It's like holding a "Two Arms and Two Legs Pride Parade".

Did any of the participants in any way contribute to their state of being gay?  How could they if they're born that way?

Will there be heterosexual pride parades anytime soon?  Should I even have any reason to be proud of that?

We've seen the word "pride" used in a lot of situations in which I don't think it's applicable.  Black pride, Hispanic pride, Native American pride, Feminist pride...the only time it's not allowed is for White pride because we're told that would be racist.  Interesting.

Perhaps a better name for the events would be the "Gay Inordinate Opinion of One's Own Dignity, Importance or Superiority Parade".  That would seem a more appropriate description.

2 comments:

LewArcher said...

In America, White Pride ran from 1607 to 1964, in case you missed it.

Rick Moore said...

Lew - you have a unique way of making my point while still missing it completely.