George Carlin on the wrong kind of pride

studmuffffffin · 3 months

On the other hand, we should probably stop having gay pride parades too, since you're born with that.

vadergeek · 3 months

Atheism! Somehow!

sowhynot · 3 months

On his example, you not only was born Irish, you lived and learned there, absorbed their culture, liked it, didn't migrate to a different country, finally love it and now proud of it. Not much to do with genetics. Lot to do with your decisions. George Carlin may call himself fuking' genetic accident if he wants too.

TheBucklessProphet · 3 months

And this has what to do with atheism?

theblob9 · 3 months

I like how this has nothing to do with atheism.

goodgollyyall · 3 months

Sort of easy for a white American man to say...

controlmath · 3 months

Eh, I'll still rep the Germans when I'm playing Civ or watching sports on TV.

petitmonstre · 3 months

George Carlin is my favorite philosopher.

[deleted] · 3 months

These are all different feelings: pride for yourself, pride for your parents, pride for your children, pride for your country, etc. You can't really compare them.

Chweeeet · 3 months

I'm proud to be Native American, my ancestors surviving the genocide brought upon by Europeans. Pretty cool. I mean there could have been a chance that I wouldn't have been born.

this_is_my_favorite · 3 months

Many, many, many minority groups have to deal with assholes all day. Saying they are proud to be who they are is exactly the right response. I usually love George Carlin, but this entire quote is garbage. See: gay folk, Blacks, Asians, yes even Irish, Italian and if they go abroad, probably any Americans, too.

Alyeska2112 · 3 months

If this is an actual Carlin quote, then it's one I disagree with. We don't have pride in labels like national or cultural identity simply because those identities exist (like his analogies of cancer and height), but because of the collective struggles, achievements and other experiences only those particular groups understand. I'm proud to be an American for some of the noble values I believe our country upholds (not always successfully). Other groups deserve to feel pride in knowing that their communities have overcome immense hardships, or succeeded or excelled in some way. I've always loved me some Carlin, but just because someone I otherwise adore says something doesn't mean I'm going to buy into it every time.

madhatter2341 · 3 months

Did anyone else read that in George Carlin's voice in their head?

aboeve · 3 months

There are many people that go through hell to come to America and become a citizen. For them it is an accomplishment and they should be prideful. Americans should be proud that we live in a country where we have freedoms and more importantly, we have a voice to try and change things for the better.

rjwax13 · 3 months

I disagree. I'm Irish and proud. My ancestors came to America because they were starving. They experienced second-class citizenship, a lack of job opportunities, and living conditions that modern-day homeless people would consider unbearable. Despite this, they worked hard, educated themselves, and as a result, members of future generations, like myself, are living "the American dream." Don't get me wrong, I'm a big George Carlin fan, but when he tells me I can't be proud of my ancestry and Irish-American heritage, it makes me want to shove my family shillelagh up his dead asshole

Elranzer · 3 months

Usually agree with George, but...

Being American sometimes is the result of hard work and achievement, not birth. Ask any legal immigrant.

cebollas · 3 months

Even though george carlin is a good man i disagree strongly. It is important to have this type of pride because it supports cultural/community cohesion. Building strong communities is important to have functioning members of society who have strong morals. Morals don't always mean religion. People should care about their community and each other.

MrLostman · 3 months

Nationalism isn't really genetic, though. It's political and geographic. For example, you can become a US citizen even if you were born somewhere else. Our genes all trace back to the same origin, anyway. So ethnicity is really just our way of mapping genetic changes in the human race geographically. It's not really an actual thing, just a human defined concept.

But yes, I do agree; nationality and ethnicity are sort of irrelevant, aren't they?

nem0fazer · 3 months

Couldn't agree more. I'm proud of being Canadian. I jumped through two years of bureaucratic hoops, quit a good job, moved half-way around the world with my wife and waited three years, took a test and I now have a Canadian passport. Its the thing I think I'm most proud of.

Then Harper ruined it.

Youshallneverknowme · 3 months

My final paper for a poli sci course on EU politics was about how nationalism inevitably leads to racism. It happens all over the globe. People think I am so weird that I wont say the pledge of alegiance. I wont bow my head or hold my hand over my heart. I usually take this time to give myself a pat on the back for being able to critically think and think how sad it is the ignorance of the sheep around me. maybe a lot of people think like me and are too scared to not do it in public but idk.

Super_King_ · 3 months

Pride of culture, not actual pride of being irish. Like most of Carlin's quotes, this falls apart with any actual thinking.

st_saint · 3 months

Downvote me to hell before we all go suck George Carlin's cock, but I think it is reasonable to take pride in your culture: not pride from being born in a certain place with certain parents, but pride because of who your ancestors were and what they did, and because you're now a part of that tradition.

straighten · 3 months

Holy floating apostrophe, Batman! The quotation marks are killing me!

FatalTricycle · 3 months

RIP guru

[deleted] · 3 months

I'm proud of being a Swedish citizen.

xccriminal · 3 months

Living in the states, I do get shot for being a Canadian. I feel like pride can be generated out of even a joking adversity.

HelpImSurrounded · 3 months

Personally, as a gay man, I think Pride should just be renamed

"I SURVIVED ALL THIER F'ING BS for ANOTHER YEAR"

lilskr4p_Y · 3 months

Plato and Socrates would disagree...

Pickle_Inspecto · 3 months

I feel like there should be a separate word for being "proud" of something you have no control over, since it's really a separate emotion. It's not a feeling of accomplishment as much as it is a respect/love for a part of yourself. I'm proud of being gay, but I'm not high-fiving myself over it, and I think it's the same for many people who are proud of their ethnic/national heritage... or at least I hope so.

ShockedSystem · 3 months

Wow, what a load of horseshit.

Epithemus · 3 months

James Brown is rolling in his grave.

turnleftdale · 3 months

Absolutely nothing to do with atheism.

sexiestmanalive · 3 months

Groupishness is one of the most basic components of human nature. Sure it's somewhat illogical to define it as "pride" but we evolved to be protective and proud of our own family/tribe/team/country in order to encourage its survival. So sorry being human George.

AverroesGhost · 3 months

Well...I'm pretty proud of my large penis size, and that just happens to be an accident of good genes.

RSM9GreenLantern · 3 months

This brings up a point that makes Carlin a hypocrite in my eyes. If he feels this way then why does he have a favorite sports team? He doesnt participate in the game. People that say things like "I love the yankees, We are going to go far again this year" are one of my pet peeves.

PraiseBeToScience · 3 months

I would also add pride for contributing to a team is a valid form of pride, and one I value more than my own personal achievements. I work in product development, and the products we design are far more complicated than any one person could ever hope to design, as most consumer gadgets are. It's really cool to be part of a team that makes something far cooler than any of us as individuals could achieve.

I actually find it awe inspiring to stand on the shoulders of giants and think I could actually contribute even a tiny part to that.

ExtraExtraLong · 3 months

Reminds me of one of the most eloquently written rap songs ever produced - "Squeeze the Trigger" by Ice T:

"People hate people for color of face, No one has a choice in their race or place, A brother in Queens was beaten and chased, Murdered cold in the streets, A goddamn disgrace, And because of his race, His life went to waste, And none went to jail, When the court heard the case, Justice or corruption? It's all interlaced, How can you swallow this? I can't stand the taste."

darngooddogs · 3 months

I like Carlin, but I disagree here. My ancestors DNA exists in me, I am them. It is just fine to take pride in the accomplishments of ones forefathers, there is no difference between you and them.

MineCraftandcheese · 3 months

On an unrelated note, is it just me or does George look cock-eyed in that photo?

meerkatsarentreal · 3 months

I'm sure most of use are aware of this quote from old George, and I'm sure many of us thought this before we had heard him say it, but...

What the hell does this have to do with atheism?

myhouseisgod · 3 months

Louis CK has a bit that is similar, but is far funnier, in my opinion.

frenchieski · 3 months

mvskoke · 3 months

...this man was years ahead of his time

Keylager · 3 months

"I'm proud to be an American... Where at least I know I'm free" Chuckles

Ozzsanity · 3 months

Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world..........

bpmf · 3 months

George, you crack me up, looking for reason in peoples' pride! Reason <> emotion.

newguy25 · 3 months

I miss George. :(

NewteN · 3 months

Well, I'll tell you, George. Because the vast majority of humans lack the proper education, upbringing, overall mental capacity or genetic alteration to overcome the instinct for upper-pack mammals to form and conform into groups... or well... uhm... packs. You see, one is supposed to be proud of and loyal to the pack one is born into - such an inheritable trait greatly increases the fitness of any species who has evolved to utilize cooperation, altruism and teamwork; the evidence for this is abundantly clear in mammals observable today. Humans, still barely removed from ancestral mammalian traits, tend to inherent said pack-mentality. This is also why many strive to belong, adhere to or impose social norms.

You see, if we had evolved differently - say, at pivotal points in our development, it was no longer prudent for great apes to move in packs or to interact positively with members outside of their own direct gene pool (i.e. only providing for offspring, siblings, mates) then it would be quite possible that today's humans (if they even made it to something that resembles our level of cognition) would be much less interested in the division of groups and resources.

YouTubeReference · 3 months

I'm proud to be 6'1"

spawn_of_a_baptist · 3 months

I'm proud to be an atheist..

Simultanagnosia · 3 months

Pride has no use except in clouding the mind and bringing some isolated self-satisfaction to an individual. Kind of like masturbation.

One can accept the way things are, not as a concession but merely as recognition and beyond there is no need of anything. There is reasonable evidence to suggest that "Pride" used to draw attention to a minority issue is only productive at bringing in-group solidarity, and not out-group conversion or acceptance, and may even cause further polarization of the in-group/out-group antagonism. "Shoving it in their face" more often has the effect of threatening them which in turn causes a defensive state.

But there are many people with disorganized brains that depend on positive feelings of self-regard in order to maintain some semblance of sanity in a highly judgmental and competitive world. They react to that judgment with an overabundance of pride and in-your-face behavior that only seems to cause further rivalry.

Qweloquiallisms · 3 months

I was flipping through channels a couple years ago and came across the routine in which he said this. Became my favorite comedian/philosopher next to Demetri Martin instantly.

RemedialChaosTheory · 3 months

Proud to be carbon based

Atheizm · 3 months

The amount of times I have explain shit like this to people is fucking horrible. I lump this pride drivel in with people who like to claim special dispensation because of something fatuous culture or religion.

fixthecopier · 3 months

I thought this was about Lions. Wrong kind again.

cmdood · 3 months

This is exactly why i don't tell friends/family when i'm proud of them. Why? They're not my achievements

fegd · 3 months

Funny because as a gay man that's how I've always felt about "gay pride". It makes no sense to me, it's like being proud of liking broccoli and not brusselsprouts.

quinofking · 3 months

When i hear self centered people talk about how they only feel pride in them selves and they dont need anyone , all i think its that episode of the big bang theory when Leonard's mom comes over and talks about his siblings accomplishments and Penny is like "You must be proud of them" and shes like "why they're not my accomplishments". thats what i imagine when i heard Carlin say this or, Adam Savage closing line at "Atheist Con" or what ever it was called. it is possible to be proud of something you didnt necessarily accomplish, its when you become an asshole about it and even go to war about it thats the problem!!! otherwise you're an even bigger douche for telling others they shouldn't feel a certain way, when they dont harm anyone

Scopae · 3 months

People who say that they are proud to be christian are the biggest idiots of all since pride is in fact one of the 7 deadly sins...

EriMus · 3 months

I watch that part of that video about once a week.

foamingpipesnake · 3 months

This accurately describes why I can't stand the violently fierce pride some people have for their local sports teams.

myhandsarebananas · 3 months

Well nationalism began as essentially forced pride in the late 18th and 19th century in order to unify kingdoms into modern states or gain support for revolution. Lots of made up holidays, songs, parades etc. emerged with the sole intention of making people feel connected.

yourfrigginguide · 3 months

That's actually why I don't like gay pride parade.

CreamWafers · 3 months

This is so true. I would like to add that you can't blame someone for being born in a certain country either.

KStreetFighter2 · 3 months

Plus, if I say I'm proud to be a white male I'll look like a dick

perfektstranger · 3 months

There's no such thing as being on the right side of pride

Proverbs 18:13

If one rejects a matter before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.

Proverbs 11:2

Pride comes, then shame comes, but with the lowly is wisdom.

Proverbs 18:12

Before shattering, a man's heart is haughty, but humility goes before honor.

Proverbs 29:23

The pride of man brings him low, but the humble of spirit takes hold of honor.

Proverbs 16:18-19

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

delirrriousbiznasty · 3 months

I absolutely hate this quote. I take a lot of damn pride in my culture. I hope I represent my community well, Cuban fucking pride. I don't care if it's something I was born with. I have a rich heritage and I'm really proud to be a part of it. It's not an accomplishment, but it is part of the reason I strive to be successful. I want to be a good role model for other young Cuban-Americans. I like George Carlin, but this quote always russles my jimmies.

What I mean to say is "Fuck that, take pride in what makes you who you are", but whatever.

Dupshflayh · 3 months

You know, this isn't actually contributing anything to a sub-reddit centered around Atheism.


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