Are you PROUD of who you are?

United States
February 14, 2007 11:20pm CST
This is not a present and future kind of question. It really has to do with one's past. It is a question about if you are proud of your family, your roots, and your origin. I see so many people who take all that they have been given and all that they are for granted. Some, do not care a whit about the struggles and challenges that their grandparents faced to make it possible for their parents to survive, and thus, for them also. My husband and I always have this kind of discussion, because I take great pride in my family name and all that we represent, and he does not understand. His family have a good heritage also, and my father-in-law tells me about it (I think it is important, if I ever have kids, to know all that I can). I believe that my husband is starting to appreciate his familial roots now, as much as I do. Are you also proud of your family history, does it make you feel a sense of kinship with all of your relatives? Or, do you live, as most of modern society does, in isolation, trying to separate themselves from those around them, even their own family?
10 people like this
42 responses
@LindaLou (483)
• Canada
15 Feb 07
I don't know. I kind of feel that being proud of your ancestry means thinking that you are better than someone else. For what? For being born into a particular family, or being born in a particular country? None of us really get to choose this, so what's to be proud of? And what makes those unlucky enough to be born into a terrible family or a war-torn country "less" than anyone else? I don't know if I can have pride what my parents or grandparents or their parents did. They were their own people and did what they had to do to survive and thrive. I don't really feel I can take any credit for their choices. I have my own life to live and survive now. That's my perspective anyway.
• United States
15 Feb 07
I never really thought of it that way. I did not realize that it might seem that way. However, you have shed light on the reason why so many people try to foget their past, and like to live alone. At one point, we are all from war-torn countries, there really is no place on this earth that has not suffered through one war or another. I do not think that hating certain family members for the way they lived, has precedence over one's entire family. Somewhere in the line, there was the good and the bad. We all have skeletons in our family closets, but that should not negate our entire heritage, and family.
1 person likes this
@Sawsen (793)
• United States
15 Feb 07
I'm extremely proud of my roots. We have really deep roots, and I'm really proud of my last name. I'm really proud of my family history. My grandfather lived to be 100 or so. And he was extremely energetic. He was also very wise with his money. And he bought so much land, that even now my family has some. I don't know if it makes me feel a sort of kinship with my relatives lol, because not all of them are my greatest friends. But I do love my family heritage. My husband also has a really great family history. He's very proud of his history as well. I think we're both proud of our family roots, especially now that we have a daughter.
• United States
15 Feb 07
Yes, I agree with you. It is nice to have that type of feeling and respect for where you have come from and then to pass it on to your children. I am happy for you.
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
16 Feb 07
hi there, i do agree with you. i do proud of my family heritage and me, my own self. that's nice if we do have such good heritage but for those who don't have such don't be sad. You, yourself must start the good legacy for you and for your future generation. every single good heritage has it's own starter. just like me,myself my ancestors got a very good reputation and being respected by the community but who knows the heritage of my ancestors simply in crook...i don't know that. the best thing is for those who doesn't have it, start your own good legacy!!! :)
@aidonia (4209)
• Greece
15 Feb 07
I'm not proud of my family at all and not because I live as the modern society.(Don't even ask why).There is nothing to be proud.From the other site my husband family.What a perfect family!I'm more proud than he is about him family.Him parents build the perfect family starting from nothing.I'm happy i have them in my life and also I feel very proud for the family I have now.
1 person likes this
@aidonia (4209)
• Greece
15 Feb 07
Exactly this was the reason I try hard for I have my own wonderful family
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 07
Yes, I agree with you. I am happy that my husband has such a good family, also, with a wonderful history. And, as you say, we are the ones that can make the change (either for good or for bad). There are some people in my family that have forever changed themselves, and will never be considered a part of it, so, we can make a difference. I am glad that even though you felt your family was wrong, you did not let that from stopping you from having a wonderful family of your own.
2 people like this
@candygurl24 (1880)
• Canada
15 Feb 07
I am very proud of my heritage. My grandmother suffered alot for my mom and her brothers, and without her undying strength, I would not be here. She grew up on a very small island with her parents and several siblings. They had a farm, worked hard every day to make it through, and grew stronger from it all. She was one of those children tied on a rope with her siblings just to get to school because the storms were so bad. Her father would lead them, and the rope was to prevent one of them from getting lost. She left home at 16, went to Halifax and started working. She married a man that turned out to be an abusive a*shole, and survived it. She married who is now my grandfather and worked for that marriage as well. He was in the navy, and she was a waitress at a local restaurant. Her stories are well worth listening to. I love to hear my elders talk about their lives, it makes me realize how easy I have it nowadays, and how all that hard work made them who they are today. I appreciate my family and keep in contact with them on a daily basis. I live in a different province now, but my children and I travel back home whenever possible. Family is my life.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 07
I feel the same way, and I guess people criticize me for putting too much value into my family, but they have struggled a lot through war, occupation, and the hardships of trying to make a life for themselves in a new foreign country (the U.S.), and if not for them, I don't know what my life would have been like. And listening to the stories is fun, and you get to see how courageous and chance-takers these people were.
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
15 Feb 07
I'm proud of my ancestral heritage, and of my great-grandparents, whom I loved very much and were very kind to me. Anyone coming after them... well, not so much. My immediate family was very abusive, and I was often shuffled from one family member to another because no one wanted to take care of me. I can't be proud of the type of people they are, or of the way they treated me or each other. However, I love to learn about my where my family came from. I'm obsessed with the ancient customs of my peoples (I have a dual heritage). I love learning the history, religion, culture that my ancestors were a part of. In this way, I feel pride in who I am.
2 people like this
• United States
15 Feb 07
Yes, that is how I am also. I like to have traditional clothing and items, and even old photographs. I am glad that you were able to hold on to your true self, with all that had been going on in your early years. You will have so much good to pass along, and that is what I hope to do also, one day.
• United States
16 Feb 07
Yes I am very pride of my hertiage. We have alot of history and alot of roots that goes generations in our family.
1 person likes this
@cuhkiz (568)
• Philippines
16 Feb 07
im so much proud of my origin. Im proud of my ancestors and my nationality specially my country. Thinking of how many years they spend to give the ancestry and family alive. Making and striving just to make it survived...
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
16 Feb 07
We have our family tree back to the 1500's and our heritage is amazing. I am proud of the accomplishments of my parents and my grandparents as well. I am the kind of person that believes that each generation should be better than the generation before them. To clarify, Each person takes the best of their parents and adds to that making a better generation. I think that my ancestors have done that. I am vey proud of where I came from.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
16 Feb 07
Of course, I am. I happened to have been raised properly and it appears I have a good enough lineage. Love flows abundantly around us. In fact, I can still remember my grandparents, how well they used to take good care of us. They may never be classified to be among the rich, but they had always been hardworking and a happy lot.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 07
yes i am proud of who i am and my family roots and sometimes i do think of how i should not take myself for granted ebcause my life and me could be worse
1 person likes this
@coolsid2007 (1030)
• India
15 Feb 07
absolutely i am very much proud about where i came from ... and my family background .. thanks sid
1 person likes this
@gianena (256)
• Philippines
16 Feb 07
Yep, I'm proud of who I am and I'm proud of my family and my ancestors. Come to think of it, I wouldn't be here if not for them. They may hvae done something bad but still they are family. Give more attention on the good side and try not to follow the bad things that your ancestors have done. But in my case, I'm really, really proud of myself and my family inspite all the challenges and struggles we've been through. That's how much I love them. As Lilo, in her own eloquent way says: "OHANA MEANS FAMILY AND FAMILY MEANS NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND OR FORGOTTEN."
@atrocious (209)
• Nepal
15 Feb 07
I am really proud of who I am. I might not have a lot of money or have all the things that I want but I am still proud of who I am. When I am here at communities discussing with people from all over the world, I feel proud to represent myself as a Nepalese. When I am with my friends I am proud of my family and my culture. So we can say that I am pretty much proud of who I am.
1 person likes this
• Nigeria
15 Feb 07
I am proud on how I was raised . I am proud to be free and proud to voice my opinion when my Country is WRONG. I am proud of my race but not of what was done to others ,by my race ,to those who were not black. That goes for what we did to the Indians ,white and continue to do to Mexicans . Our businesses are still allowed to enslave the Mexicans with low wages ,no benefits and hostile treatment. I am proud of my late Parents ,my brothers ,Aunts Uncles and cousins . I am especially proud of ME.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
15 Feb 07
I will be the first to say I'm VERY proud of who I am, where I come from and how I was raised...My great grand father use to always tell me about how they use to pick cotton for a way of living, to how he met my great grandmother. They were married for 70 years and passed away only 3 days apart, one passed unexpected then my grandfather passed, from a broken heart I believe.. My greats, and grands taught me about their many struggles to survive in this world. It was still slavery going on when my greats were alive and younger. To hear all the many stories of the trials they went through to still have a family... That alone, I took pride in knowing no matter at what cost they made a living and raised my grandma who inturned raised me...They instilled great morals and values in my life. I've proud to say, through it all my family were strong and kept their head up. Today, that's how I live my life, positive and strong. My grandmother always sits around and talk to my son about her growing up and the things she use to do. He actually enjoys the stories. Each story has a meaning about his life.. Great topic
@bethmt (419)
• United States
15 Feb 07
I've done a lot of geneology research for my family and I have to admit it makes me feel so connected with my ancestors, with what they accomplished and experienced. So yes, I am very proud of my ancestry and family history and I think more people should get involved in learning about their own family history. A healthy pride is good concerning family history, as long as it doesn't turn into snobbery or a sense of resting on one's laurels.
15 Feb 07
I'm proud of myself now. (so yes) I've started projects on the net to help and give others a place back. I'm also a proud to be a young father, who cares more about my kid then i do about myself. =) Not alot of days my age are like this and it's very sad. I'm happy with and how my lifes going so the answer to this question is still a yes. Kudos! ~Joey
• India
15 Feb 07
I am really proud of my ancestors, great grand parents , my parents. yes, they are conservative ethnic people. Though most of the things are changed now- a -days ,if we think thru it sure the things they practiced, values they imbibed in their lives are really great and all these were really when applied in life are pain free mentally and physically. Because they have given core of life so that there is no pain.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 07
My mother is Irish and German, and my father is Irish, English and Native American. Both families had to immigrate from Ireland and Germany in order to start a new life here in the U.S. back in the 1800s. Additionally, my last name comes from my Northern Cheyenne roots (even though I'm mostly Irish) and I've grown to be proud of this. I can't say much for kinship, because we are not in contact with my dad's family (except his dad) and my mom's family is getting smaller - right now it's just my parents and siblings, my grandma, my aunt, and some great-aunts and great-uncles whom I rarely see.