"Pride- What is the point?" By Greg Hernandez

Pride. National pride. Ethnic pride. What does it all matter? When I was young the parades used to fascinate me. The flags. The colors. The pandemonium in the streets. It was all new to me back then; a parade's atmosphere was intoxicating for me, seeing all the people out in the streets to celebrate. Yet, a certain weird sense of yearning bubbling up inside of me ceased to dissipate. What's there to celebrate? A question of "why," began to simmer in my mind. Why is anyone proud of their race?

I liked the different parades. The Dominican parade. The Puerto Rican parade. The Irish parade. I've attended all three. Performed in the latter twice during my high school marching band days. I don't get it. What is the point? Why are you proud to be what you are? I am not proud to be Dominican. I've met many Dominicans and found them to be deplorable. I've also met quite a few who are truly awesome individuals. It goes that way because we're human beings. Race only separates us. If I were any other race I would not be proud to be it. For me, being proud to be one race is basically saying this race is the best one. Being Dominican is better than being Jamaican! Oh wait, no it isn't! You're born a human being and afterward you are immediately classified by gender, race and class. This genetic lottery should hold no pride. Whether you're Dominican, Puerto Rican, Irish, Italian, Black or White, who cares? You're a human being. Isn't national or ethnic pride childish?

Our histories and cultural traditions are important, however isn't being proud of them superfluous? If you're born in a particular region you will obviously have certain beliefs and traditions derived of said region. You will look a certain way based on where your parents were born. Being proud to be of mixed race is even more hilarious to me. Why is that a big deal? A white man and a black woman got married and had sex and presto! You were born.

I know people have suffered. American slavery, English enslavement of the Irish, the Chinese and Tibet conflict, and the Tainos' extermination and subsequent rape. See below

"As the Spanish (white Spaniards from Europe) exterminated the indigenous Tainos through disease; treachery; and overwork, whom inhabited the Caribbean islands, survivors became the victims of rape and concubinage. They were forced to take the Spanish language and customs and become virtual slaves for the Spaniards. As their numbers diminished, Africans were replaced to continue the lucrative gold and sugar industries that had been created on islands such as Peurto Rico, Jamaica, and Cuba, to name a few. Those countries were forced to adopt the language, religion, and culture of their Spanish masters. Therefore, we may see dark Spanish speaking Latinos; however they are actually African, Taino, both, or a mixture of all including Spanish. For example, a Dominican may speak Spanish, but his true ancestors are African. In conclusion, Blacks and Native Americans were the victims of both rape and slavery which caused thier use of Spanish language… which makes them Latino."

So, it is important to remember. To commemorate certain days or events through parades, but let us be frank here, these terrible things are caused by human beings. Everyone suffers. Having a parade or a celebration for one particular race directly invalidates all of the suffering endured from every other race. Think about it. We know it to be true. Blacks only care about Black people's civil rights. Whites are only concerned with themselves. Hispanics don't care about Blacks, they even fight among themselves.

Race means nothing to me. Pride is beyond foolish. I know my history. Monsters, demons, devils and ghouls pale in comparison to the unbridled might of the purest creatures of terror- human beings. We are the worst. There is nothing to be proud of.

I prefer to be happy, not proud. I'm happy I'm alive. Happy to be, "tall, dark and handsome." I am proud of graduating from college, performing in Chile, performing in an off-off Broadway Theatre, writing short-stories. I am proud whenever I create something, run a few miles, or help someone out in their time of need. Most of all, I am proud whenever I finish reading a good book.

Happiness versus Pride...

Here is a video clip from George Carlin's final HBO stand up special. He sums it up beautifully in four minutes- George Carlin- "Pride"