Nostr Web Client

As a white American I never gave much thought to my heritage.

Despite the fact that my grandmother immigrated from Ireland when she was 17 which makes me only a 2nd generation American.

It just never factored for me for whatever reason.

Now that I’m older I realize I’m proud to be Irish.

And I’m proud of the fact that I’m a little bit crazy like a good Irishman should be lol

Jeff Swann 1y ago

I think there should be some distinction between being grateful or having appreciation for things we are given or for the people who came before us, & things like actual achievements that we might take pride in.

Words are messy tho.

But it's similar to when people say "we won" after they watch sports... All I can think is mf you didn't do or win anything.

When it becomes socially acceptable to take pride in things that you had nothing to do with, lots of really sad & ineffectual people pump themselves up with weak associations to stuff outside of themselves & then become tyrants... See the woke movement.

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

HODL 1y ago

Definitely agreed. That said failure to play the identity politics game is an automatic loss. Unfortunately we’ve all been forced to participate whether we like it or not.

Moon 1y ago

White heritages are real and should be recognized and embraced has much as anyone else’s. Lots of folks in this country would be psychologically better off if they had a better relationship with their heritage beyond whatever lame homogenized and McDonaldized version America feeds them…

Jeff Swann 1y ago

Idk, I think being on the recieving end of these rather constant social attacks makes us stronger & more aware of who we really are, while the rest become soft & actually completely lose who they are without the context & support of their social group. It's like an anti-fragility thing. I don't think playing the collectivist game really makes us stronger.

I think tools for better coordination are critically important (bitcoin, nostr, keet, etc) & the others mostly just trade genuine coordination for mindless following & group think. One is empowering & the other is disempowering. You can be destructive with mindless collectivism & that can appear powerful in a way, but it really isn't. Real power is productive.

HODL 1y ago

True at an individual level. At a societal level impossible not to play the game.

Jeff Swann 1y ago

So what does that look like?

HODL 1y ago

To put it bluntly it means the winning cultural identity will be dominant over others.

Jeff Swann 1y ago

But culture follows the successful. That's why the current culture is shit, because fiat success is devoid of merit. Bitcoin solves the cultural problem almost by itself, it just takes time.

HODL 1y ago

I’m not sure culture follows the successful. Look at Asian American families. They outcompete almost everyone by placing a strong focus on family and education and yet their success is not replicated by other American demographics.

Carl 1y ago

That 2 people had sex and I was the result is just nothing I ever took pride in. It’s kind of like being 7’ tall, young, healthy and being able to slam a basketball. That’s just winning the genetic lottery.

[ I’m 5’5”, so perhaps I’m just jealous :) ]

I have no idea of the genetic makeup of my heritage other than we look white and the last name is Thornton; so I assume we came from the UK - though I really don’t care.

I’m also the oldest of 5. The middle sibling was adopted from S. Korea. For most of my life she has been my favorite and I’ve always considered her just as much of a “real” sibling as my Caucasian biological siblings.

I just kind of hate the division and the tribal aspect of a lot of this.

Bitcoin Carlin 1y ago

Which is why it amused me when Sunny Hostin from The View found out her ancestors owned slaves and she had to admit she’s disappointedZ

Why? Why should your ancestor’s actions affect your status or emotional state?