Heritage

In this thread I would like you all to discuss the concept of heritage. The question of inheritance and such has crossed my mind a few times, so -- since it has been kinda slow and repetitive here lately anyway (imo) -- I'd like to hear what SD has to say about it. Let's begin with a little definition:



Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage

In modern western culture it is considered much more admirable to earn ones property and titles from merits rather than inheritance, and the belief of equal opportunity is probably shared by most people here. In some countries (like mine) this can for instance be show through the government's attempts of making sure every child get the exact same chance of education -- no matter their economic or social origins. This has been taken so far that people say it's unfair that some kids have smart parents since those parents can help them with homework whilst the lower-class kids' parents cannot. In other words; the merits and knowledge of the parents shouldn't be passed on to the children in order for everyone to have the same opportunity.

I do not agree with this. I look at offspring as an extension of the parents; a part of them. Reproduction and making sure our offspring lives on is the only true purpose we have, so why shouldn't we be able to help our children with, e.g., homework? It's just a form of investment into ourselves in my eyes.

So that'll be the first subject: What is your opinion on inheritance of property and titles? What weighs the heaviest, equal opportunity or the right to secure your lineage?

Moving on.

When talking of your nation's/people's greatest achievements, or just showing excessive pride of said achievements, you might sometimes hear someone say something like: "You weren't even there; it's pointless to take credit for something you haven't done yourself". Personally, I think such statements are pure bullshit. It's totally OK to be proud of your parents or children but it's not OK to be pround of ones country(men)? You do not always have to do a deed yourself to be proud of it, pride can also be inherited.

And that'll be the second subject: What is your view on "inherited pride"? Is it really acceptable to be proud of something you yourself haven't done (heritage), or should one only be proud of what ones own deeds (merits)?

That's the only specific questions I've been thinking about, but don't limit yourself; this thread is for general discussion around the concept of heritage. If you want to discuss something else which is related, go ahead.

Now do what you do best, SD.

If you'll excuse my stereotypical way of thinking, let me say that this sounds very American. It is okay to be proud of people that did good deeds - it is not okay to refer to them as an argument in a debate (I am of course counting out debates about historical events). Something that one's ancestors did naturally doesn't raise his/her capability of the same deeds.

And to the first part of your ponderings - it does seem unfair that for example famouse actor's children get chosen to plays and so forth over other acting students, because they already have the popularity factor down due to their parents. However, I think that we cannot avoid these kinds of preclaimed advantages in our society.

First Subject:

People who have money, or property, should have the right to pass those possessions down to their descendants. Most of those people earned and accumulated their wealth over a lifetime of toil, and it is not right that others should keep them from passing their legacy on to their heirs. There might be a case for those who gained their wealth illegally, but the case would have to be proven in a court of law before considering confiscation of said assets. It is every parents duty to see that their children are cared for, and that is a responsibility that doesn't really end when the child comes of age. If it is decided that such legacies are to be re-distributed, then who decides where that money goes, and to whom? It is a concept rife with the possibility for corruption and misuse.

Second Subject:

This is a more difficult issue, as it concerns a multitude of possible scenarios. There are many who might quote, "Pride goeth before a fall," but I have always taken that to mean excessive pride - or Hubris. It is certainly acceptable to have pride in ones own accomplishments (to a point), or the accomplishment of someone you know or care about. You can also have pride in an ancestor who achieved something worthy of note. I do not think you could honestly claim pride in the deeds of an individual to which you can claim no direct lineage with, however, unless that person did what they did for the good of your nation or community. As an example, it is perfectly fine to feel pride in the performance of an Olympic athlete, who strives for the honor of his country.

On heritage in general:

No one chooses his/her parents and no parents choose their kid. What parents a kid has is just dumb luck. What kid parents have is more predictable but still mostly dumb luck.

First question:

These days inheriting a house from dead family members isn't really anything special. I've always thought it would be much easier to give away worldly possessions to family and friends than have to deal with selling it or the bank or government taking over ownership. I'm not aware that I know someone who has inherited anything with significant value.

On your example of homework, yes it is unfair but nothing should be done about it. That kid lucked out and had parents who could help him/her. At one point or another the parents won't be able to help anymore or the kid will have to do something on his/her own ability.

Its kind of like natural selection in the modern school system. The parents help the kid through school (in the animal world that's like helping the kid learn how to gather food), and eventually the kid will try it on his/her own. If the kid fails (or gets killed by a predator) then the kid won't get to...whatever compares to not passing on genes in this analogy. Certainly there are kids who have parents that cannot help (in the animal world the parents just aren't there) and the kid learns everything on his/her own and turns out fine.

Second queston:

People already are proud of things they have had no affect on. Nationalism. Most people have some amount of nationalism, its just a matter of how much. I would imagine most people would look down on the English person who goes over to France and demands free everything because of the Battle of Waterloo.

I don't see much point in inherited pride. Unless I had some influence on the event or someone involved in the event I don't see a reason to be proud of it. That doesn't mean I won't the enjoy the outcome. I'm only proud of the things I've done or influenced. I'm not saying that people should not show inherited pride. I have no problems with people doing that, until it starts to cloud their judgement.

Question 1:

I see nothing wrong with passing possessions down to one's children. If you didn't then what would become of those possessions that you spent your life gathering? It seems wrong to me to forbid a person from being able to give their stuff to others when they die.

For that second part of the question I think that neither one is more important or rather that both are equal. The argument can be made that your lineage is part of who you are, but at the same time the decisions you make in your life are part of who you are as well. Just because you are born into a family that has always done X doesn't mean you can't go off and do Y. It may not be well received by the family but you can still do it.


Question 2:

To me this has always been an area of discussion where I differ from most around me. To me, being proud of family members and maybe close friends is completely alright-encouraged even- but being proud of random others is not. Say for example that my dad was in the military and did something particularly noteworthy, I would feel fine being proud of my dad for that, but not for a friend's dad if he had done that same thing.

The same goes for one's children in my mind. A parent's job is to provide for their child and give them the foundation to be successful, so when a child succeeds a parent succeeds and both parties should be proud. Pride in the accomplishments of grandchildren and such is also acceptable.

Of course it should go without saying that you can/should take pride in your own deeds, but not to an excess.

Personally, I think its stupid when African Americans complain about slavery today. None of them ever experienced slavery, and personally the ones that complain about slavery don't have a single right to. After the slaves were free, they were eager to improve their social standing and live the American dream. Nowadays, those black people who complain all the time are the lazy jobless folks who are every bit racist as a redneck.

Look at Boondock's parody of the situation.

THISSS TIMESS A MILLION.


God i have one black friend that makes it seem like he was a slave himself.