HAVE PRIDE. BE PROUD. BE VERY VERY PROUD.
(Forget British Colonialist Nonsense: Pride is NOT a Sin)
--Attorney Patryk Utulu

One of the most misquoted religious passages is the biblical Book of Proverbs, 16:18 that "pride goeth (goes) before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

From Colonial British officers to religious leaders till today's barely literate classroom teachers, "pride goes before a fall" has been used to dampen the spirit of independence in Africans, damage the drive for women equality and even destroy the restless spirit of achievement in young children. From time immemorial the powerful tells the poor and oppressed, that PRIDE IS A SIN.

IT HAS ALL BEEN A FAT LIE. PRIDE IS NO SIN. PRIDE IS THE GREATEST MANIFESTATION OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT. IT IS WHAT MAKES US HUMAN.

A proud follower soon realizes that the religious leader is NOT the Almighty
A proud colonized people sooner than later seeks independence
A proud woman knows it is better to be alone than be constantly abused
A proud student may go to the Principal rather than accept a teacher's idiocy
A proud servant may start thinking for himself and demand better wages
A truly proud people can rise above tribal and religious differences and demand accountability from those who govern them.

HUMAN PRIDE HAS ALWAYS THREATENED THE POWERS THAT BE!!!

Hubris (excessive arrogance) is NOT the same as pride. PRIDE is one reason we do well in life. Self-pride gets us to improve ourselves through craftsmanship or education or trade so as to not become a burden on other people. It takes pride to provide for your family because you do not want to see them humiliated. Self-pride fuels ambitions because we love to stand out. Self-pride could be helpful to a person resisting the pressure to become a prostitute. A police officer with self-pride in national service may hesitate to take bribes. It takes self-pride to NOT rape a woman. As my Mom used to say, "if you can't convince her to take off her own clothes she's not really yours." So get over the indoctrination founded on colonialist contempt for the colonized and get over the pseudo religiosity that keeps you on your knees mentally. Be proud. Have pride. Take pride in your own achievements.

PRIDE IS NOT A SIN. PRIDE IS VOICE OF THE ALMIGHTY WHISPERING INTO OUR SPIRIT AND SAYING: "YOU CAN BE MORE. BE MORE!!!" [082514]

Mr Patryk, I think your title should be changed from Pride to haughtiness. Haughtiness makes you feel you are better than others.

God doesn't like pride as He xpressly stated in the Bible and the scripture you quoted.

But again, the line between Pride and Haughtiness is kind of blurry though. That being said, one can take Pride in ones self and heritage.

God honours the humble man.