Pride vs Inspiration.
Joseph Schooling put the land of my birth on the world map today. As did many others in different ways.
Am I proud? Do I deserve to be proud?
What have I done to share in Schooling’s success?
Apart from being fortunately born in the same, fiercely ambitious nation – nothing.
On nationality… I wonder about the relevance of a single citizenship in a ‘globalised’ world. I live in multiple cities; and I love family and friends and people – not cities, countries or governments (for which I have varying degrees of regard and admiration)
So what is this sentiment?
It’s inspiration. Not pride. I’m inspired by people who come from unlikely places and circumstances – to push the human race forward with virtues of discipline and excellence – without regard for race or nationality; but choose loyalty to their community, and contributors to their success.
