Every time I think about being proud of being white, I take a look at low forehead morons marching around with torches and Nazi garb and am quickly dissuaded of any such idea.
A quick stroll through Walmart has the same effect.
I grew up in SoCal where most of the crime was committed by minorities. I now live in an overwhelming white city. Same crimes only its scumbag white people doing it.
I just don't get the white pride thing. You are either a scumbag or you are not, the color of your skin has nothing to do with anything.
I don't necessarily disagree.
I will say three things:
1) I really try to ignore race. I think it's boring and inconsequential. As you indicate, there's scum all over, and no group is immune. I don't actually walk around thinking "I'm proud to be white". It's not really much of an accomplishment. What I really was getting at in my earlier comments was: "I am not ashamed".
2) I think Western Civilization is the great civilization. Socrates, Plato, Vergil, Shakespeare, Voltaire, Beethoven, Rembrandt, Einstein -- the list of great Western achievement is long indeed. I am familiar with much of that civilization's accomplishment, and I am truly proud to be familiar with it. I put effort into knowing it because it is worth knowing. Culture matters a great deal; race not so much.
3) My real heartburn on this issue comes from the blatant double standard which is perhaps best expressed in a joke that often circulates on the internet: