Pride

Pride is considered one of the seven deadly sins and rightly so but it is not just personal pride that can cause trouble, it also happens with entire countries. A prime example is Germany after WW 1 and the result of the unfair treatment imposed by the Versailles Treaty. Such severe restrictions cause the German economy to contract and opened the door for Hitler. He restored the people’s pride in their country by retaking territories like The Rhineland and Sudetenland and each time the people cheered. The Russian people felt a loss of pride when the Soviet Union collapsed and now Putin is restoring their pride as he takes back territory. The Arab countries dislike for Israel is more than just religious differences. It is the humiliation suffered in the loss of 4 major wars since 1947. Healthy pride, the kind that comes from helping others through personal achievement, is quite different from the toxic pride that arises from envy and hurt feelings.