We all know that “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are listed in the Declaration of Independence as “inalienable rights.” We also know that there has been much debate ever since 1776 about the definition of “happiness.” It’s a very personal thing and very ephemeral. Here today, gone tomorrow—or sooner.
So, lately, I’ve wondered why our country’s founders made happiness such an important feature of this immortal document? They probably couldn’t even have agreed among themselves on what it meant. And I can surely think of many other things more valuable.
Like peace, for starters. Like understanding, wisdom, love. How about kindness? How about tolerance and generosity? Maybe it’s the uncertain times we live in that make me yearn for something more substantial than happiness.
No doubt it was a marketing decision. The founders knew that everybody could get on board with happiness. In fact, it’s such an appealing promise that we almost forget the word “pursuit.” Nobody said we had an inalienable right to happiness, only to its pursuit.
Often a trivial pursuit, I think. We can do better.
