Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness?

So I realise, its been a fair while since I blogged. Like any addiction, fascination or even obsession, I feel myself being drawn to it irrevocably; as if something is telling me that I need to feel the same familiar feeling of release that it offers. Anyhow, here I am, and here is what I have to say.

Every morning when I rise, get myself up and figure out the manner in which I shall start my day - I glimpse towards the far corner of my wall. Upon it, a large poster hangs, covered in manuscript, bleached and coffee stained by the light of day and the fatigues of age and slight mistreatment which have thus far rendered it unreadable, but for a pressed copy - made from the original copy. Of course, right now, this document could be anything - the magna carta even. But to me, this document is more important than any bible or scripture, any page of great teaching or philosophy. On my wall hangs the declaration of Independence.

So why must I look upon it each day, with fresh, new eyes, and not see the same thing every time? Well, perhaps because one clause above all others stands out to me. It reaches out with both arms extended and pleads with me to try and interpret its meaning with new inference and understanding. It asks me not to be biased by my cultural teachings and conventions, but at the same time, it takes into account the immensely powerful philosophy of the right of the individual, and that individual's own beliefs and opinions. The phrase; "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" shimmers against the brown and scorched text that surrounds it. My eyes identify it immediately as the part of the text that is to captivate and challenge me. But why? Why this part and none other to such a degree?


For me as a child, the state of America and its basis as a nation with no national language, and cultural philosophy as a nation offering the culmination of all cultures into a 'melting pot' - taking the best of all races, creeds, and religions, and creating something diverse, was enlightening. Why didn't England offer this? Why didn't we ask this of our people? Well, I suppose it all starts with the declaration itself. In a briefly concise historical context, the thirteen states of America (as they were back in 1776) were at war with Britain. On June 11, 1776, a committee of five gathered - John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman to draft what was to be one of the most famous, most quoted and most respected pieces of legislation ever committed to written word. Becoming discontented with their treatment by the British, forever being used and neither being treated fairly nor equally; five brave members of the American Congress worked to exhaustion on a document that very well may have sealed the fate of a nation. The striking prose of the document is perhaps what captivated me most, as much then, as it does today. The text was designed to rouse Americans, potentially asking them to give their lives to a cause: that every man should be able to pursue his dreams, his desires and his definition of a life of beauty to no end, without fear of retribution or vengeance. This phrase, this clause, is the very essence of capitalism. Whilst it may incorporate desire, it is not selfish in its resolve, nor does it ask man to kill in order to achieve happiness or wealth. It suggests that we are born to these ends, we are born to pursue not an ideology, but a journey. We are born to do as we please, and as we wish - so long as this is not to interupt or counter exactly the same desires found in each and every other person.

But as well as this, I take from the phrase almost a biblical teaching. To live my life forever looking to find happiness, not just in my own situation, but in the situation of others. Perhaps some people are currently 'pursuing happiness' and don't even realise it. Perhaps that is something even more beautiful; that we are sometimes not aware of our own perceptions. But to me, the most beautiful of all of these concepts lies in the fact that I may be giving happiness. I may be sharing happiness, and I may be creating happiness. If you take a short moment to question the very definition of happiness, what do you end up with? You most likely start thinking of your own happiness, and how you can become more 'happy'. I think that there are likely some people out there who see straight through themselves and ask how they can give this happiness to others - how they can be a bridge over which these emotions and sentiments can flow to someone less content than themselves. How can I ever truly be sure? Well, I suppose I can't. I guess I would ask every person who reads what I have written to ask themselves; what is happiness, what does it mean to me? Do I offer it to others before myself?

When you next go into a poster store, look out for the declaration of Independence, read about halfway down, and see if it stands out for you. Does it stand out in just a text, or does it stand out in life itself?