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| The Pursuit of Happiness |
| 2002-02-13 |
The United States is far from being an ideal society. It has many shortcomings. In some domains, Europeans seem more advanced. Nevertheless, I submit that the original notion of "pursuit of happiness", puts the American Revolution ahead of all other progressive revolutions. In a way, this idea encompasses all other rights and freedoms. It tells that governments are established only to secure the basic needs and rights of citizens, that governments derive their powers from the people, and many other things too. It means that humans are born equal and free. It constitutes a bulwark against tyranny and exploitation. Rather than "exporting Democracy," the USA should spend a lot more time exporting the "pursuit of happiness" idea. The world-wide adoption of the idea as a norm would end societies that are dependent on keeping their citizens straight-jacketed, would end the brutality that has for so very many years been mankind's lot. But that'll never happen. We're lucky it's happened here. We'll be even luckier if it stays happened. The Taliban would be aghast at the idea. ZANU/PF would find it incomprehensible. The ayatollahs would take the gas pipe and the Saudi princes would probably die on the spot of collective apoplexy. But they're only the obvious suspects. People like the Mullahs of Mumbai would also find it - how shall we say this? - Sinful. So would Chomsky, Fish, Ramsey Clark, Ted Rall and the rest of the Suzy Creamcheese set. And the communists, facists and other ists. So would various Malefactors of Great Wealth. So if it's an ideology to push - call it Libertarianism with Human Face - it's going to have an uphill climb. But it sure will be nice if, against all odds, it wins in the end. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |