Pursuit of Happiness

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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
-- Thomas Jefferson

In the immortal words of America's founding fathers happiness is equated with life and liberty. Preservation of our right to pursue it is declared to be the purpose of government. Losing it is justification for treason.
The importance of happiness is one that has remained and become deeply entrenched in American culture.
We began by assuming it as a fundamental human right and it has become the very purpose of life.
This wouldn't be so bad if it were a universal happiness that we sought, but it is not. Each man is endowed with the unalienable right to pursue his own happiness. He does not measure the value of his own life by the happiness of others.

Why is happiness the standard according to which we measure the value of our lives? It is really a selfish standard. It is one that views the individual as a solitary unit devoid of any commitments to others. One who seeks happiness seeks primarily his own comfort.
How can loss of happiness justify treason? Recall that treason is betrayal of your fellow co-nationalist and betrayal of the people whose history bore you. It is not an act directed so much toward a government as toward a people. Notwithstanding, your personal happiness is more important than the collective struggles of the countless tens of thousands you leave behind in your pursuit of it.

Perhaps we ought to consider the pursuit of something else instead. The pursuit of loyalty, perhaps, or honesty, or responsibility. The Bible tells us "Jusitce, justice you shall pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20). We are not told to pursue truth, but we are told "from a false matter distance thyself," (Exodus 23:7) and by distancing from falsehood it may be supposed that greater nearness to truth must be attained. Why do we not pursue peace or harmony?

I have no great complaint against happiness. I think it to be a wonderful, comfortable and empowering thing, when appropriately attained and managed.
But the idolization of that for which many men have sacrificed so greatly in their morals can lead to little ultimate good.
I, for one, would rather be true than happy.

24 Nissan 5773