Parakalein

Today is Memorial Day and a special day set apart to honor those who have served our nation to maintain freedom in our world.  In church yesterday, a time was set aside to honor those who serve whether in the military, in civil or public service, placing their life in danger so we can live in peace and be free to pursue our dreams and desires.  People called out names of those who were friends or family who so served some who gave their lives.  It is always meaning to remember and give appreciation, honor to those who have so served.

At the same time a part of me recalling the constitution of the United Stares recalled these words:  that we are all endowed with "certain inalienable rights: Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

For years I accepted this as truth and as part of the heritage of our nation and our desire for freedom, liberty and justice for all.  As I reflect on these words today, I realize that these words are part of the problem.  So it seems that while words or internal narratives are created in our brains and effect how we live.  What we think and how we think and how we think about what we think are all part of our inherent freedoms.  So too is the patriotism that is open to call anything into question while also honoring the heart of those who penned these words as well as their positive intent.

Life, yes an inalienable right given to all who are alive.  Liberty, yes the freedom to be and believe in choices and the right to make those choices without anyone telling us we cannot exercise our freedom to choose.  The pursuit of happiness presents a conflict laden inalienable rights which makes me question its wisdom for our 21st Century World.  The pursuit of happiness in a capitalistic society perpetuates egocentric competitiveness that itself is counter productive.  Some define their happiness in ways that have them decrease my freedom to be happy.  It creates the "haves and the have nots" as Marx defined that polarity as itself paralyzing the free expression and free participation of all in a just society.  So, in the name of justice, I ask you to consider that this trilogy of inalienable rights be modified for the 21st century to:

"Life, Liberty, and the Practice of Happiness".   This would make the focus of happiness an internal issue dependent on my creating and maintaining the state of happiness not through external experiences but through internal sense of personal well being and the expression of the same.  The pursuit of happiness creates a competitive, controlling, and confusing focus that polarizes self serving definitions of happiness, mine vs yours.  The practice of happiness has us being happy or contentment internally and out of that contentment expressing true happiness to and for all.

In the arena of "practice makes perfect" maybe if we all practiced being happy it would be a more perfect world.