Reflections on life, liberty, and the 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.”

--United States Constitution of 1776

The Constitution, one of the first documents cementing the foundation of our society, was written during fearful times. Fear of the unknown, the inevitable mistakes, and the prices included. A nation breaking ties with a powerful kingdom to govern themselves was unheard of. Freedom, happiness, and safety were a wealthy man’s fortune many couldn’t afford. And because of this, Thomas Jefferson was granted the task of constructing a document of hope, of an ideal nation that placed the people’s freedom, happiness, and livelihoods into their own hands. It was an example to others that they were ordained with human life to create, to teach, and to flourish.

What I want to ask today is: What happened? What happened to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

If you have blood coursing through your veins, a mind to process thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and a heart to keep you afloat, you’re alive. Everyone around you has also been given life. Why do I emphasize this? Because in this modern age, it’s become a virtual reality. It’s as if we live in a bubble that encases only ourselves and what comforts us, dispelling everything that we deem discomforting, and disorienting the world and people around us.

Suffocating in a bubble we as a society have constructed is a perplexing way to live, don’t you think? And if our bubble bursts, we’d rather hurt the popper than see the world with clear eyes.

Liberty is defined as the state of being free within a society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authorities on one’s way of life, behavior, and political views. It astounds me sometimes that a country proclaiming itself as The Land of the Free still struggles to this day to grant its own citizens this civil right. We have terrorists such as the KKK and Nazis having more liberty rights to murder innocents than the people terrified of them. We present this nation as the land of freedom, liberty, and opportunities for innocents plagued by war, poverty, racism, sexism, and so much more, only to retract our words when they escape the inescapable.

When did liberty become limited to first come, first serve?

How are we supposed to find happiness within suffocating bubbles and liberties with authoritative conditions? We don’t. That’s why it’s called the pursuit of happiness because it isn’t something we automatically receive. Established within our Constitution, we have the right to pursue happiness for ourselves. Some find happiness in accepting a nation as their humanity and others thrive by reminding a nation of its humanity. Despite our differences and our past, we all deserve the pursuit of happiness, civil liberties, and to live our best lives without fear.

We are some of the luckiest generations mankind has ever seen. To allow ourselves to not only acknowledge our humanity but live in a country that once told us to value ourselves over our own government is enlightening. Jefferson was a human being who knew people could accomplish great things one day and horrible things the next. He himself hypocritically voiced his beliefs in freedom while keeping other human beings as slaves.

America will never be great. The American experiment is to witness what humanity’s capable of doing with people governing themselves for the benefit of all. We have the freedom to do great or horrible things to each other, ourselves, and our country. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, at the end of the day, can be used with a purpose. Or it can be thrown away.

That’s your freedom.