What is the American Dream? Thomas Jefferson took the phrase “pursuit of happiness” from Locke and incorporated it into his famous statement of a peoples’ inalienable right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence.
I think we would all agree with this. And we certainly see places on earth where this is far from their reality. Let’s face it… in most cases we Americans live this dream. In fact, we give our lives to preserve these inalienable rights. Sure, I know there are exceptions, but work with me.
Nowhere in this document is the personal accountability to making us all happy. In fact, many of whom travel to impoverished countries find people there who are as happy or happier than we are. They value the simple pleasures of family and friendships.
It is ironic and troubling that our children these days are less happy than we were. You read that correctly. All the studies point to that. And, that dissatisfaction is the root of much of the woke nonsense we all hear about. Consider this:
According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal about how millennials are out of touch with reality: “What you’ve forgotten, however, is that it’s up to each generation to make its own mark. Defining yourself by your resentment of an earlier generation isn’t how to do it.”
We have given our children the best and this is how they repay us? It is ironic that this same generation’s progressive ideas seem to be aligned with reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but they are also the least informed about how to live responsibly and sustainably. Worst of all, they have largely lost their respect for their elders.
How did all this happen and so quickly? It all seems to be the result of the hijacking of our education system by liberal zealots and the insatiable desire of the media to focus on the small things that go wrong in society rather than the more general beauty of American people.
So, we focus on reproductive rights rather than how to raise children to be responsible members of society which of course also includes their accountability to consider having their own children. The American Dream does not include fathering dozens of children with a handful of women who view giving birth as an economic securitization of their lives.
We each have a part to play in this reeducation of Americans. We all have responsibilities and roles to play in protecting each other. It is not about my personal happiness measured by accumulation of prestige and wealth. It is about the wellness of our communities and the celebration of simple pleasures.
We must curb our desires for things, or we will have to curb the number of people who can express their dreams this way.