![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Thomas Jefferson, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, 2005, The Rosen Publishing Group. I however propose that true freedom in a democracy can only be realized when there is an inclusion of Responsibility in the Rights otherwise the Rights remain unreliable. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Property As we quickly approach Independence Day here in the US, we thought it’d be interesting to reflect on the origins of the words life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I do not therefore intend to downgrade the essential value and practical significance the phrase “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” by suggesting that they should be changed. However, to find happiness it is necessary to be at your best behavior, show your best character, create time for happiness and also make room for happiness in your life (Thomas, 2005). Therefore, you should go and look for your happiness, chase after it, pursue it the same way people pursue mate. Pursuit of happiness: Everybody wants to be happy and everybody is responsible for their happiness. If your choice interferes with others’ liberty then you should choose careful as you would want them to do the same for you (Thomas, 2005). Not everybody is able to make correct, appropriate and responsible decisions and hence there exist limitations in the form of laws and rules. This means that you will be responsible for whatever result that comes from the choices you made. Liberty is the freedom to be able to choose independently. We are already alive and so to get a life we must live and live to the fullest for that matter. We should ask ourselves what we are responsible for in respect to these three Rights. In these Rights then comes a feature of responsibility. I just wanted to share this short anecdote on Neurasthenia I didn’t really intend to discuss Gilman.The expression, "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" is found in the assertion of Independence which says "we hold these truths to be undeniable, that all men are made equivalent, that they are blessed by their inventor with certain questionable Rights that around these are Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness and Life." (Thomas, 2005) These words are not only very powerful words but also help in the establishment of any platform upon which all democratic societies can be built not only that of the United States. This three part phrase recalls 'liberté, égalité, fraternité' (liberty, equality, fraternity) in France or 'peace. This illusion of aspiration has manifested itself in the American Dream, and has consumed many in an endless pursuit of happiness. One such unalienable right is 'Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'. One of they key points made in the essay is how modern society and modern living has manufactured a sense social pressure to succeed. I highly suggest reading the article as it gives very interesting insight on George Beard and Weir Mitchell’s thoughts on the causes of Neurasthenia and how they believed it must be addressed. In the article ‘Americanitis: The disease of Living Too Fast, Julie Beck presents how the infamous nervous condition of Neurasthenia has shaped the way modern Americans think about health and happiness. However, it is difficult to give an accurate description of the American Dream for it is not something that can simply be quantified and measured. For the past 241 years Americans have pondered on these words, and many would say that this phrase has become the cradle of the American Dream. The full phrase contains the following words: 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. ![]() “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” said the founding fathers of the United States. ![]()
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