The Pursuit of Happiness; a Different yet Common Goal

The general theme of the pursuit of happiness is imbedded in every American's mind, although these ideas may perhaps vary they all are connected by the fact that we as the people are entitled to our unalienable rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), and that by no means shall we ever be denied these rights. Still, this statement alone is deceptively easy to define but very hard to achieve. It is why for years, even before the founding fathers of this great nation, people have struggled to achieve said "happiness", and also struggled to eradicate the various objects that have blocked their path to it. These objects range from blatant segregation to immigration laws, and on numerous occasions throughout history these obstacles have been struck down to rejoice of many. However-- one must consider, by striking down these barriers to allow happiness to flow it will also deny happiness to others. This is where the pursuit of happiness is truly something almost impossible for the population to fully achieve as a collective whole. Still even when presented with something of an improbable goal; a preverbal carrot on a stick, we all continue to seek it just about by any means necessary.

After the constitution was forged it was obvious that Thomas Jefferson's inspirations lay with a certain, great philosopher . John Locke was a man who felt that all people are entitled to their natural unalienable rights, and it is the duty of the government to protect these rights. If the government however fails to protect these rights John Locke felt it was the duty of the people to overthrow the government. A clear example of this was painted before American in the 1960's where African Americans had became tired of the way they were being treated. For years they had been isolated in the slums, were deprived of the proper education, and other things that the whites in nearby neighborhoods had. Eventually, the blacks being denied better housing and schools forced them to turn to violence to try and garnish attention that they cried for.

Martin Luther King accurately surmised, "There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society where a large segment of people in the society who feel they have no stake in it, who feel they have nothing to lose.....People who have a stake in society protect their society, but when they don't have it they unconsciously want to destroy it." In this case the African American had every right to be angry and mad, and had every right to set fire to the streets if it was necessary for them to eventually achieve happiness. However---- for whites who felt they were in danger, were eager to rally and even train themselves in firearms for the sake of defense. The whites believed what was theirs was going to be forcibly seized from them, and they feared if the two populations of black and whites were forced to interact it would only bring violence and harm their way. This is the irony of John Locke's statement, for if it is the responsibility of the people to overthrow the government if it does not succeed to meet their requirements, but it is also the government's duty, to reprimand those who violate one's supposed unalienable rights( in this case the whites), even if the said person is trying to achieve their own rights in the process.

All this leads to something of a paradox within the segment regarding the pursuit of happiness in the Declaration of Independence. Even after the riots and after the race crisis was somewhat "solved" by laws and regulations there were still people out there who felt wronged. A good example of this is the case of Bakke vs. Regents of the University of California. Bakke being a white male who felt he was denied a chance to go to a medical school based only on the fact he was white and not a minority is a clear example of what is called "reverse racism" This yet again points to how Bakke's pursuit of happiness was in a sense being violated and questioned even at the same time the pursuit of happiness of another minority was being granted. Hence , this is why one man's idea of happiness could and may conflict with another. If we further look to the laws and regulation put in place to subside the riots, to subside the violence, to subside the complaints or cries of people, such as in some states gay marriages are legal, or perhaps the new law against immigration that was put into place in Arizona. All these things show how even despite the fact the idea of pursuit of happiness for everyone is perhaps similar they are quite conflicting and difficult to obtain. However, these idea at the same time are ever evolving and changing. Ever protest for higher wages or even better education can at times lead to compromise, acceptance, and eventually or perhaps theoretically--happiness.

This could be what the founding fathers sought to establish when they decided to include the notion of the "pursuit of happiness" into the Declaration. It is true, at times one must learn how to compromise , even if it means to sacrifice a little or a lot, just so one and his neighbor can live happily and in harmony. These compromises could be seen with anti-segregation laws and affirmative action. Naturally at first these laws were challenged and fought against with tooth and nail, but soon the ideals slowly were incorporated into our society and accepted. Still , it should be considered that even after the laws and regulations it take much time before things are guaranteed to actually change.

All in all, the ideas of the pursuit of happiness comes to various degrees. We all understand it; still the idea is seemingly impossible for us all to achieve it simultaneously without stepping on someone else foot. Conflict and debate is sure to arise, and eventually the quarrel will fall and subsided. Still, despite this predictable roller coaster, it is certain in life that as long as America exists (and even after it falls) there will be people who eventually will stand for what they feel are their unalienable rights. After all, we are all given this moral option to protect what is ours and to demolish any obstacle that may stand in our way of our pursuit of happiness.