An Unfortunate Convergence
We were driving back from a visit to my beau's homestead, talking about Americans, Fox News, Obama vs McCain, etc. and I commented that, at least Americans value the right to be happy - to the degree that "the pursuit of happiness" is enshrined in their Constitution. And that's something, isn't it? I mean, we have no such grandiose obsession north of the border, do we. Happiness isn't something we particularly value, I don't think. And the individual right to pursue it definitely falls short of our list of admirable duties in life. Let's face it, we value what's good for Canadian society overall and your personal happiness be damned.
To put it all very simply, of course. Nevertheless, it's something I find inspiring and vicariously thrilling about Americans, that they value happiness to the degree that they do, while it's just another something I begrudgingly admire about us, but sometimes wonder why I do, that we don't.
Then, quite unbidden, I swear, came the expression, "ignorance is bliss".
It explains a lot, when you really stop and think about it, doesn't it - especially if you put "ignorance is bliss" before the "right to the pursuit of happiness". I know, I am SO Canadian. It really is quite depressing for me sometimes.
