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.”

Mr. President, Congratulations.  You were not my choice, but I will honor your position of leadership in our country.  I’m able to rest in the knowledge that whatever YOUR beliefs may be, mine hold that you were placed there by God’s design, and He’s in the business of working things together for my good.

As a concerned citizen, I would like to remind you of a very key phrase in the above referenced Declaration of Independence.  First pointing out that it is a declaration of INDEPENDENCE.  No matter the vote cast, or the ideals behind it, I am of the opinion most Americans appreciate independence.  Last I checked we did not have a declaration of dependence.  I would also like to bring your attention to the word PURSUIT.  This is an action word.  Our country does not have the unalienable right to BE Happy, we have the right to pursue it.  Please encourage this.  The difference can be easily missed by some. 

As the President of the United States I would encourage you to hold to the directives that made our country great, to acknowledge the language used.  ‘That we are endowed by our creator’, is not a meaningless phrase drafted in an irrelevant age of antiquity.  It is a powerful phrase that each of us have a unique gifting, that when encouraged will allow us to pursue happiness in community with others.

I would like to point out one other portion of text w/in the Declaration in the hopes you would take seriously your leadership position: “accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”  It would be a shame if our country got ‘accoustmed’ to the rights you promote us to have.  Please provide the leadership this country needs to understand the concept of a budget, to take seriously its limitations, and to work towards balancing it.  You are a man.  You cannot create an economic plan that will ensure happiness for all, it is not possible this side of heaven.  However, I also concede that as the leader of our country, it is not your job to get others to understand the differences between Heaven and Earth.

Finally… All men being created equal, is not open to be interpreted as a need to equalize all men.  Please keep that portion of text, in context with the rest of the message.  Equality of men, would be dependent on the equality with which each man pursues his/her happiness.  When man begins to look to someone else, or something else for happiness, he is no longer taking responsibility for it. 

I take comfort in knowing that one man, no matter the position of power, in our country does NOT hold absolute power, and for that I’m thankful.

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