Shining Happy People Holding Hands Bradly M. Hussey 27 October, 1998 Professor Davis
Hussey: 2 Preface to my paper sorry, I know I was not to write a novel! Before reading my paper, I wanted to preface it by saying that I chose to write on a theme that I saw as being prevalent throughout the book. I realize that many other people would probably disagree with what I interpreted from the book. The thing that most stood out in my mind was the overwhelming happiness that the people Kaplan came in contact with displayed. Although in the book Kaplan downplayed the people s happiness and said that they were covering things up by lying and just saying that they were happy, I interpreted it differently. What I saw was that Kaplan was equating happiness with possessions and other tangible things. Many times over Kaplan complained about air conditioning, food, education level, etc., however he has not taken into consideration that these things should not be involved in the equation of happiness. For example on page 226 of the book, a women makes a comment about crime and its relationship with happiness, but Kaplan states the does not believe the integrity of the ladies comment. Once again, I wanted to write on a part of the book that meant something to me. I feel that I have gained a greater understanding of the people indigenous to the parts of the world covered by Kaplan, although I had to look at Kaplan s writing cynically. I hope this clears up any questions on why I chose this topic to write on.
Hussey: 3 America -- land of the free and home of the brave; where the citizens are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Trite phrases such as these have been echoed from the mouths of many American citizens since the foundation of the United States of America in 1776. Most U.S. citizens feel that these statements accurately represent the American people. However, if we dissect the later phrase into its component parts, we find that happiness is something to which we have a right. When looking closely at happiness, it is usually inferred by everyone that freedom, life, and liberty are the precursors to this happiness. However, I would argue that as a whole, Americans are not happy. I know this is creating a stereotype of an American citizen, and in doing so I have probably alienated myself from the politically correct people of the world, but given the facts, it is hard not to see things the way that I do. So what makes Americans unhappy about their lives, work, assets, etc.? In order to find answers to this question it is essential to look at other countries for a reference. A book entitled The Ends of the Earth is an excellent source of information regarding the lifestyles and culture of peoples of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The author of this book, Robert Kaplan, has traveled these areas and chronicled his journey in such a manner that while I was reading it, an underlying theme of happiness throughout despair jumped off the pages and hit me square in the head. Kaplan s travelogue points out three main reasons why the people of other countries are
Hussey: 4 happier than most Americans are about their lives. These reasons vary greatly but include hopelessness, religious unity and low crime rates. Kaplan makes mention, several times, of the hopelessness of the people within different cities along his path of travel. For example, while in Africa, Kaplan witnessed a woman combing her hair with an old rusted nail and another woman urinating in the street. Everyone in proximity to these people while the events were taking place just ignored it. The citizens were not shocked by the behavior they had witnessed. The people in that city had been worn over the years to the point where they knew that this was their life it was not going to get any worse, nor would it get any better. The hard times that they were experiencing were not something new, but rather stretch back to a time long before they were ever born. Thus, the people know of no better life that is even a possibility of attaining. This lack of hope and ambition leads to a feeling of security and happiness. Kaplan quotes an Egyptian political leader s assistant as saying: You Americans have a cultural problem. The people here have a different Nature they are not worried about the environment or overpopulation. Look at the warm weather. Look at the river Nile, how slowly it moves. This is Egypt. Egyptians do not want progress overnight. We know our people; they can help themselves. They are sedentary, passive. 1 This whole scenario much the same case as a college freshman taking his or her first class. When the student gets the
Hussey: 5 syllabus at the beginning of the year, he or she has no idea what other classes are like and assumes that this is the way all classes are run. Even if it is the hardest class that the student will ever take, he or she usually convinces his or her self that it is not that bad and goes on with life as happy as a clam. However, this attitude of hopelessness leads to happiness is not one that is found in mainstream America. In this country, we realize that there is an upper class, which we can work our way into there is a greener side over the fence and somewhere there is a gate. This knowledge of a greener side makes us as Americans strive for the best and hence, anything less is a disappointment, which leads to unhappiness about our life. Another point that Kaplan makes is that in many of the places he traveled, there was a predominant population of one type of religion. Although religion is definitely not the only aspect that can unify a group of people, it was quite prevalent in Iran 2. Islam is the primary religion of the Middle East and Iran is no exception with almost all of the citizens in the country being Islamic 3. Having a common link with a group of people is definitely a source of happiness and contentment. The feeling of belonging, in and of its self is the difference, many times, between happiness and despair. Beyond that however, 1 Kaplan, R. D. The Ends of the Earth: a journey at the dawn of the 21 st century. Pg. 122. New York: Random House, 2 Kaplan, R. D. The Ends of the Earth: a journey at the dawn of the 21 st century. Pg. 216. New York: Random House, 3 Kaplan, R. D. The Ends of the Earth: a journey at the dawn of the 21 st century. Pg. 189. New York: Random House,
Hussey: 6 when a group of people all with the same beliefs get together for almost any reason, very little arguing will incur. This is for the same reason that here in America we seldom hear of violence in a church. Everyone in that church believes the same thing. This leaves them with very little to argue about. There is thus a feeling of commonality between these people that eases their tensions and makes them happy. This is something that we in the United States are very poor at. The American population is a melting pot of peoples from all around the world. Consequently, it is very hard for us as Americans to find a large group of people with whom we share a common thread. While we may be linked to someone through our trade, often religion, race, or another factor turns us against each other, thus leading to aggression and not happiness 4. The last point, which Kaplan brings out in his book, that I will cover, is the effect on moral of a low crime rate. In countries like Iran, the crime rate is extremely low. This is very important for instilling a sense of security in a nation s people. This feeling of security is a major source of happiness to many people. Kaplan quotes a young lady in Iran as saying: How can you be so brave as to live where you do? Aren t you afraid? The crime statistics in Washington are so bad. I can t think of a greater tragedy than to struggle to achieve something in life, in your work, only to be murdered randomly. Maybe we re spoiled and sheltered here. 4 Kaplan, R. D. The Ends of the Earth: a journey at the dawn of the 21 st century. Pp. 189-91. New York: Random House,
Hussey: 7 It s just that living in Iran is so safe and secure 5. Although not all of America is as the young lady depicts Washington, there is a very high crime rate in the United States. In many of this nation s larger cities, crime is big part of everyday day life. In the words of Jonathan Larson in his musical Rent, I m a New Yorker Fear is my life. 6 To a great degree, a feeling of security is closely linked to the happiness that many of the people in foreign countries feel. In America, there is very little feeling of security, we tend to live our lives in fear and thus we find our selves unhappy once more. In conclusion, although I do not believe it was a theme that Kaplan had wanted to convey in his book, happiness through despair is what I found to be the most interesting part of his book. I think it shows that no matter how modernized the United States may become, regardless of how many material things we buy, despite how high we may climb up the ladder of power at work, Americans still will not be happy with their lives and the way things are going. America is based on a dog eat dog system of business and a competitive spirit. Although this may mean greater progress, it does not allow us to be truly happy. I think we can take a lesson from some of these foreign countries on what it takes and what it means to be happy. 5 Kaplan, R. D. The Ends of the Earth: a journey at the dawn of the 21 st century. Pg. 226. New York: Random House, 6 Larson, J. Rent. CD 1, Track 13. SKG Music L.L.C.