Group items tagged

paradoxical effects

failed to achieve your goal of being happy

negative effects of valuing happiness are most likely to occur in situations where people feel they should be happy

The pursuit of happiness is instictive for most human beings.

happiness is our normal condition.

I think a better description for unhappiness should be: self-ignorance.

Both the happiness and anti-happiness forces actually agree on something important—that we Americans tend to grab superficial quick fixes such as extravagant purchases and fatty foods to subdue any negative feelings that overcome us. Such measures seem to hinge on a belief that constant happiness is somehow our birthright. Indeed, a body of research shows instant indulgences do calm us down—for a few moments. But they leave us poorer, physically unhealthy, and generally more miserable in the long run—and lacking in the real skills to get us out of our rut.

It's that time of year again - the buildup to the holiday whose name so many people are afraid to say. "Merry Christmas." Why do these two words offend so many people? Why is this greeting such a big problem? Why are their retail stores that insist their employees say "Happy Holidays"? Of course, some have even dropped the 's', and wish people a "Happy Holiday." What holiday are they talking about? Why can't they just say it!? Why are there so many offices that are afraid to have a "Christmas" party? Why are public schools forbidden to utter the word "Christmas" and, in some cases, not allowed to even have red and green decorations or visits from Santa Claus? What's the problem with Christmas? In truth, there should be NO problem with Christmas - and there should be no problem , thankfully, some retail stores like Wal-Mart are wising up to this fact.

tmas" party? Why are public schools forbidden to utter the word "Christmas" and, in some cases,

an American entrepreneur, investor, stockbroker, motivational speaker, author, and philanthropist who, during the early 1980s, struggled with homelessness while raising his toddler son, Christopher, Jr.[1] Gardner's book of memoirs, The Pursuit of Happyness, was published in May 2006.[2]

An inalienable right enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, in addition to life and liberty; the right to pursue any legal activity as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others.

The question: How can we celebrate our diversity of holiday celebrations? How can we enjoy and magnify this aspect of American greatness? Bill Press's answer is that, among other things, we should say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas" when we're in diverse company. (I assume Press thinks it's okay for me to say "Merry Christmas" to other Christians.) Is he right? Does this reflect and celebrate our diversity?

So, "Happy Holidays" really isn't so much a matter of celebrating diversity as it is a means to squelch diversity. It masks and diminishes the genuine variety of cultures in America. One might argue that genuine religious diversity ought to ignored or hidden away. But please don't try to fool me with a plea to diversity if you're going to argue for non-specific sameness.

But just for the sake of discussion, let’s bring the whole issue closer to home. Suppose your son or your daughter is, for some reason, the target of kidnappers and that they’ve put your child in a hidden location with a bomb scheduled to go off if you don’t pay them a million dollars. Now, suppose you have one of the kidnappers in custody. What would you be willing to do, assuming you couldn’t get the money, to find out where your child was being held and get him or her away from the bomb? Whoops, you can’t slap the kidnapper! That would be torture! You can’t even threaten to shoot him if he doesn’t tell you what you need to know! Again, that would be torture! Do you think you might be inclined to take whatever action necessary to save your child? Or would you let your child die to avoid torture? The world is, and always has been, a vicious place and its fine and grand and noble to talk about never using torture or the threat of torture – in the abstract. I would contend, however, that if the life of your child or your spouse or your best friend was on the line, you might not look on a slap as the unlawful infliction of severe physical pain in quite the same light. In the abstract, we can call it torture. When the lives of loved ones are at stake, I submit that being slapped around seems relatively mild – but I could be wrong.

“Happy Holidays” is an Anti-Christian Statement:

assume that the other person celebrates Christmas

not as guaranteed

it is the presence of this self-governing reason in each person that Kant thought offered decisive grounds for viewing each as possessed of equal worth and deserving of equal respect.

it commands us to exercise our wills in a particular way

Christmas

Christmas should be recognized and celebrated in the schools. Regardless of each person's religious beliefs, Christmas day is celebrated by giving gifts and spreading good cheer to all. There is no harm from spreading good cheer and trying to make other people happy. Actually the world would be a better place if everyone practiced helping each other a little more often