happiness

Throughout modern human history people have desired purpose in their lives. They have struggled to find meaning in a world that they do not understand. Knowledge is not the driving force behind this chase. Happiness is the ultimate goal. Once they have purpose, they believe that they can achieve happiness. Many religions preach that happiness will be achieved in death. But how can we know when we attain happiness, if we do not know what happiness is.
In 1830 happiness was defined as: the state in which the desires are satisfied. That definition has now dropped to the number two slot. Happiness is now most commonly used to mean good luck. The event that people now most often relate with happiness is winning the lottery. Happiness is no longer a state of existence. It has been taken down to a chance, fleeting occurrence. The change in the definition of happiness is a reflection of our society; we are no longer concerned with long-term plans or goals. We need everything now. If we can’t have it right away, it is not worth having.
When asked what makes them happy most people say money. However in countries where per capita income is higher, happiness does not tend to be greater. The people have more electronic devices and cars, but they are no happier than before. As long as people are not in abject poverty, money seems to have little to do with absolute happiness. Robert H. Frank, the H.J.Louis Professor of Management at Cornell's Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Goldwin Smith Professor of Economics, Ethics, and Public Policy in the College of Arts and Sciences, believes that “…if we use an increase in our incomes, as many of us do, simply to buy bigger houses and more expensive cars, then we do not end up any happier than before. But if we use an increase in our incomes to buy more of certain inconspicuous goods–such as freedom from a long commute or a stressful job–then the evidence paints a very different picture.” Income can be used to increase happiness, but only if it is used to improve quality of living without buying shiny objects. Day to day situations affect our happiness much more than possessions or big events.
Humans adapt very easily. We live on almost every continent, and can survive in any conditions. While many people say they would rather die than become paralyzed for life, paraplegics tend to get over the immediate depression, and are about as happy as everyone else. No handicapped group tends to be particularly unhappy. Conversely, people who win the lottery tend to get over the immediate euphoria and sometimes become less happy than they were before. Human beings can find happiness in almost any situation, but happiness is dependant on fulfilling desires.
Happiness is about being satisfied. There is a limit to what a person needs, and anything beyond that will not increase happiness. While the rich of one country might be relatively happy compared to the rest of the country, this is only because of how it changes their daily routine, and frees them from many of the stresses of work and commuting. Possessions do not make people happier, as much as commercials make us believe they do. If people wish to be happy they must free themselves from the desire for shiny objects, and use their money to improve the quality of their lives

My Lie

America is a strong nation of patriots and freedom. We are the leader of the world. And it is our job to make sure that everyone has our freedom. America is a symbol of hope and freedom in the world. We patriots must remain hard fast in our resolve. We must defend freedom from all who would seek to destroy it. Only until we find all these terrorist killers, will freedom be safe.
On September the eleventh freedom was attacked. The patriots of America were called upon to defend freedom from all terrorist organizations, and nations who harbored terrorists. Saddam Hussein was a frequent supporter of terrorist organizations, like Al-Qaeda, and had the means and will to create weapons of mass destruction. Thanks to America and her allies, Saddam Hussein has been removed from power.
We are winning the war on terror, because freedom cannot be stopped. All people wish to be free, so we must bring them freedom. Freedom is on the march. Afghanistan has held free elections, and soon Iraq will have held free elections. We are spreading freedom, and it is bringing the world together. But freedom will not be safe until all the terrorists who oppose freedom are stopped. Our victory is inevitable.
It is the job of us patriots to defend freedom from all who would oppose her. These terrorist killers hate us for our freedom, and wish to destroy it. It is our duty to defend the sanctity of freedom. The world wants freedom. Only these terrorist killers wish to destroy freedom.
We, the patriots of America, must come together with all who share our goals, to root out and kill terrorists. We must stop all nations who support terrorists, harbor terrorists, or deal with terrorists. We live in a society of freedom, and it is our duty as patriots to defend that freedom. Only then will we be safe from these terrorist killers.