America's Greatness

As Americans we like to speculate on what makes America Great.  We talk about our Constitution, our economic system, our democracy, our Christian roots. 

It could be, however that  a Frenchman put his finger on the real reason.  Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests--and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning--and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution--and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"

I guess it woul be futile to try to say it any better than that.

Happy Independence Day

Our national declaration of independence declares that we all have a right to pursue happiness.  That’s quite a statement and not all societies or cultures believe that. 

Pursuing happiness has become an obsession with some people.  Unfortunately, most are so busy pursuing it that they never ask what is takes to be happy.

A fascinating study was conducted by Bernard Rimland, director of the Institute for Child Behavior Research. Rimland found that "The happiest people are those who help others." Each person involved in the study was asked to list ten people he knew best and to label them as happy or not happy. Then they were to go through the list again and label each one as selfish or unselfish, using the following definition of selfishness: a stable tendency to devote one's time and resources to one's own interests and welfare--an unwillingness to inconvenience one's self for others." In categorizing the results, Rimland found that all of the people labeled happy were also labeled unselfish. He wrote that those "whose activities are devoted to bringing themselves happiness...are far less likely to be happy than those whose efforts are devoted to making others happy" Rimland concluded: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  

Just something to ponder over your coffee.