Birth, race, gender, colour, height, and happiness

BY ERROL A. GIBBS

It is plausible to assume that every human being has an inner desire to be happy. Notwithstanding, people seldom consider the influence (positive or negative) that their birth, race, gender, colour, and height (inherent), or their social and economic status, religion, culture, and weight (acquired) ―have on their outlook on life, and the “search for happiness.” Are some human beings more deserving of a happier life than others are?

The human family is breathtaking in its beauty and diversity. Notwithstanding, in every era ―premodern, modern, and postmodern, some people have used the characteristics of others as a pretext to victimize, oppress, subjugate, harm, or make extinct, entire societies. The unyielding bias towards people’s birth, race, gender, colour, and height has become endemic in the human psyche, as a psychological mind trap.

Paradoxically, for the human family to exist in peace, harmony, and happiness, the sanctity of human life must rise above any assumption of racial and cultural superiority. Notwithstanding, the majority of humankind would subscribe to the belief that human beings are born equal, deserving of fairness, and justice as their unalienable rights.

In Article 1.1 ―Copyright © UNESCO 1979. United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, P. 11. Declares: “All human beings belong to a single species and are descended from a common stock. They are born equal in dignity and rights, and all form an integral part of humanity.”

Furthermore, the US Constitution states: “We hold the truths to be self-evident that all men are born equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” ―Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826).

Happiness is a birthright ―spiritual, inherent, and constitutional. Human survival, hope, and happiness are attributable to this birthright principle. Likewise, when people view the human species from the perspective of religion, science, and observation, it affirms (1) our sovereignty, (2) the intrinsic link among all humankind, and (3) the oneness of humanity.

Paradoxically, anthropologists characterize people by ‘race’ as opposed to human beings created by God without any differentiation, other than the visible. Can anthropology better inform humankind of its origin, purpose, and destiny? UNESCO declares:

“All peoples of the world possess equal faculties for attaining the highest level of intellectual, technical, economic, cultural, and political development. The difference between the achievements of the different peoples are entirely attributable to geographical, historical, political, economic, social and cultural factors. Such differences can in no case serve as a pretext for any rank-ordered classification of nations or peoples” ― (Preamble, Article 1. 4, 5, Copyright © UNESCO 1979, p. 12.).

The human family behaves in a manner that is consistent with their conditioning within the family, country of birth, cultural norms, religious upbringing, and nurturing. Moreover, how they value their lives over the lives of others. This worldview diminishes the mutual respect and responsibility to fellow beings that is necessary to foster a happier world.

The legacy of the human family is a permanent trail of unhappiness, underpinned by “conflict of differences.” The challenge that confronts every individual in the postmodern age is the reluctance by some groups to welcome at the “Table of Civilization,” others that they consider lesser mortals. By whose authority do human beings ascribe greater or lesser mortals? Which group can claim immortality?

These reflections have led to the conclusion that all races possess equal capabilities for good and evil. We are spiritual beings endeavoring to master the human experience, dominated by our physical existence in a material world. The awareness of this dual existence should heighten our capacity to influence the world with spirit, presence, empathy, and authenticity to imbue parallel growth, worth, and happiness in others.

People view others through the lenses of their “narrow” worldview. They may also consider themselves different or even superior to others. How does the individual overcome unhappy situations over which he or she does not have control? Where does hope begin? Hope begins within us, but above all, the relationship bonds we form with others foster hope, as we strive to live a moral life.

More importantly, it is the creation of a “happiness eco-system” as a national leadership initiative to foster universal peace, hope, and happiness, such as: (1) Install a Ministry of Happiness (MOH¹) and a Minister of Happiness (MOH²). (2) Create a National Happiness Awareness Program (NHAP). (3) Establish a Wholesome Educational Curriculum (WEC) to include spiritual, moral, social, intellectual, and physical development. (4) Establish a Personal Happiness Index (PHI) and National “Happiness Index” (NHI), and (5) Conduct yearly “Happiness Index” (HI) audits.

The altered state of modern life brought on by the rise of nationalism, colourism, racism, and other religious and cultural bias do not bode well for the future of a happy world. The world needs a practical “moral philosophy” to nurture human beings in the postmodern era, such as the Golden Rule or “ethic” of “reciprocity,” which is an ethical maxim penned in most sacred texts. “Do to others, as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31).