In Bhutan, they have this thing called Gross National Happiness on which they base their country's overall prosperity. Their government provides them with clean water to drink and land on which to live, and most of its citizens are sustenance farmers, meaning they only grow what is needed to support their families. They aren't democratic, but the citizens have the right to remove the king if he becomes tyrannical and demagogic. They have a national dress code (which looks rather comfy, robes and pajamas, I dig it), one television station that broadcasts every night at 8pm, and so far, have held back the invasion of technology and salaciousness from the outside world.
I would live there, if they actually believed women were capable of holding a position of power.
The king's "cabinet", for lack of knowledge of the correct term, are all graduates of US colleges and fluent, for the most part, in English. They are also all men. The king himself has four wives, all of them sisters.
I hate to pull the feminist card, I really do, but in that part of the world, women are still considered baby machines and only baby machines. Don't get me wrong, I'm dying to have children and be a mom and hold my baby in my arms, but I'm equally desirous of a career and accomplishing all of my life goals. Being barefoot and pregnant is not one of them. However, if the women of Bhutan are content with their positions in life, then more power to them. I wish the US dealt in gross national happiness instead of gross domestic product, but I'm content with my position in life as it is.
We can only hope.
About Me
- espresso fiend
- I'm a junior at CSU Monterey Bay, but I really shouldn't be. I've just started my coursework to become an English teacher, and I'm very excited for the rest of my life.
4 comments:
It is interesting to see a country that measures itself in terms of happiness rather then money. It seems to me too many people view money as a source of happiness but, it just a tool. We should live our lives to find happiness and fulfilling our goals.
It does sound like a fairly nice place to live, and I'd go there if there was equality for the genders. I'd bring my Xbox, and be rather content. I also thought it was nice that they let only 6000 tourists in, and it's a steep cost to travel there. I think Bhutan might be on to something there.
Glad you took a critical look at the use of this measure. That "feminist card" perspective makes us see it a new way.
Wow, I was totally with it until the wives thing, then it went down hill. It is an interesting concept to have a national happiness average available though.
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