Pursuit of Happiness

I have been listening to Child Cudi’s Pursuit of Happiness on repeat for fairly a while. Really, its been considered one of my favourite songs to blast within the automotive on a sunny day and I at all times hearken to it whereas figuring out. Initially, I related to the upbeat rhythm and the journey towards happiness that we’re all on. Lately, nevertheless, the lyrics started sounding extra grim to me.

I used to be first launched to this music by my teenage son, I are inclined to gravitate in direction of his playlists. Enjoying this monitor made me really feel nearer to him as I think about the magnitude of Cudi’s phrases in a seventeen-year-old’s thoughts:

Residing my life, getting our goals

Individuals informed me to sluggish my roll

I am screaming out, fuck that

I at all times felt a way of empowerment, singing “fuck that” as I drove with the wind in my hair, quantity additional excessive, pumped to proceed dwelling my life and by no means slowing my roll it doesn’t matter what others consider me. I, too, am within the pursuit of happiness, and listening to this music for the primary few dozen instances reassured me I’d get there quickly if I continued to reside my life, my manner.

The opposite day, it occurred to me that this music is actually unhappy, regardless of its catchy beats.

All the pieces that shines ain’t at all times gonna be gold, hey

Actually, little is what it appears to be on the floor. Cudi wrongly assumes {that a} glamorous life ridden with extreme alcohol and drug utilization would discover him happiness, however he later admits within the music that he’s incorrect. Equally, many people are inclined to gravitate in direction of something sparkly -often instances our pursuit of happiness turns to materialism to fill a void.

I do not count on happiness from issues. Sporting designer garments would not make me happier, it simply makes me really feel prettier. Nevertheless, I do are inclined to get lured by shiny folks – particularly those that dangle expressions of affection towards me; I assume it is the Leo in me who falls for this lure. Or perhaps I are inclined to challenge as a result of after I inform somebody I really like them, I truly actually do love them so the belief is that others are as real as I’m. I dare tweak Cudi’s lyrics to:

Everybody that shines ain’t at all times gonna be gold, hey.

There are roughly 15 million Jews on this planet and 1.8 billion Muslims. In line with Brigitte Gabriel, a Christian Lebanese lady whose life was turned the other way up by Islamic radicals, 20% of the Muslim inhabitants is radicalized. That is a load of militant Muslims full of vile hatred in direction of Jews or anybody who stands with Israel. Jews want the voices of our gentile buddies, who declare to like us, to assist us come near matching the lots of of thousands and thousands of voices which are protesting for the eradication of our land and our folks. “I really like you”. Do you? If I’m surrounded by a lot love, why do I really feel so alone? I’ve a handful of extraordinarily supportive non-Jewish buddies however as an individual who takes pleasure in having many “buddies” and understanding many individuals, a handful versus the numerous I do know is equal to the huge distinction in inhabitants of Jews versus Muslims on this planet. I really feel extraordinarily alone regardless of there being 2.4 billion Christians on this planet whom the Bible teaches to relentlessly defend Israel. Nearly all of the non-Jews I do know have despatched a sort textual content or two. They imply nicely however they do not actually perceive what it’s like to observe rallies calling for the destruction of your folks in response to probably the most brutal massacres towards Jews for the reason that Holocaust, they do not perceive the selections we now have needed to make as dad and mom as our youngsters apply to high schools the place nearly none really feel protected for Jewish college students proper now, they do not grasp the excruciating ache that comes with their silence whereas Jews concern every day that we’re on the verge of a second Holocaust. So, as an alternative, with the most effective intentions, they let you know they love you and shine their pearly whites in an tried smile to console you.

Everybody that shines ain’t at all times gonna be gold, hey.

USC professor John Strauss has been banned from campus after saying “Hamas are murderers. That’s all they’re. Everybody must be killed, and I hope all of them are killed.” Is there one thing incorrect with wanting terrorists useless? Apparently, when you find yourself Jewish, you’ll be able to’t want demise upon terrorists or you should have the Professional-Palestinian/Anti-Zionist/antisemetic physique have you ever fired. The place are our non-Jewish buddies serving to Professor Strauss get his job again? There are simply too few Jews in comparison with the rapidly rising Nazis of 2023 to combat these injustices on their very own.

Inform me what you already know about dreamin’ dreamin’

You do not actually find out about nothin’, nothin’

Inform me what you already know about them night time terrors each night time

5 AM chilly sweats, waking as much as the sky

Cudi suffers from night time sweats as his extreme alcohol and drug consumption go away his physique. I can relate to the nightmares and 5:00 am night time sweats, as I dream a few ten-month-old child being held hostage by Hamas terrorists and a four-year-old little woman held captive for 50 days after witnessing each her dad and mom being murdered. I too can’t sleep lately. My goals are additionally shattered.

Jewish owned companies in the USA and Europe are being vandalized regularly, the President of AIPAC’s house was visited by protestors who used smoke bombs on his property, a instructor in New York Metropolis was nearly attacked by a mob of teenagers who discovered a put up on social media of her attending a pro-Israel rally, a Jewish man was killed by a violent Professional-Palestinian protestor in Los Angeles, hundreds of protestors in Australia screamed “fuel the Jews”, Armenia’s solely synagogue was burnt down, an Austrian synagogue was vandalized, Jewish school college students have been threatened on nearly each campus … All this in lower than two months (and there are many different incidents that I don’t embrace right here).

I am on the pursuit of happiness and I do know

All the pieces that shine ain’t at all times gonna be gold, hey

I will be superb as soon as I get it, yeah, I will be good

Like Cudi , I too am in denial believing that if Jews get extra help my disappointment will dissipate after I nicely know the type of help Jews want is not coming. Cudi and I are each in seek for that “factor” that may make our issues go away. Whereas he sings about being self-destructive and feeling empty, turning to medicine and alcohol to fill his void, I too really feel empty and am desperately trying to find that “factor” to make me really feel complete once more. There was a nagging sense of vacancy for the reason that massacres of October seventh that I can not shake off.

We do not want “I really like you’s”. What Jews want from their non-Jewish buddies is to rally with us, to write down their congressmen and senators voicing help for Israel, signing the lots of of related petitions which are going round, calling universities and condemning them for failing their Jewish college students. That is what we’d like: motion, not phrases. We can’t win this battle with out others leaping within the combat with us, our inhabitants is simply tiny in comparison with our enemy’s; if you happen to have a look at the numbers you will rapidly perceive that is an inconceivable battle to win with out sturdy allies.

Sadly, I do know that as I signal petitions, my title turns into public and I turn out to be a Jewish goal. I do know that being affiliated with many pro-Israel organizations make me a goal too. I additionally know that after I write faculties that my son has utilized to and rebuke them for failing Jewish college students that I danger his probabilities of acceptances.

Wanting forward no turning again

If I fall, if I die

Know I cherished it to the fullest

If I fall, if I die

Know I lived and missed some bullets

As soon as upon a time I listened to Pursuit of Happiness and felt overtaken with pleasure and hope. These days I discover myself sobbing as I sing alongside.

I will be superb as soon as I get it, yeah, I will be good