Don’t worry, be happy

Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan, Editor-in-Chief

 Apparently the happiest countries in the world are mostly in northern Europe. According to the first ever World Happiness Report, which was commissioned for the United Nations Conference on Happiness, the top ten happiest countries in the world are as follows: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland. The report shows that happier countries tend to be richer countries that are economically and politically stable with the absence of corruption.

The question I was wondering about is what was happiness based on when this report was made? Apart from New Zealand and Australia, many people would consider this the list of the topmost miserable countries to live in terms of weather. Just ask Scandinavians themselves – they will tell you they love countries with sunshine and many of them own houses in hot countries with sandy beaches. Plus it is ironic when you see that many of these countries rank really high in terms of suicide rates or people losing it and firing a machine gun in schools!  Other than that, I do agree that these countries are more organized – they are economically stable, politically stable, enjoy a good amount of freedom, corruption is almost nonexistent and at least they don’t get sandstorms.

I guess living the American dream only puts you in 11th place, as that is where the USA is ranked. According to the report, the US has become less happy in recent times. However, many of us still enjoy American movies, American music, American holidays and good old American pies, so we would rate the US on a higher ranking. The UAE was ranked the highest in the Gulf in 17th place followed by Saudi Arabia on 26th, Qatar 29th and Kuwait on 31st.  Well that’s just a classic example of the fact money can’t buy happiness, especially with the amount of corruption we enjoy in the Gulf. However, the UAE is ranked in a good position; so, yes money can’t buy happiness but it sure as hell feels a lot better to cry in a luxury car. As for Kuwait, well we have the parliament and sandstorms to thank for our misery.

The report shows that Palestine is among the countries with the lowest rankings in the world and Israel on 16th. That is expected since Israelis are happy now that they are building new settlements and the Arab Spring has given them a curtain to hide behind while they do whatever they want to Palestinians without attracting attention. The world is just too busy with Syria. As for the Palestinians, of course they are not going to be happy, as they don’t really have a country and are about to lose more land and houses to Jewish settlers. I wonder if anyone in the UN will sing a remix of the Bobby McFerrin song to the Palestinians – If Jewish settlers are taking your land and you ain’t got nowhere to go?.. don’t worry, be happy.

If any country feels offended by my comments, then please be assured I am just jealous because I am in the 31st place in happiness and wish we could be happier.

Wish you all a HAPPY weekend.

By Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan
Editor-in-Chief
myopinion@kuwaittimes.net

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