Chan Si Ting, Class 4/7
Imagine a scenario where people of different skin colour are treated differently from one another; those with lighter skin tones getting more privileges than the darker ones. The lighter toned ones get to sit at the front of the bus whereas the darker toned ones are forced to sit behind, the lighter toned ones get to reserve a table at a popular restaurant while the darker toned ones need to queue for hours before getting a seat. You all might be thinking, “Isn’t this unfair?” Yes, it is and that is why people all around the world fight for equality amongst all races, skin tones and genders. However I think that being happy is not limited to fair treatment alone. Fairness, however, does bring us satisfaction, allowing us to live a better life.
Throughout history, people who think that they are superior to other communities have subjugated them to torture and cruelty. As an act of opposition and defence, those who are being oppressed rise up against their ‘superiors’ to fight for their rights and freedom. World War Two was a fantastic example of this. The Nazis back then had placed the majority of the Jews in Germany in concentration camps to annihilate the Jews in the country as the Nazis think that the Aryan race is the ‘pure’ one and the Jews are impure. The remaining Jews, in retaliation, sheltered other Jews and to go so far as to give the other Jews jobs. This shows that people will never rest until there is equality and fairness for everyone. In retrospect with the plentiful examples of oppression happening in history, people all around the world are trying to make a change, a change for the better by promoting equality, standing against their governments. Therefore, people can be happy when there is fairness in the world.
However, fairness is not the only thing that makes people happy. Happiness can be found in the smallest of acts, the wildest of dreams and the simplest of company. Let’s say on your birthday, you got something you long wished for, a kitten, from your parents. That moment of delight when you stretched out both of your arms, carrying that kitten, isn’t that happiness? Though that moment may be fleeting, it is not as transient as it seems; it is etched in your memory forever. When you are feeling down because of personal problems, simple words of encouragement and comfort from your closest friends might pull out of the ditch you are in, letting you see the fact that not all is lost and allows you to propel yourself forward. As simple as the words may be, they pulled you out of your misery and allowed you to feel happiness again. Hence, striving for fairness is not the only thing that brings happiness in people.
Besides, people have different views on what is fair and unfair. For example, in order to be fair, my parents gave my older sister and me the same monthly expenditure. As my sister is older and is pursuing a higher education, she would be spending more money on educational needs like textbooks. She would then have little to no money left for other daily expenses. As for me, I do not require a large amount of money as compared to my sister for my educational needs, hence, I would have more money on my hands and will be able to spend money on daily needs. This results in my sister being unhappy about the money that she receives and I would be nonchalant about the amount of money I received. Equality is subjective and even if you treat others fairly, it does not mean that you treat them right. Each person’s desire is different from one another and hence, we should accommodate what their wants and needs by treating them right. Hence, fairness does not ensure everyone’s happiness.
In conclusion, despite equality being often touted as the final puzzle piece to attain individual happiness, global peace and harmony around the whole world, one can still find happiness in life from the tiniest of things. With friends and family to be there for you whatever endeavours you embark on, with the support that you receive from them, happiness is wherever you believe it to be.
Writers by the River 