I wasn't sure at first just where you were going with this. But I like where you ended up.

There's obviously a lot of wisdom in those widely published scripts: reject materialism, focus on relationships, seek inner peace. Can't argue with a bit of that.

But you're absolutely right. To seek happiness as an individual goal (basic Americanism) is to miss something basic about being human.

Happiness, prosperity, peace--these are conditions of a community. We rise or fall together.