Which country scores the lowest
in the World's Happiness Index?
Check out the fast facts first:
Current most popular song in ********:
Beatles' Yesterday
[gulp]
Per-capita Income:
USD 880/year
Fashion trend:
'... all wearing the same microskirts,
with the same raccoon makeup.
My god, I think,
is every woman in ****** a prostitute?'
Then it dawns on me.
They are not prostitutes.
It's the national uniform.'
Eric Weiner
I think this blogger puts it best for her compatriots
Do:
Weiner describes it as
'...the poor man in a rich neighbourhood.'
and
'...no one can find it on the map'
*
MOLDOVA,
the former Soviet republic
is the least happy nation on the planet.
The Moldovan culture reeks with
negative characteristics.
Vitalie, a Moldovon, share with Weiner:
Mistrust
Moldovans don't trust the products
they buy at the supermarket
[the labels might be untrue]
They don't trust their neighbours
[they might be corrupt]
They don't even trust their family members
[they might be conniving]
Lack of Belonging
''People in Moldova are
neither Russian nor Moldovan.''
Lack of Love
''We have been abused and abandoned by everyone.''
[historically speaking]
Lack of Self-Worth
''We have no pride in anything.
Not even our language.
There are ministers in the Moldovan government
who don't speak Moldovan.
They speak only Russian.
I hate to say it, but it's true:
There is no Moldovan culture.''
This is a nation that has broken free from
the totalitarian regime under the Soviets.
Doesn't democracy make them happier?
Political scientists have found that
even after the collapse of the Soviet Union,
former Soviet republics are, overall,
the lease happy places in the world.
I like what political scientist, Ron Inglehart says,
''It's not that democracy makes people happy
but rather
that happy people are much more likely to establish a democracy.''
We like the idea of 'freedom brings happiness'.
Looking at Moldova,
I've learnt that freedom isn't the secret to joy.
Freedom doesn't make people happy,
but rather,
that happy people are
much more likely to enjoy freedom.
It is, however,
a by-product, a result of
the ability to trust,
the sense of self-worth,
significance,
being loved and loving others.
There are two characteristics
Weiner identified in this grumpy culture.
One of it seems quite familiar in the Singaporean culture.
Sharing them in the next post!
*
in the World's Happiness Index?
Check out the fast facts first:
Current most popular song in ********:
Beatles' Yesterday
[gulp]
Per-capita Income:
USD 880/year
Fashion trend:
'... all wearing the same microskirts,
with the same raccoon makeup.
My god, I think,
is every woman in ****** a prostitute?'
Then it dawns on me.
They are not prostitutes.
It's the national uniform.'
Eric Weiner
I think this blogger puts it best for her compatriots
Do:
- Wear it short
- Wear it tight
- Wear it low-cut
- Feel free to expose your midriff
- Accessorize! (Bonus points for designer labels)
- Worry about looking trashy – it’s not trashy when it’s a cultural norm!
- Fear less-than-perfectly-maintained sidewalks. I don’t know how you do it, but I guess when your 4-inch heels look that good, a few potholes won’t be able to bring you down
- Forget the colors, patterns, ruffles, shimmer, and sparkles! Go all out, girl.
Weiner describes it as
'...the poor man in a rich neighbourhood.'
and
'...no one can find it on the map'
*
MOLDOVA,
the former Soviet republic
is the least happy nation on the planet.
The Moldovan culture reeks with
negative characteristics.
Vitalie, a Moldovon, share with Weiner:
Mistrust
Moldovans don't trust the products
they buy at the supermarket
[the labels might be untrue]
They don't trust their neighbours
[they might be corrupt]
They don't even trust their family members
[they might be conniving]
Lack of Belonging
''People in Moldova are
neither Russian nor Moldovan.''
Lack of Love
''We have been abused and abandoned by everyone.''
[historically speaking]
Lack of Self-Worth
''We have no pride in anything.
Not even our language.
There are ministers in the Moldovan government
who don't speak Moldovan.
They speak only Russian.
I hate to say it, but it's true:
There is no Moldovan culture.''
This is a nation that has broken free from
the totalitarian regime under the Soviets.
Doesn't democracy make them happier?
Political scientists have found that
even after the collapse of the Soviet Union,
former Soviet republics are, overall,
the lease happy places in the world.
I like what political scientist, Ron Inglehart says,
''It's not that democracy makes people happy
but rather
that happy people are much more likely to establish a democracy.''
We like the idea of 'freedom brings happiness'.
Looking at Moldova,
I've learnt that freedom isn't the secret to joy.
Freedom doesn't make people happy,
but rather,
that happy people are
much more likely to enjoy freedom.
It is, however,
a by-product, a result of
the ability to trust,
the sense of self-worth,
significance,
being loved and loving others.
There are two characteristics
Weiner identified in this grumpy culture.
One of it seems quite familiar in the Singaporean culture.
Sharing them in the next post!
*
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