nPostednon December 17, 2014
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Wishingna happy national day to the people of Bhutan—the happiest people innAsia.
Wishingna happy national day to the people of Bhutan—the happiest people innAsia.n
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nWh-h-h-a-a-t-t-t?
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nThen“happiest people in Asia”??? Says who?
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nSaysnthe results of a 2006 survey published by Business Week. n
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nInam pretty sure Bhutan SHOULD have some pretty happy people. How manynnations do you know that have a Gross National Happiness Commissionnin charge of reviewing policy decisions to increase the well-being ofnits people? No other nation does this—other than today’sncelebrating country, the Kingdom of Bhutan.
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nWhatnare they celebrating?
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nOnnthis date in 1907, Ugyen Wangchuck was elected the hereditary king ofnBhutan.
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Inknow that electing a king seems weird—and, trust me, not everyonenin Bhutan got to vote! But back when Bhutan wasn’t so happy, in then1700s and 1800s, the people were embroiled in a war with BritishnIndia and later a civil war between two rival valleys in Bhutan.nFinally, in the late 1800s, a powerful governor defeated hisnpolitical enemies and united the country. You guessed it: it wasnUgyen Wangchuck who won control of the country. And it was he who, anfew years later, was unanimously chosen to be the king. The peoplenwho chose him were monks, government officials, and the heads ofnimportant families.
Inknow that electing a king seems weird—and, trust me, not everyonenin Bhutan got to vote! But back when Bhutan wasn’t so happy, in then1700s and 1800s, the people were embroiled in a war with BritishnIndia and later a civil war between two rival valleys in Bhutan.nFinally, in the late 1800s, a powerful governor defeated hisnpolitical enemies and united the country. You guessed it: it wasnUgyen Wangchuck who won control of the country. And it was he who, anfew years later, was unanimously chosen to be the king. The peoplenwho chose him were monks, government officials, and the heads ofnimportant families.n
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nSincenthis “election” was for a king, there weren’t yearlynelections—because Ugyen passed down the crown to one of his sons,nand so on and on. n
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nOnn1999, the Bhutanese government lifted a ban on television and thenInternet. It was one of the last countries in the world to introducentelevision. The king told his people that television was an importantnstep to modernizing the nation and could contribute to the nation’snGross National Happiness. But he also warned that the “misuse” ofntelevision could dismantle some of the things that make Bhutan anpretty happy place.
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nSincen2007, the country became a constitutional monarchy (like the UnitednKingdom, the Netherlands, and many other countries in the world), andnso now there are general elections for lawmakers.
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nLearnnabout Bhutan
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Bhutannis a small, landlocked nation squished between China and India. It isnnear Nepal and Bangladesh, but certain Indian states lie betweennthese nations.
Bhutannis a small, landlocked nation squished between China and India. It isnnear Nepal and Bangladesh, but certain Indian states lie betweennthese nations.n
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nBhutan’snnational animal is the takin, otherwise known as a gnu goat.
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nBuddhismnis the most common religion—and is also the state religion. Likenother religions, Buddhism has split several times and has evolved innbelief and practice.
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The particular flavor of Buddhism that is Bhutan’s state religion is Vajrayana Buddhism.
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nBuddhist temples and monasteries seem to be everywhere in Bhutan:
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| By rivers… |
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| Clinging to cliffs… |
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| Even at the top of the world! |
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nAlsonon this date:
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nAnswer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day
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nAnniversarynof the publishing of AnChristmas Carol
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Anniversarynof the discovery of an Aztec calendar stone
Anniversarynof the discovery of an Aztec calendar stone n
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nSecondn night of Las Posadas
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nAnniversaryn of first successful airplane flight
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nMathematiciann and physicist Emilie du Chatelet’s birthday
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest pages on:
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nDecembern birthdays
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- Historicaln anniversaries in December
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJanuaryn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in January
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