New slogan an interesting choice

Pennsylvania is saying it's time to be happy, or at least it's time to pursue it.

Let's take a look.

A few things seem to be going well, the state budget notwithstanding.

First, the famous groundhog accurately predicted an early spring.

Next, the illustrious governor raised the minimum wage for state workers and says he'd support the same idea for everyone else, too.

And, on Tuesday, the state adopted a slogan filled with glee.

"Pennsylvania. Pursue Your Happiness" is the new phrase. The idea is lifted from the Declaration's "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Who can complain?

Well, don't kid yourself. When it comes to state slogans, there are many who complain.

In 1980, Gov. Dick Thornburgh and company came up with "You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania." It seemed OK at first. But before long, the slogan ruffled feathers of grammarians who agonized over the poorly worded "you've got."

Nothing sours a slogan faster than bad grammar. Ain't it the truth?

Gov. Bob Casey's presence brought us "Pennsylvania: America Starts Here." It sounded good, but soon ticked off residents of Massachusetts and Virginia. They felt the slogan ignored their states' essential roles in the nation's birth. OK then, America started in three places.

Gov. Ed Rendell announced his administration's slogan, "Pennsylvania: The State of Independence" in 2004, the winner in a contest called "Penn a Phrase for Pennsylvania."

But critics said the slogan was just too blah and generic.

Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me, unless we're talking about tourism.

Officials say tourism in Pennsylvania is a $40 billion industry. But how does one come up with a slogan to characterize the essence of a state so diverse?

Pennsylvania has farms, coal mines, cities, towns, sports teams, the Liberty Bell, the 1859 oil rush in Titusville, the Betsy Ross House, and so on.

Which story is the one to tell?

The Wolf den is hoping happiness is the way to go.

"Gov. Wolf is committed to ensuring we continue to strengthen tourism, and this new slogan will kick off a sustained effort to attract more tourism dollars to our economy," said spokesman Jeff Sheridan.

Sounds good.

After all, who can argue against the lure of happiness?

Yes, all of us want happiness. We might even say all of us deserve happiness. But happiness means different things to different people.

Plus, some folks don't want others to enjoy happiness. Sounds strange, yet it's true.

Just look at the reaction generated when Pennsylvania reluctantly accepted marriage equality as the law of the land. The newly gained freedom for a minority population made many happy, but not all.

Happiness to some also might be described as freedom to choose. But let's face it, not all support that concept either. Yes, happiness trumps all. But happiness is a chameleon. It has a changing face and is as diverse as those who seek it. In any case, Pennsylvania is officially declaring it time to go forth and pursue your happiness.

Some are saying the new slogan is just too bland, boring and innocuous.

They say it doesn't carry a true "Pennsylvania brand," which just goes to show that even a slogan about happiness won't make everybody happy.