Duties Of American Citizens Essay

On January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, in his inauguration speech, had uttered the famous words, “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” This impassioned plea for widespread patriotism, addressed directly to all American citizens, reflects their common responsibilities to the nation. Since its conception at the hands of the Founding Fathers in 1776, America has been the land of freedom; the land of fulfillment; the land of rights. However, with great power and privilege, comes great responsibility. In order to maintain the free and just nature of the United States of America, its citizens must reciprocate these rights. They must act within the bounds of the Constitution, obey and respect the law when it is right, just, and fair, and actively pursue change in the law when it is not, maintain honesty, dignity, and morality, and serve the country when such service is demanded. An American citizen’s central responsibility to the nation is to abide by, support, and defend the Constitution. Specifically, citizens are responsible for upholding the Constitutionality of laws, policies, and the actions of those in positions of power, along with acting within the

All of these actions reflect patriotism and the desire to witness America prosper and succeed. In particular, in the event of conflict, anyone who is drafted to a war fulfills the responsibility of a citizen of serving the nation, but the true patriot voluntarily enlists for the sake of his nation; he welcomes sacrificing his life for his nation; he enlists purely out of a genuine desire to defend the nation. Patriotism, in itself, is an essential quality to have, and demonstrating it is a fundamental responsibility of the American