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Importance of freedom
Importance of freedom
Responsibilities of a citizen
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Every citizen in our society has the right to freedom and to be happy. In order to preserve that right to be happy, you must be a virtuous citizen and fulfill and promote civic rights.
Here are three tips to follow on being a good citizen. First it is essential to obey all the laws of the land. Secondly you should not let your rights interfere or trample the rights of others, and lastly, you should be very community minded in spirit. 'We hold that law and order can be restored without turning this country of the free into a Police State.' (Etzioni, 1993) First for law and order to be restored in our country it takes all of its citizen's obeying the laws. Those rights don't just merely require us to follow the rules, but to teach everyone especially our children what those laws are. In today's society it seems as if people have forgotten what laws are let alone obey them. It is said that 60% of people obey the laws most of the time. (Williams, 2000) With that kind of percentage we as a society have a lot of work to do to make good citizens. We have thousands of laws on the books and new ones being written everyday, but without enforcement from the court system, overcrowding of our jails and not enough reinforcement from parents to children it will never be solved. Unless we as citizens take control of the situation, when our children are grown they will be afraid to go outside of their homes
Secondly just because we are born in this country with inalienable rights doesn't mean that we can trample someone else's rights. Some follow the basic principle "that each of us has the obligation not to aggress against anyone else- for any reason, personal, social, or political, however worthy." Discussion List (online) Available: http://www.l4l.org/ (2000,sept16). These rights that we as citizens all enjoy should give credence to the saying in the Bible "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Bible, Matthew 7:12)
Lastly, as a good citizen we ought to have good community service or spirit.
Citizens of America can choose their religion, they can also choose what they want to say, through freedom of speech. These rights can sometimes be disrespected by others who do not have the same beliefs or opinions. For example, if a company does not want to provide service to someone based on a different belief
equal rights to all and promoting the good of the public. To the right of freedom of speech and
...vidual freedoms. We can say that democracy learns from its mistakes and improves, keeping into account the changing times and customs.
Good Citizenship is something that is valued by a country. Although not normally noticed or recognized, good citizenship can come in many forms and can be very beneficial to a specified area. Good Citizenship could mean many different things but ultimately good citizenship promotes prosperity, and increases the well-being of said region. In this country we do have government officials, but they only can do so much, and reach so far, in this country you need to focus on "...Not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" (Kennedy). This means pulling your own weight and not relying solely on these officials and their policies, to get out and try to make this country the best it can be. Which is why through the use of the educatory school system in the United States and through obeying laws of their city/state or nation, and also through the practice of Volunteer work/charity the average American citizen can become above-average and awesome (in every sense of the word) and can also develop into a righteous, upstanding, convivial citizen.
In war-torn, impoverished, and communist countries, America is a symbol for freedom. In America, our flag that waves red, white, and blue, is a symbol for our freedom. The Pledge of Allegiance begins with the words, "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands..." This republic form of government is what grants Americans freedom: the power is invested in the people, and the government is responsible for protecting the rights of the people. A republic can only prevail if the citizens understand and properly practice the responsibilities that such power entrusts with them. For example, the first amendment of the Constitution protects freedom of speech; this liberty is meant for good, but can easily be abused. My responsibility is to use my constitutional rights for good, however, issues concerning responsibility seldom have just one correct solution.
Values some take for granted within this society today were ignored wholesale by a tyrannical colonial authority, and the people of this land rose up, shook off the chains of oppression, and set out to devise a new governmental system under which they could live rather freely. In his iconic “Four Freedoms” speech, America’s 32nd president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, outlined said values, stating that all should enjoy “freedom of speech and expression...freedom...to worship God in [their] own way” and “ a healthy peacetime life” (46). The importance of the concept of free speech and equality to the American identity cannot be understated, as it truly the foundation upon which much of this society rests. In the United states, it is instilled in us that from birth each human is bestowed with the same freedoms as all others. However, time and time again, people are denied these freedoms on the basis of skin color, religion, sexual orientation, or gender. Luckily, when such situations arise, the core belief that each and every person is owed liberty motivates the citizens of this nation to exercise their rights. With this in mind they speak out, or fight, against injustice, to take a further step towards making that dream of equality and a “healthy peacetime life” for all a
These rights are said to be deserved by all and no one can take them away. Christianity instead claims that one’s primary duty is not to protect oneself or advance one’s welfare , but instead a person’s highest duty is to the advancement of God’s will and to the welfare of one’s neighbor. The concept of rights put one’s happiness above their duties to God and mankind. Mark 12:30-31 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” The Bible claims that one’s own comfort is not to be put above God or mankind. In the Christian belief system divine revelation, usually through God’s Word, is considered to be absolute truth and the highest authority. Thus if a manmade “right” contradicts the Bible then Christians are to refer to God’s Worth first. This makes divine revelation the primary foundation in the Christian belief system as opposed to modern liberal democracy’s foundation of human rights. Christian’s believe that sin is inherent in every human being. With this sin comes the abuse of rights and the corruption that is characteristic of man’s
While the law is meant to be universal, reformers, activists, and civil rights leaders all testify to its inconsistencies in the long and unending trial of history. Recognizing the distance between the law and morality and attempting to reconcile them requires both a realistic assessment of the current situation and a naïve optimism that, with the sheer force of democracy, it can and will improve. This explains why the most powerful and ironic motivation for civil disobedience is patriotism. Democracy opposes both tyranny and anarchy, and needs civil disobedience to sustain such a contradiction. The difference in personal and legal interpretation of the law is not the same as the difference between the subjective and the objective; instead,
In today's world law is above everything. Millions Americans would never think of themselves as lawbreakers. But when it comes to tax codes, or laws against littering or speeding or noise pollution, more citizens becoming scofflaws. Trippett in his argument asserts that law-and-order is threatened mainly by violent crime. Author supports his position, by first, providing reasons and examples from real life. He continues by demonstrating how americans reacts to different kinds of laws. His purpose is to persuade the reader, that people should obey all rules, doesn’t matter what they are about. The Author creates judgemental tone for citizens that does not want to follow some laws. Trippett argues that people need to stop saying that they will
These four rights, the freedom of speech, expression, worship, want and fear are the keys of having a world where everyone can genuinely be happy. Any law that degrades the human personality is unjust. Having everyone happy and in unity would lead to a better future for not only America but the whole world, as Roosevelt stated at the end of every freedom in his speech. Strength of unity is purpose, and groups tend to be more immoral than individuals. Non violent, tension was the way that Roosevelt and M.L.K Jr. pictured to fulfill equality of all
Page!1 of!3 Khoosheh Salas ARTL-4000 (Public Policy and Advocacy in the Arts) Professor Hughes 05/02/2017 Assignment #3 Becoming a Citizen Activist “Becoming A Citizen Activist”, a book written by Nick Licata who was the most progressive member of the council at a time when Seattle was experimenting with a very hostile east-coast version of urbanism and exemplified by Mark Sidran’s civility laws and Joe Mallahan’s corporate paternalism This book is a toolkit which gives step by step instructions to help the citizens, volunteers and other community members to introduce themselves to concrete actions that people can take in order to develop the skills sets required in order to become successful advocates on a personal, organizational, local, state and international level. Nick Licata in this book mentions that knowing the legislators and their staff members is vital and contributes to the success of the advocates. Advocacy, in Nick Licata’s perspective, means learning to become a good, and informed citizen who understands the essential structure of the government and is trying to develop effective interactions with politicians in order to make a change.
Civil disobedience is a deliberate, peaceful action that is taken with the greater good of the society in mind. It is not breaking the law in the traditional sense, in which greed, lust, or violence often plays a motivating role. Civil disobedience, on the other hand, is motivated by one’s moral compass, by one’s innate human compassion. While it is true that “no society whether free or tyrannical can give its citizens the ‘right’ to break the law” (Morris I. Leibman, 1964), this governmental right is not necessary because it is a right that exceeds the power of government itself; it is the right of humanity. People’s resistance to certain laws on the grounds of injustice is what keeps organized society human, free. They disobey with dignity, “accepting the legal consequences without any attempt to evade them” (Tom Mullen, 2016), because they know their specific actions are tiny matters compared to what they represent. While mindless or destructive disobedience has the potential to negatively impact a free society, civil disobedience is what saves
One would think it rational to obey the law, however, over the course of American history, law has been proven unjust and unconstitutional. Acts of Congress, whether in whole, or in part, have been declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court. From Civil Rights cases of the 1800's to the recent legalization of same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court has determined laws established in the United States unlawful. It is not a tyrannical society that challenges law. It is a society which seeks justice for all
We should be able to protest for something we believe is wrong. But desicrating a dead solider with it many would consider taking it too far, as they fought for that very right. People also tend to defend racial slurs with that Ammendment, stating they have the right to state their opinion without us opposing it. However, what many people fail to understand, is that even if the First Ammendment protects such slurs, then others have the right to go against their opinion. Stating "It's my opinion and I'm entitled to it, so you can't call it dumb or wrong." Directly conflicts with another persons right. Just as one person has the right to state their opinion, another has the right to call their opinion
Citizens within a democratic nation have a responsibility to be actively involved within their government and truly understand the rights and demands placed upon them. The political democratic community is working ideally when its citizens are participating with informed decisions. It is a machine that functions properly when it's citizens understand their rights and responsibilities within their society. Citizens need to also be aware of the problems and truths within politics. Democracy is not perfect and this is the reality when working with its citizens in helping them understanding their place in the political game. The society within a democratic nation works by understanding the rights of everyone involved as well as the allocation of resources within their community, state and nation.