What Makes A Good American Citizen

1089 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Concept of the american dream

What does it mean to be a good citizen? How do I become a good American citizen? What does it even mean to be a citizen? A citizen by definition is “a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection” (dictionary.com). Yet being a citizen means so much more. As a US citizen, we have certain rights and responsibilities, that are defined in the Constitution. It’s our own interpretations of it that make us individuals, and our common standards that define us as good citizens of the United States.
There are many qualities that make a good American citizen. I feel that one of the most important characteristics of a good American citizen, is that they have pride in our country. …show more content…

To me it is a nice idea, but it isn’t real. It is this idea that America is a place that all your dreams can come true, and that you can be whatever you want to. However, it’s not that simple. America is the land of the free, but it isn't as easy to achieve your goals as people make it seem, you actually have to work for it. Because of recent events in our government, coming to our nation isn’t even a possibility, and so for their people the “American Dream” has become unattainable. Another important subject to many people in America is the equal rights amendment, and with that I do agree. Men and women should be paid and treated equally. However, some problems may arise with this amendment. One may be that not everyone will follow the law and not apply these rules and regulations. If women want equal rights, then they have to deal with the pros and cons of that. They can’t expect exemptions in certain areas. One of the last topics that I will talk about, that is important to many Americans, is gay marriage. Gay marriage is something that is a new addition to several states in the US. It is a very controversial topic. There are 37 states in the US that have legalized same-sex marriage. In the eyes of someone who is conservative, this is something that they would be very against, as compared to a liberal who would show support for this sort of

Show More
Related

  • Civic Virtues In The Revolutionary War

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    Consequently, not only do we have independence and free will, but also have a representative government. We are currently living our lives based on the ideas in choosing what is best for the people and the society. Today, the equality of men and women are one of the virtues that the founding father had in mind, but unfortunately did not get to get the recognition and is not being put into full affect. I believe the right of equality and freedom for the most under represented group in America, women. Many people think that women these days cannot do as many things men are able to do. Living in this generation, there are may sexists out there that will turn a single woman down because they think that a woman cannot succeed in a challenging task that is usually expected from a man. American women should have just the same amount of equality and freedom as

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of The United States Constitution

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    Citizenship is the fiber that unites all Americans. We are a nation connected not by race or religion, but by shared values of freedom, liberty, and equality. What does that exactly signify to the average American citizen? It indicates that several of us, including myself, have not only expressed several of our rights such as freedom to express ourselves, freedom to worship as we wish, voting in elections, serving on a jury or purchasing or owning a firearm but we aspire to protect those rights.

    Read More

  • Essay On What Does It Mean To Be An American

    761 Words  | 2 Pages

    What does it take to be a true American? This question is something that is always in the back of people’s minds every day as they try to execute the right interpretation of one. Being an American is more than being a legalized citizen, it is about recognizing the accurate perception of different ideas of a better society and their benefits. Despite all the diversity of ethnicity, culture or religion, being a real American is about being able to be devoted to their country and to fight for their rights and freedoms.

    Read More

  • Essay On What It Means To Be An American

    613 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyone in America is given an opportunity to pursue any dream that his or her heart so desires. He or she will give it little importance, sometimes knowing or not knowing that it’s a once in a lifetime chance. In America, some people are given equal opportunity and some aren’t. Usually given at a favorable occasion, opportunity is something that can change an Americans life for a short or long term. Me being an American, if I was given an opportunity to make my life better, I would take it, but it is up to you as an person in America to make the best use of it.

    Read More

  • What makes a good American Citizen?

    651 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • I Am Mexican and I Am Pursuing the American Dream

    1102 Words  | 3 Pages

    “America is a land built by immigrants, a patchwork of different cultures and creeds. But despite many differences, Americans are held together by the promise of a better life” (Forbes, 2007). The American dream can be looked upon as false advertisement to immigrants who have always tried to obtain it. There is really no American dream, it’s just a motivation put out there to help those try to accomplish something that really isn’t there. Immigrants are fooled into coming to a land where there is freedom of speech, religion, economic understanding, and from fear; but does not really have anything else to offer to them. They ...

    Read More

  • Defining 'American': A Blend of Heritage and Characteristics

    1632 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many people have asked the question, and many others have been asked, ‘What is the greatest country in the world?’ Or, if you live in America, ‘Why is America the greatest country in the world?’ Many people answer this by saying things such as freedom, education, diversity, etc., while others may say the people who live here, namely, Americans. Yet few are able to sufficiently answer the next question, ‘What makes a person an American?’ Many will say that living here makes you an American.

    Read More

  • Gender Still Plays a Role in the Workplace

    1445 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since the nineteen twenties women of America have been considered equal citizens of our country, and had to work hard in order to obtain that equality in the workplace. One may reconsider the success rate of females in America, and if they really have made it as far as popular belief may have it. Of course, American women can vote, can hold office, and they can work, which is more than can be said for some countries. But do both sexes really hold equal in the workplace regarding manners of salary and respect? Does the corporate executive world really take women seriously? These are some of the arguments made by women today that do not feel that they are being treated equal in the workplace. On the other hand, those who believe women are treated equally usually reason that differences balance out in statistics, things such as majority of teachers are women, and women also have a hold on the entrepreneur side of businesses. The voices that are still screaming come from an audience who feel that women still have a long way to go before achieving a status of total equality.

    Read More

  • Equal Pay For Women Essay

    1231 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even with the Equal Pay Act of 1963, it is not very effective, benefiting women in the workforce. There are studies showing that women can do the same job as men or even better. More women are also getting more degrees then men and are shown to be more dedicated in that job field. There are also huge corporate companies that are being ran by women CEO 's. So what does America have to do to help women of America to get equal pay? America has to push the senate to vote for the Paycheck Fairness Act in order for equal pay for women to happen. Without that bill, American women will continue to work hard for less pay compare to

    Read More

  • Women in the Workforce

    1494 Words  | 3 Pages

    Equality for all sounds like a simple concept for everyone to live by, but it seems that even in today’s society around the world women are lacking the equal rights they deserve. Ever since we can remember in our history, women have always received the short end of the stick when it came to their rights. Right to vote, right to a job, right to equal pay, and the list can go on and on. There have been many attempts for women to receive the same rights as men, but not all have been successful. This is especially true in the workforce. The workforce is the main issue when it comes to equal rights for women in today’s society. Women have been mistreated in the working environment and have affected them socially, but throughout all of this there have been attempts to stop it.

    Read More

  • Women Deserve the Same Rights as Men

    1285 Words  | 3 Pages

    Women Deserve the Same Rights as Men From the beginning of time, women have played a powerful role in the shaping of this world. They have stood by idly and watched as this country moved on without them, and yet they have demanded equal rights as the nation rolls along. Through the years, the common belief has been that women could not perform as well as men in anything, but over the years that belief has been proven wrong time and time again. So as time marches on, women have clawed and fought their way up the ladder to gain much needed equal respect from the opposite sex. However, after many years of pain and suffering, the battle for equal rights has not yet been won.

    Read More

  • Changes in the Roles of Women

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Women need no protection that men do not need. What we need are laws to protect working people, to guarantee them fair pay, safe working conditions, protection against sickness and layoffs, and provision for dignified, comfortable retirement” (Equal Rights for Women, 1969). Shirley Chisholm, the writer of Equal Rights for Women clearly states how women need what men have and they do not need special privileges (Equal R...

    Read More

  • Good Citizen Essay

    870 Words  | 2 Pages

    A citizen is not just a legal status defined by rights and responsibilities but a shared identity, the expression of one’s membership. A good citizen preserves his personal integrity and avoids the conflict of interest: he equally enjoys his private and public life without discontinuity in his character; he sees the latter neither as a burden nor as a platform to pursue his personal projects. To be a good citizen is to believe that you can make a difference for the better.

    Read More

  • Essay On Equal Rights

    1219 Words  | 3 Pages

    Women have fought for equal rights since the early 1820s and 1830s. There is a strong commitment to equality between women and men in the law. Equality among men and women has gone on for several centuries and nothing has been done about it. Providing equal rights within men and women may decrease pressure on both men and women of what their stereotypical jobs should be. If equal rights would release pressure on all humans, then why are women treated as the subdominant sex? Women should have the same rights as men and to do this it is up to the entire human race to work together to fight for equality between men and women.

    Read More

  • The Role of the Citizen

    1399 Words  | 3 Pages

    A citizen is a legal member of a country to which it pledges fidelity. Along with citizenship are certain freedoms, shielding, and duties. Being a member of a country also means a citizen is a member of a community and should strive to make their community a better place to live. There are a number of ways to become a citizen in the United States. Several ways include citizenship by naturalization and citizenship by birth. All citizens of the U.S. have equal protection under the law.

    Read More

More about What Makes A Good American Citizen

Open Document