Citizenship

Citizenship

Rick Adamson, 9.8.17

© 2017 Rick Adamson

Considering all of the problems we have I feel that we need to round the wagons and focus on our citizens, nationalism, and patriotism.

We are a nation bound not by race or religion, but by the shared values of freedom, liberty, and equality as set forth in our Constitution and other founding documents.

 

At the risk of sounding proud or boastful I proclaim that the USA is an exceptional country.  No one knows this more than foreigners because so many of them want to come here.  They stand in line by the millions to do so.  Also, some of the proudest citizens I know are legal immigrants (naturalized citizens); they are thrilled to be here.

Many of us, unlike immigrants, take our heritage for granted.  We do not appreciate this great country into which we were born. We forget, or were never taught, the significance of our Constitution and the resulting right of “life, liberty, and freedom to pursue happiness in almost any way we choose. Please note the words “freedom to pursue happiness” because happiness is not a “right” as some seen to believe. It must be pursued; it cannot be awarded.

We have been bequeathed freedom, justice and opportunity from the deeds and commitments, even the spilled blood, of Americans who came before us. We did not earn the inheritance.

We really should step back and think about it. Most people do not live under a Democratic Republic as we do and they do not have the rights that we do.  We have a unique Constitution which provides for rights and obligations that only apply to us. Our Constitution, and our rights, do not apply to non citizens even though, many people think and speak as if it did. Some act as if the whole world has rights under our Constitution and that we owe them something. They do not and we do not.

When, and if, we choose to allow foreigners to immigrate here we are extending a privilege to them because they have no inherent right to come here.  So, we should be very thoughtful to our citizens before we extend such invitations.  Citizens’ must come first.

Every citizen is the brother or sister of every other citizen.  We need to start to treat our fellow citizens in a way that is consistent with this notion.

We need to encourage our government to promote our citizens’ rights and make sure their well being comes first and that their rights are respected. We should remind our representatives that we have a government of, by and for the people and that they are responsible to us for their positions.

Our system is not perfect, however, it is the best in the world.  It is, by design, cumbersome (and slow) because, in order that it be thoughtful to the needs of citizens, it requires collaboration and agreement of many parties before action is taken. But, over the long run it has worked.  So be patient but get involved.

What does it mean to be a citizen of the United States?

A citizen is a person who is a member of our country. As a citizen, you give your loyalty to the U.S.A. In return, the government protects you and all your rights granted in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. These rights, amoung others, include:

• Freedom to express yourself.
• Freedom to worship as you wish.
• Right to a prompt, fair trial by jury.
• Right to vote in elections for public officials.
• Right to apply for federal employment requiring U.S. citizenship.
• Right to run for elected office.
• Freedom of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

A citizen is free to pursue what ever lifestyle he or she chooses, so long as it does not infringe upon another citizen’s rights.  The government’s responsibility is to protect us from foreign powers and from infringements upon our liberty and property so that we can go about our pursuits without fear.

Note that these rights do not include 3 squares a day, clothes for your back, a place to live or an income from the government.  Each citizen is expected to take personal responsibility for these things and to provide for his family through hard work.  These rights also do not protect your feelings as they will probably be ruffled from time to time.

These right are not without costs as our responsibilities, as citizens include:

·        Support for and defense of the Constitution.

·        Staying informed of the issues affecting your community.

·        Participating in the democratic process.

·        Respecting and obeying federal, state, and local laws.

·        Respecting the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.

·        Participating in your local community.

·        Paying income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to federal, state, and local authorities.

·        Serving on a jury when called upon.

·        Defending the country if the need should arise.

With respect to these responsibilities, some are concerned about a shortage of civic awareness and engagement and voting. Above all, we are responsible for tending to our own democracy, making it work for all and transmitting it to our children better than we inherited it.

What We Owe

We begin with gratitude. We are lucky to have been born here or to have become naturalized if we were not born here. This nation of unequaled wealth and power, of freedom and opportunity, was given to us. But no matter how rich and powerful it becomes, America is not and never will be a finished project. It is always evolving.

Democracy is not fixed like a monarchy. It is dynamic. Democracy reflects the will and above all the action of each generation of American citizens. So what do we owe? As Americans we owe a profound debt of gratitude for the actions of those who preceded us, and we owe those who will follow an America that is even greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.

We must learn and we must teach our young the importance of  the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the other grand documents of American history.

Lincoln said at Gettysburg: “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced”.  He spoke of a new birth of freedom so that government of, by and for the people would not perish.

The State of the Union

There is a sense, particularly among many young people, that being an American citizen is no big deal, with no obligation attached to it; an endeavor not particularly worthy of their time and talent.

All of us are aware of a disconnect between people and their elected representatives. People do not trust them. People think they do the bidding of powerful interests. People think they are not relevant to their day-to-day lives. People think that citizenship is hollow.

Some are concerned because they know that if we are apathetic, passive, and cynical about our democracy, then we will invite leaders who abuse power. There is an old observation: a society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves.

Citizens should be concerned because we stand on a precipice. If American citizens increasingly become disengaged, then the entire American democratic enterprise is at risk. If civic participation continues to decline as it has I wonder whether our democracy can continue as we know it.

What We Should Do

Civics

Why should you and I and others engage in civic activity?

We have plenty of important things to worry about-doing our jobs, paying our bills, taking care of our families. No doubt, these private interests are civic virtues in their own right.

We are good, in this country, at speaking out for and protecting our individual interest. But all of us can benefit from giving at least some of our attention to advancing the public interest, or as the founding fathers called it the common good.

Look around you. Many things need to be done in your community and country. Perhaps you are upset by the actions of your representatives, or the school that your children attend, or the quality of your health care. Or, maybe you are concerned about the conditions of the roads that you drive on or even our nation's foreign policy.

Tending your own business and the affairs of your family is important. But civic engagement is your way of influencing, for the better, your neighborhood, community, state and nation. If we become involved our cynicism will dissipate and our morale will improve. We may even see life become better, richer, and fuller for our fellow citizens.

Some folks vote and say and believe that their civic duty has been fully discharged. Voting is important but not enough. Do you know who does not disengage when the voting is done? Special interest groups! They begin their work the day after an election; they know that's when the real work begins. They know it and so should the rest of us.

If you are upset about the influence exerted by special interests; if you are upset about the actions of a public official; if you are upset about the condition of your local school; even if you are upset about a pothole in front of your house-civic engagement is a way of taking action to make your corner of the world better. What do we have on our agenda that is more important?

The key to good governance is simple: it is to hold power accountable. Civic engagement does just that. We engage because it improves our democracy, and it is the only way to make our government responsive to the people.

How, then, do we engage? After all, the American system is one that is run for the people by the people. Let your elected officials know that you know this.

Most Americans want to be better people living in better communities, a better state, and a better nation. Often, they want to become involved but don't know how don't know where to go, whom to talk to, what to do.

Like the attitude of the builder who said: I cannot solve the world's problems, but I can help build this house.

We would all like to engage to resolve the big problems: fixing health care, saving social security, changing the tax code or defending our nation against its enemies. Some of us have those opportunities, but most of us don't.

All of us can engage most effectively through small, incremental changes. A school is rebuilt. Ramps for the handicapped are carved into street corners. A safety signal goes up in a dangerous intersection. A worthy, young disadvantaged student enters medical school. A young woman steps into the world with more opportunity than her mother.

These are not insignificant examples. They save and improve lives and communities. This is the wellspring of our American democracy countless small actions that make a better nation.

We engage by looking around us, seeing something that needs fixing, and doing something about it:

We can stay more informed about issues in our own communities, as well as the issues of the state and nation.

We can run for elective office or work for candidates of our choice.

We can vote in elections and hold each of our representatives accountable-from the president on down to a town council or commissioner.

We can join institutions of service - be it the peace corps, the armed services, Americorps, or local uniformed services.

We can volunteer for charitable causes and organizations.

We can join the sometimes messy, rough and tumble dialogue of democracy by writing letters to local papers or elected officials, asking questions or advocating positions.

We can give speeches or ask questions why things cannot be better across the street or across the world.

We can organize petition drives or letter writing campaigns.

We can join-or begin-organizations that reflect our views and enlarge our collective voice.

Set goals; craft messages; organize; and when successful share the credit.

Civic engagement is the greatest antidote for cynicism; it is also a great-maybe the best lesson of democracy.

When we become engaged in community life we no longer feel distant from the centers of power and decision-making. We come to understand our own communities, and appreciate how we can influence change. Perhaps most important, we gain an appreciation for the hard work of democracy how to understand different points of view and forge a consensus behind a course of action towards a solution in a complex, busy and diverse society.

If we engage, we lessen the distance between ourselves and those who govern. And we gain understanding and appreciation for our country that can only make it and the ongoing experiment of American democracy stronger.

Crime

One of our responsibilities is to respect and obey federal, state, and local laws. Every citizen is the brother or sister of every other citizen.  We need to start to treat our fellow citizens in a way that is consistent with this notion.  If we could do this, crime would be reduced for people are less likely to harm a brother or sister than a stranger.  We, as citizens of this great country, should adopt a zero tolerance attitude toward predatory violent crime.  We have no place it society for this behavior-killing and robbing with guns or other weapons.  Those determined to commit violent criminal acts should be removed from society and put away in a not so pleasant place so that they cannot harm peaceful citizens.

Immigration

As a sovereign nation we should, like all other sovereign  nations, regulate and control our borders.  This is more important today than ever before due the prevalence of terrorist, human trafficking and drug cartels. Our borders have never been effectively managed and this must change. This does not mean the elimination of immigration, but, rather the careful regulation of those individuals who entering our great country, including their names, addresses and the purpose of their being here.  This sounds elementary but, the fact is, we do not know this information concerning up to 20 million people who live among us. This is due to our failure to enforce immigration laws that are on the books and due to our porous borders. It is a matter of national security!

 

Summary

Let’s refocus our efforts on the well being of our country and its citizens. Our government’s entire job is to protect and promote the wellbeing of our citizens not the citizens of foreign countries. It should, as part of that effort, encourage citizens to learn and understand the importance of being a citizen. Let’s all rally around this great country and all of our fellow citizens and promote the good ole USA.