Citizenship -1
“There can be no daily
democracy
without daily citizenship.”
What is it ?
Respecting and carrying out the duties and
responsibilities to one’s country.
The character of an individual viewed as a member
of society; behavior in terms of the duties,
obligations, and functions of a citizen: an award for
good citizenship.
Related Words
Freedom
Citizenship Looks Like:
A Good Citizen will:
• obey rules and laws.
• respect the military.
• put others first.
• appreciate our hard won freedoms.
“Let every nation know, whether it
wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay
any price, bear any burden, meet any
hardship, support any friend, oppose
any foe to assure the survival and
the success of liberty.”
~John F. Kennedy
• Cooperate
• Get involved in community affairs
• Stay informed; vote
• Be a good neighbor
• Obey laws and rules
Responsibilities of Citizenship
• Paying taxes (although tourists and illegal aliens
also pay some taxes such as sales taxes, etc.)
• Serving in the country’s armed forces when called
upon (in the US even illegal immigrants must
serve in case of a draft).
• Obeying the criminal laws enacted by one’s
government, even while abroad.
Purely ethical and moral duties tend to
include:
•Demonstrating commitment and loyalty to
the democratic political community and
state
• Constructively criticizing the conditions of
political and civil life
• Participating to improve the quality of
political and civic life
• Respecting the rights of others
“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master.
This
expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from
this, to
the extent of the difference, is no democracy.”
~Abraham Lincoln
Honorary Citizenship
•Honorary Canadian citizenship requires the
unanimous approval of Parliament. The only people to
ever receive honorary Canadian citizenship are Raoul
Wallenberg posthumously in 1985, Nelson Mandela in
2001, the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso in 2006, and
Aung San Suu Kyi in 2007.
“Without free, self-respecting, and
autonomous citizens there can be no
free and independent nations.
Without internal peace, that is, peace
among
citizens and between the citizens and
the state, there can be no guarantee
of external peace.”
~Vaclav Havel, Czech Playwright,
President