An Definition Essay Exemplar
There can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship.
-Ralph Nader
To be a citizen is to be human. To be a citizen is to be selfless. To be a citizen is to be tolerant. Citizenship requires the individual to control their most basic instincts in adherence to a set of social norms which allow and foster the security and freedom of civilization. While many creatures participate in social behavior, only humans have achieved civilization. From the ancient Mayans to the present day nations of the world, humans form societies where structure fosters the greater good and diminishes the most selfish and base human motivations. For example, to allow a jury, judge, and justice system to not only determine guilt but also issue punishment is the more civilized response to the most basic emotion of revenge. Having Michael Jackson’s family form a posse chase down and exact revenge on his doctor would be uncivilized. While his brothers and sisters still feel the pain and the thirst for justice, they yield not to their emotions but to the rule of law and by doing so practice the act of citizenship. When President John F. Kennedy joined the Navy, he joined out of a sense of service. Serving his country on a PT-boat in the Pacific Ocean was an act of selflessness. He chose to put his country first and his personal safety second. This is an act of citizenship. Citizenship is not just patriotism or obedience of law. Citizenship is the active positive participation in a group. Students of GHS who are members of the Student Council, National Honor Society, or a Varsity sport, are not only acting as citizen of the school but citizens of each group. The sense of belonging and collaborative effort towards a goal or set of values derived from citizenship is much like the idea of community. The difference being a member of a community denotes passivity and inactivity. Citizenship requires action and effort. This focus on action is what makes the ties between citizenship and democracy so taunt and strong. The tie is not flimsy like a child’s shoelace but strong like the iron chains which anchored the USS Constitution off the shores of America’s Eastern Seaboard. Citizenship is our way of putting forth collaborative effort toward the noblest goals. Democracy is our way of putting forth collaborative citizenship toward the noblest communities.
-Ralph Nader
To be a citizen is to be human. To be a citizen is to be selfless. To be a citizen is to be tolerant. Citizenship requires the individual to control their most basic instincts in adherence to a set of social norms which allow and foster the security and freedom of civilization. While many creatures participate in social behavior, only humans have achieved civilization. From the ancient Mayans to the present day nations of the world, humans form societies where structure fosters the greater good and diminishes the most selfish and base human motivations. For example, to allow a jury, judge, and justice system to not only determine guilt but also issue punishment is the more civilized response to the most basic emotion of revenge. Having Michael Jackson’s family form a posse chase down and exact revenge on his doctor would be uncivilized. While his brothers and sisters still feel the pain and the thirst for justice, they yield not to their emotions but to the rule of law and by doing so practice the act of citizenship. When President John F. Kennedy joined the Navy, he joined out of a sense of service. Serving his country on a PT-boat in the Pacific Ocean was an act of selflessness. He chose to put his country first and his personal safety second. This is an act of citizenship. Citizenship is not just patriotism or obedience of law. Citizenship is the active positive participation in a group. Students of GHS who are members of the Student Council, National Honor Society, or a Varsity sport, are not only acting as citizen of the school but citizens of each group. The sense of belonging and collaborative effort towards a goal or set of values derived from citizenship is much like the idea of community. The difference being a member of a community denotes passivity and inactivity. Citizenship requires action and effort. This focus on action is what makes the ties between citizenship and democracy so taunt and strong. The tie is not flimsy like a child’s shoelace but strong like the iron chains which anchored the USS Constitution off the shores of America’s Eastern Seaboard. Citizenship is our way of putting forth collaborative effort toward the noblest goals. Democracy is our way of putting forth collaborative citizenship toward the noblest communities.
posted by MrGarland at 9:00 AM
<< Home