Being A Good Citizen

A citizen is defined as a formal member of a political community, membership of which confers rights (such as the right of political participation) and responsibilities (adherence to the rule of law). A citizen is a member of a political society who owes allegiance to the government and is entitled to its protection. A person who has full rights privileges and protection.

Being a good citizen not necessarily mean following rules, obeying those who are more powerful than you, etc. Being a good citizen is being far more than that. Far more than following, far more than obeying. It is more like being who you are while keeping in mind that you belong to a much greater community. A citizen has rights but a good citizen knows his rights, is practicing it, and most importantly doesn’t abuse these rights. A citizen has privileges but a good citizen understands that with these privileges come with responsibilities. They have a responsibility to the community, environment and law. You feel the need to respond to the call of your community. To be able to share your gifts and talents to other people and live with them in peace. A good citizen feels the need to preserve and be a steward of the environment. He or she realizes that our environment is a gift from God and must take good care of it. A good citizen recognizes authority and abides by the law. He or she knows that for a community to remain orderly, rules are needed to be followed. Being a good citizen means being wholistic. It means that you don’t only concentrate on one aspect of your life but actually look at other things and see where you can improve on. But not concentrating on yourself much and realize that you have to be sensitive to the needs of others as well. Not prosper as an individual but prosper as a community.

It takes so much to be a good person but it takes so much more to be a good citizen. One has to be less selfish and think of others and our Creator as well. A good citizen must be able to give thanks to our Creator and realize that without Him, all will be nothing. We have to think that being a good citizen not only means showing what we are capable of and investing on ourselves. It is also about appreciating the things around you, it may be something grand or something that is as simple. A good citizen is able to be glad about the things that are less tangible but are more concrete loyalty, passion, nationalism, and love.