A citizen is a person who lives within a country and is a part of its political system. Citizenship rights vary by country and can include the right to vote, hold government offices or receive unemployment insurance payments. A good citizen is someone who takes an active role in their citizenship by ensuring they meet all requirements for their nation. This may involve attending meetings or voting in elections, paying taxes and demonstrating their patriotism. It also means following the law and protesting when they believe the government is doing wrong.
Despite the many different definitions of citizenship, most agree that a citizen should respect all laws and follow them to the letter. They are also expected to treat all people with equal respect and abide by the cultural traditions of their country. This includes not discriminating based on race, religion or gender. They are also expected to participate in their community by volunteering or contributing financially.
Being a good citizen can be challenging because it requires putting the interests of the community before one’s own views or political agenda. Those who take the time to learn about both the big issues facing their country and the small details of how their government functions are able to be more active participants in their democracy. They are able to recognize that it’s their duty as citizens to use the tools they have been given to make their country better.
A good citizen is patriotic, which means they love their country and want to see it succeed. They are willing to work hard for their country and even make sacrifices for it. Patriotism can be a dangerous quality though, as it can lead to extremes of behavior. For example, Hitler’s Nazi party used fear and loyalty to infiltrate Germany and help him carry out his political plan.
In a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, around three-quarters of Americans said that voting in elections was very important to being a good citizen. About seven-in-ten said that paying taxes and always following the law were very important as well. Republicans and Republican leaners were more likely than Democrats to say that knowing the Pledge of Allegiance was very important to being a good citizen.
Another important characteristic of a good citizen is a sense of global citizenship. A good citizen understands that they belong to an emerging global community and they can have an impact on it in positive or negative ways. A good citizen will support efforts to protect the environment and will make an effort to learn about the cultures of other countries around the world. They will also try to travel as much as possible to experience different parts of the world and embrace diversity. This is similar to what the Greeks called a ‘cosmopolitan’ and has evolved into being a ‘worldly’ person today.