How do We Define a Citizen ? Essay -- Expository Definition Essays

Citizens Must Fulfill Obligations and Duties to the CommunityIn our ever-changing instauration how do we define a citizen? Peter J. Gomes in his speech, Civic faithfulness and the Character of Followship defines a citizen as ...one who belongs and one who has obligations (206). He adds a citizen has ... the notion of belonging, having an identity of which one is proud and by which one is defined and having an obligation to portion out and serve in behalf of that greater good (206). The Websters New World Dictionary defines a citizen as a member of a nation by render or naturalization, but a citizen is more than that. A citizen not only has rights and privileges he is a proud, contributing member of society. I define a citizen as one who understands and fulfils his obligations and duties to his community. Patriotism, love of area, is an ideal that every citizen should possess. I know that many disagree. They believe showing patriotism equals arrogance, conceit and sends a message that we are high-performance to everyone else. I disagree. After the attacks of September 11, our nation experienced a surge of patriotism. We were not merely individuals living among each other we were Americans. We were proud to announce to the world that America is the greatest nation in the world. We were showing love and support for the ideas that America stands for freedom, individual rights, and tolerance. Even when we are not in agreement with the policies of our government, we as citizens of the United States can be proud that in our country we have the right to openly disagree with those policies. To be deemed citizen requires more from us than just tonus pride for our nation citizenship also carries with it duties and respo... ...out change will fall into place. John F. Kennedy said it best in his inaugural address Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.Works Cited Gomes. Peter. J. Civic Virtue and the Characte r of Followship A New Take on an OldHope. The front of Others. Eds. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz. New York Bedford/ St. Martins, 2000. 205-212.Kennedy. John. F. 1965 Presidential Inaugural Address. Washington, D.C. 11 Jan.1965. InforTrack (Expanded Academic ASAP). Howard Community College Library, Columbia, MD. 22 Oct. 2002. <http//www.galegroup.com/. Ushkow. Mike. Turnout Ups, Downs. Campaigns & Elections. December/ JanuaryV22. (2002) 10. InfoTrack (Expanded Academic ASAP). Howard Community College Library, Columbia, MD. 18 Oct. 2002. <http//www.galegroup.com/.