Dan++-+Citizenship


 * What Does it Mean To Be a Good Citizen?**

The determination as to what is considered a good citizen has been debated by many throughout human history. To properly analyze what it means to be a good citizen one must first define what a citizen is. According to Merriam-Websters Dictionary, a citizen is a a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state where power is retained by the people and sharing in political rights of those people, or rather the rights of a free citizen.

How one chooses to use these rights is often the central topic of what makes a good citizen, or rather what it means to be a citizen. In return for these rights and liberties citizens are obligated to certain facets such as voting, paying taxes, serving on juries, and serving in the Army if applicable. These actions are often quite vast, especially in a political system as diverse as the one used by the Unites States, where citizens have numerous access points at local, state, and federal levels. - in the community - in the state - in the nation - in the world - theories on good and bad citizenship - examples of both for each and by definition

Benjamin Franklin, an ambassador to King Louis the XVI, and also the reigning champion when it came to liberators. It is hard to argue the point that Benjamin Franklin was not a good citizen. Did you know that for most of Franklin’s life he was a loyal politician for the British Empire? One could bring up this point in a debate, however after seeing the corruption in the Englishman’s hearts’ he became devoted to liberating the colonies from the tyranny that was Great Brittan. Being able to decide when the “good” that you’ve known your whole life is actually the “bad” perhaps, perhaps this makes a good citizen. Decisions may make a citizen a good citizen but is that also means, in turn, that it makes a bad citizen too. For instance, Benedict Arnold was an American General in the American Revolution. The phrase, “you're being a Benedict Arnold” means to be a traitor or to betray someone. This is actually named after the General himself. For all of you out there that don’t know why here is the reason: Benedict Arnold commanded as an American general in the American Revolution along with Horatio Gates. Arnold led the Americans to a tremendous victory at the Battle of Saratoga. He had planned to surrender West Point in 1780, a key military base, to the British for 20,000 pounds (English money). Unfortunately for Arnold, his plan was thwarted when John André, his accomplice, was captured. Arnold disappeared to New York and then fled to England in 1781. He revealed his true allegiance to Britain by fighting with the British.

More current citizens that are seen as good include President of The United States of America, Barack Obama who is the first African American to serve as president. “Believe in Change” says Obama. Adolf Hitler led one of the greatest campaigns ever in world history. Was he a good citizen? He was in the eyes of Germans, as he was a symbol of inspiration and power as he professed the ideal of an Aryan race. But to those races he tried eradicating which included African Americans, Gays, and most importantly the Jewish community he was nothing more than a tyrant and murderer who did not respect the world community.So not only do actions, decisions, and intent have to do with what makes a good citizen but also an audience. Hitler was a good citizen to Germany. Benjamin Franklin was a good citizen to the colonists. Benedict Arnold was a good citizen to Great Brittan, and Barack Obama is a hopeful good citizen for many people in America.