Immanual Johnmilton-P5
Citizenship
Edward Snowden. Traitor? Patriot? The whistle-blower who exposed the NSA is a polarizing figure. He revealed confidential US information; however, he also opened the eyes of the public to the potential overreach of government. When these conflicts between loyalty and citizenship get complex, in order to reduce cognitive dissonance, many people simplify the actions of the quintessential citizen: vote, pay taxes, contribute positively to society, and follow laws. Following these societal norms supposedly is indicative of a loyal citizen. However, the nuances of being a loyal citizen are more complicated than following societal norms, as evidenced in the Snowden polemic. In a democracy, the responsibilities of …show more content…
Loyalty is a very complex term, but still the intrinsic semantics of the word loyalty suggest it is the support of something through all possible circumstances. Thus, a person who is loyal will continue to provide support even through the difficulties that they may face. Many degrees of loyalty are seen in a USA draftee into the Vietnam War. Soldiers are the epitome of loyalty, since they show their support even when faced with death itself. This degree of altruism is the climax of loyalty. Even on the opposite side of the spectrum, the draft-dodgers during Vietnam were loyal. However, they weren’t loyal to their country’s current state, but instead their own lives and/or beliefs. Loyalty was also seen in lives of conscientious objectors -- conscientious objectors who didn’t believe in the idea of participating in a war for moral or religious reasons --- who didn’t directly fight, but still showed their loyalty in a different way. These people worked in noncombatant roles as medics, or participated in jobs back home that were involved in the war effort, These people found a way to maintain loyalty to the country and to their personal views of morality. Loyalty is seen in many ways, but it can most expressively seen through the support of something in spite of the possible damage to …show more content…
Through history, it seems to be established that best citizens of the country were loyal to that country, however, the discussion isn’t that simple. The loyalty of a good citizen belongs to the founding ideals of the country that protect the basic human rights. Looking back into history, many people have seen that major change was necessary for the approach towards the utopian society. At the time, these people were seen as traitors to the country when they disobeyed the law that was in place at the time. In hindsight, these people are now seen as heroes and the ideal citizens. For example, during the severe oppression of the Jews by the Nazis in the early 20th century, many Germans helped to hide these people. These people risked their own lives, thus showing their loyalty. They also exemplified good citizenship when they maintained the ideals that their democracy was founded on even though it was in direct opposition of the government. Another example of this idea is Rosa Parks, who was disobeying the common bus law in Montgomery, Alabama when she refused to give up her seat in 1955, thereby fueling the civil rights movement of the 1960s. She actively showcased her support to the equal rights of all humans. Her loyalty was seen since she disobeyed the law even though she would get punished. Her
Citizenship
Edward Snowden. Traitor? Patriot? The whistle-blower who exposed the NSA is a polarizing figure. He revealed confidential US information; however, he also opened the eyes of the public to the potential overreach of government. When these conflicts between loyalty and citizenship get complex, in order to reduce cognitive dissonance, many people simplify the actions of the quintessential citizen: vote, pay taxes, contribute positively to society, and follow laws. Following these societal norms supposedly is indicative of a loyal citizen. However, the nuances of being a loyal citizen are more complicated than following societal norms, as evidenced in the Snowden polemic. In a democracy, the responsibilities of …show more content…
Loyalty is a very complex term, but still the intrinsic semantics of the word loyalty suggest it is the support of something through all possible circumstances. Thus, a person who is loyal will continue to provide support even through the difficulties that they may face. Many degrees of loyalty are seen in a USA draftee into the Vietnam War. Soldiers are the epitome of loyalty, since they show their support even when faced with death itself. This degree of altruism is the climax of loyalty. Even on the opposite side of the spectrum, the draft-dodgers during Vietnam were loyal. However, they weren’t loyal to their country’s current state, but instead their own lives and/or beliefs. Loyalty was also seen in lives of conscientious objectors -- conscientious objectors who didn’t believe in the idea of participating in a war for moral or religious reasons --- who didn’t directly fight, but still showed their loyalty in a different way. These people worked in noncombatant roles as medics, or participated in jobs back home that were involved in the war effort, These people found a way to maintain loyalty to the country and to their personal views of morality. Loyalty is seen in many ways, but it can most expressively seen through the support of something in spite of the possible damage to …show more content…
Through history, it seems to be established that best citizens of the country were loyal to that country, however, the discussion isn’t that simple. The loyalty of a good citizen belongs to the founding ideals of the country that protect the basic human rights. Looking back into history, many people have seen that major change was necessary for the approach towards the utopian society. At the time, these people were seen as traitors to the country when they disobeyed the law that was in place at the time. In hindsight, these people are now seen as heroes and the ideal citizens. For example, during the severe oppression of the Jews by the Nazis in the early 20th century, many Germans helped to hide these people. These people risked their own lives, thus showing their loyalty. They also exemplified good citizenship when they maintained the ideals that their democracy was founded on even though it was in direct opposition of the government. Another example of this idea is Rosa Parks, who was disobeying the common bus law in Montgomery, Alabama when she refused to give up her seat in 1955, thereby fueling the civil rights movement of the 1960s. She actively showcased her support to the equal rights of all humans. Her loyalty was seen since she disobeyed the law even though she would get punished. Her