Responsibilities Of An American Citizen

Whilst growing towards adulthood, adolescents are given more responsibilities: many of which are those of an American citizen. This citizenship is what brings all Americans together. Initially, all United States citizens have rights. However, it is the responsibilities that we take on which ultimately shape our country. If we forego our responsibilities, our rights could be lost as well. Our main responsibility is to vote. Be it a mayoral election, a state government election, or the Presidential Election, our thoughts and opinions are heard through the voting process, and it is only right to let them be heard. In addition, all citizens must obey the laws set forth. These principles were put into practice for our protection, as well as the …show more content…
The founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn, once wrote “, Any government is free to the People under it where the laws rule, and the People are party to it.” In turn, these canons have been used to help protect our rights, including our freedom. It is only just that we follow them whole-heartedly through our everyday lives. Most, if not all, laws have some form of punishment. They may be trivial, such as paying for speeding; However, the consequences may be severe, such as life in prison, or even death for murder. But to follow laws is not just to listen to what the state says; we are also scrupulous to our own moral laws. Everyone has their own moral code and the mentality to think about the implications of immorality. Apart from our morals, many hold ethics at the heart of their lives. Commander Spock from Star Trek once uttered with dying breath “, The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” This was the main ethical view that he held throughout his life. Our ethical standards help to define who we are and how we act. They will always play a crucial role in everyday life. Ethics are used by your subconscious to tell you if something is right or wrong. To come full circle, our ethics help us choose what we believe is rights, which also allows us to follow the laws set forth, and these laws coincide with the morals that help us mold our ethical standards together. Personal …show more content…
There are many parts of this amelioration, which can be grouped into self and society. Director and screenwriter Gene Roddenberry once asseverated “, Inside you there is the potential to make yourself better. And that is what it is to be human; to make yourself more than you are.” By realizing that we can be great, we actually become great. Every experience; every lesson, no matter how sterling or egregious, change us for better. Each time we face a new challenge, our past actions help up decide what to do. When you failed that math test, you knew that, in order to pass, you would need to study harder. And these experiences can also help us better the society that we live in. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” This quote was remarked by British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in a speech during World War II. Hoping to engage men to help during the war, Churchill reminisced at his past volunteering. Volunteering can be very beneficial to a community. Volunteers can meet others, making new social connections; while also improving the lives in a community, through service projects such as food drives. Some organizations, namely Habitat for Humanity, help to improve the lives of the less fortunate by building houses, which will eventually be called homes. And by helping the community, you are also bettering yourself through experience and life-lessons. As you