Does the public display of one’s character skew the onlooker’s perspective of good or bad citizenship? According to the article "What Does It Mean to be a Good Citizen?" By Charles Bens, the answer is yes; citizenship encompasses actions that one exhibits toward the nation, state, group, or cause that one belongs to. A citizen is a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection (Dictionary.com). Allegiance is the loyalty or commitment of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or cause (Dictionary.com). Allegiance indicates belonging and ownership, but it also creates a sense of requirement on the part of the citizen. Citizens of the United States
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Celebrations of patriotism in the U.S.A. by its citizens can be breath-taking, reflective, somber, or exciting. The raising of the United States Flag at the opening of a ceremony, the loud and proud reverberations of the National Anthem at a high school football game, or the quiet and respectful echoes of a solo Taps performance all stir some sort of emotion in most citizens of the U.S.A. The recent observances of the fifteenth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks flooded the U.S.A. with images of its citizens paying their respects to the individuals that lost their lives. News outlets and talk shows changed their programming to reflect the extreme patriotism that was an unlikely outcome of such a tragic event, and September 11 saw social media transform into an opportunity to exclaim pride of country for most of its citizens. Responses such as this come forth due to the intense amount of pride each person has in being a citizen of the U.S.A. and what it means to them …show more content…
In August 2016 Colin Kaepernick, a professional football player for the San Francisco 49’ers, was on the receiving end of verbal attacks when he refused to stand during the playing of the National Anthem at the beginning of a professional football game. Mr. Kaepernick attempted to use his public persona to call attention to a personal issue he had with a policy of the U.S.A. Although he did draw national attention, the spotlight on his grievance was weakened when the main story became public outcry against his perceived disrespect for the U.S.A. and its customs. The reasons for his protest were lost in the melee that followed when other citizens of the U.S.A. saw his actions as irreverent and disrespectful and responded with great outrage. While displays of patriotism can invoke a sense of pride in a citizen, displays of perceived disrespect, especially when done by a citizen of the U.S.A., can create an intense desire to reject the
Celebrations of patriotism in the U.S.A. by its citizens can be breath-taking, reflective, somber, or exciting. The raising of the United States Flag at the opening of a ceremony, the loud and proud reverberations of the National Anthem at a high school football game, or the quiet and respectful echoes of a solo Taps performance all stir some sort of emotion in most citizens of the U.S.A. The recent observances of the fifteenth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks flooded the U.S.A. with images of its citizens paying their respects to the individuals that lost their lives. News outlets and talk shows changed their programming to reflect the extreme patriotism that was an unlikely outcome of such a tragic event, and September 11 saw social media transform into an opportunity to exclaim pride of country for most of its citizens. Responses such as this come forth due to the intense amount of pride each person has in being a citizen of the U.S.A. and what it means to them …show more content…
In August 2016 Colin Kaepernick, a professional football player for the San Francisco 49’ers, was on the receiving end of verbal attacks when he refused to stand during the playing of the National Anthem at the beginning of a professional football game. Mr. Kaepernick attempted to use his public persona to call attention to a personal issue he had with a policy of the U.S.A. Although he did draw national attention, the spotlight on his grievance was weakened when the main story became public outcry against his perceived disrespect for the U.S.A. and its customs. The reasons for his protest were lost in the melee that followed when other citizens of the U.S.A. saw his actions as irreverent and disrespectful and responded with great outrage. While displays of patriotism can invoke a sense of pride in a citizen, displays of perceived disrespect, especially when done by a citizen of the U.S.A., can create an intense desire to reject the