On responsible citizenship

On responsible citizenship

We don’t seem to appreciate our being democratic citizens. There may be instances proving of our being responsible citizens in a democratic country but these are on a daily and retail bases. To act like responsible citizens in this country is likened to a goody that is only available in a vending machine, that is, it is there when it is needed.

Besides, many of us appear to be uninformed about our rights and obligations in a democratic country. We don’t simply live up to our responsibilities as democratic citizens aside perhaps from paying taxes. But to be branded as democratic citizens goes beyond paying taxes to the government. There should be a subject in the curriculum that gives special emphasis on good citizenship.

We always hear the aphorism that we get the government we deserve. This is true in our experience. We don’t involve so much as responsible democratic citizens in establishing a government that favorably responds to our needs and protects us. We must remember that we make the government because we elect the leaders who run it. But citizens’ responsibility is not only displayed during elections. It should be a lifetime habit and an attitude. But more often than not we choose the wrong leaders hence we deserve a rotten government. That is why we have a government that threatens our freedom and makes our democratic life unbearable. Conversely, it is only in choosing wisely conscientious leaders who have the country in their hearts that we can claim that we are responsible democratic citizens. This is so because it truly bespeaks of our appreciation to have a good government. Otherwise, we are irresponsible citizens.

We can also be critical about the government but this should be done within the bounds of reason and law. To air anti-government sentiments without justifiable reasons would be an act of irresponsible citizenship.

Our sense of national unity should also be a daily habit. This kind of unity is hard to come by except when there are national catastrophes that jolt us or triumphs that stir up our sense of nationalism just like the recent victory of Pacquiao over Hatton.

We submissively swallow the deficiencies of the government because our role as responsible citizens in a democratic country is lifeless and unconcerned. It is high time that we should wake up to the reality that we cannot go on living in this way- we have to learn and recognize the value of being responsible and democratic citizens.