By request of my wonderful grandfather, this is the essay i wrote to get into freedom foundation's youth system. I get to go to Philadelphia just like my older sister did and learn about others and learn about history back there.
What is a Responsible Citizen?
By Star imprint
What’s the one thing you have always been told when you were little? At least my mother always told me “Now, be nice to the other kids, you hear?” I never realized how true a statement that was, especially since it’s that time of year again: The time of giving and love. There are several things I think people can do individually to help the future of America. Vote and keep up on what’s going on with our community, remind people of where we came from and what America stands for- - but I think the thing that all of us can do that will help benefit the nation the most is to strengthen home and family ties.
The thing about America in the beginning was people didn’t have the right to vote so therefore it became a very high privilege. Today people see it as not a big deal or even a pain to choose who will lead our county. If people would take this opportunity then the votes would no longer be the minority. “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote” said George Jean Nathan. It’s the point of finding out what is going on and standing up for what you believe in as a person. It’s important for everyone’s vote to be counted because together we are Americans, not individuals.
Since we are people and we often get wrapped up in other worldly things, I feel it’s important to spread this message to other people. It’s simple to give proper respect to the flag as it is taken down or always say the pledge of allegiance with a hand on your heart. Little things like that can really keep you in remembrance of why you live the way you do: free. I remember going to several presentations that people have put together celebrating veterans or independence day or even meetings where people just want to show others how good life can be even in the middle of a war on the battlefield. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow says it “Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime, and departing leave behind us foot prints in the sands of time. Foot prints that perhaps another, sailing over lives solemn main a forlorn and ship wrecked brother seeing shall take heart again.” Give back, write a speech and say it, learn a song and present it, show you’re proud to be an American. Leave a trail, a legacy that others may follow.
These things are very important, voting and sharing with others, but I think the one thing that America comes down to is the home. As Gordon B. Hinckley said “a better tomorrow begins with the training of a better generation.” My mother and father always taught me to be respectful, kind, honest, brave, to stand up for what I believe in even when I am standing alone. We are what we are because of what we were taught as a child. As President Hinckley also said “the home is a cradle of virtue, the place where character is formed and habits are established.” To change the entire country we must start small. I know over the years our bar has been dropped as to what is acceptable. Swearing has become ok and movies are filled with violence and pornography. Do we really think that America can stand firm and true for what they believe in if they don’t have any morals to begin with any way. The home is the foundation that we need; it is where we learn and grow and love. When we grow up with no virtue, no respect towards others how can we be the nation we could be? The people we should be. If you want to be a responsible Citizen, you don’t have to be Rosa Parks or President Lincoln. You can do things yourself, like voting, having patriotism, and strengthening your home and family with values and love. We all owe it to this beautiful land because it gives us the ability to believe in what we choose, to be whom we want to, and to achieve all our dreams. “ The freedoms and privileges afforded every citizen in our democracy are unwittingly being threatened by the very citizens they were designed to benefit. The term “American Citizen” is to often considered to be a status, gained either through birth or naturalization, rather than a role to be fulfilled” As Matthew Horton Stated. Its true, we need to earn it.
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