1.+Great+Citizen,+What+Does+it+Take?

=Essentials of an engaged and first-class American Citizen= ==
 * An appreciation of the political, military, and personal suffering that was required of Americans to found our nation, and the sacrifices still needed to preserve it today.
 * A willingness to learn the history of the nation - knowledge of our legal rights and the responsibilities which are required to ensure our rights and liberties.
 * A desire to pass down the importance of American ideals, liberties, and freedoms to the youth to ensure they develop civic responsibility.
 * An aspiration to assist in the greater good for all - "Every man is under the natural duty of contributing to the necessities of the society; and this is all the laws should enforce on him." - Thomas Jefferson [|3]
 * Such assistance can be as complex as assisting the Congress in passing legislation to better the Nation, or it can be as simple as holding the door for someone with their hands full.
 * An overall support for the Nation by paying ones taxes and recognizing the legitimacy of the government and its' officials. All of us disagree with certain policies made within the US, but we need to recognize that overall the system works the best that it can while dealing with the complex diversity of ideals and beliefs found within our mixed society.
 * A working understanding of how our government works. No one is saying we all need be experts, but good citizens should possess the basic knowledge of how the different branches of government function and interact from the local to national level. In a perfect world this information will be taught starting at an early age and reinforced throughout life.
 * Be informed and involved. A good citizen gathers information from independent and unbiased sources, especially when dealing with politics. Making up your own mind based on good information is one of the most important things a citizen can do.
 * Realize there will always be those that disagree with you. Being able to debate your differences of opinion in a civilized manner without becoming overcome by emotion is important.
 * Vote!