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== = = === "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated." [|1] ===

[[image:i_am_not_a_global_citizen_bumper_sticker-p128795176474630759trl0_400.jpg]]
What does being a good citizen mean? This question is a difficult one to answer as there are multiple answers which are neither right or wrong. Good citizenship has many different meanings depending on who you ask. Different people think that different aspects of citizenship are more important than others depending on their personal beliefs. There are many traits which good citizens possess. Our job is to try to highlight them on these pages.

Becoming a good citizen is no easy task. The flaws within ourselves and our system make it this way. It is certainly easier to focus on ourselves and ignore the overall prosperity of our nation. Unfortunately if an overdeveloped individualistic attitude is one that is shared by the majority of people in our society, the government will not be held accountable for its actions due to an apathetic citizenry. The affects of this attitude are all too apparent in our lives today. While many may turn out to vote for the President, state and local elections which actually serve as a better representation tool for citizens have a much lower turnout. It is the responsibility of every good citizen to be involved in all aspects and levels of politics if we wish to maintain an informed citizenry. We the people, the citizens, control the government in the United States and in order for it to run in a fashion which reflects the freedoms and moral ideals which founded our country we must keep it in check; if not our wonderful nation from which sprung forth a new form of government will falter and fail. Should our citizens ignore their responsibility, our nation will be unable to "insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare - or carry on the other major duties of the state." If such a crisis comes about, "the people may turn in desperation to the hero-administrator, the misty figure somewhere at the summit. But in the end, that hero­-administrator will not save the republic." [|2]

Every person in this country should strive to be a good citizen in order to benefit not only ourselves, but also the nation as a whole. Actively seeking information and debating about controversial ideas has been the task of American citizens since our countries founding, and will continue to be so as long as we wish to remain a free and prosperous representative democracy.

So the question remains, How can we be good citizens?

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= = __Links/References__

1 http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quotes_by/thomas+paine 2 http://www.nccs.net/articles/ril67.html 3 http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff1700.htm 4 army pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/imcomkorea/2992117430/ 5 Scout pic http://stpaul-lusby.com/images/salute.jpg 6 [] 7 http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr008.shtml 8 []