Active Citizenship
To be "active”
means “to be engaged in action; characterized by energetic work,
participation; having the power of quick motion; lively.”
Active is directly from Latin ‘activus,’ from ‘actus.’ As "capable of acting" (opposed to passive), from late 14th century. Meaning "energetic, lively" is from 1590s and that of "working, effective, in operation" is from 1640s.
The opposite of “active” is spectator or passive. A spectator expects someone else to do something. A spectator complains about anything, gives excuses for not doing something and blames anyone except him/herself.
In your activities, then be guided by the JCI Active Citizenship Framework
Active is directly from Latin ‘activus,’ from ‘actus.’ As "capable of acting" (opposed to passive), from late 14th century. Meaning "energetic, lively" is from 1590s and that of "working, effective, in operation" is from 1640s.
The opposite of “active” is spectator or passive. A spectator expects someone else to do something. A spectator complains about anything, gives excuses for not doing something and blames anyone except him/herself.
A citizen is one who belongs to unit
or location. Citizenship is about “the
interdependence alongside rights and responsibilities” and belonging and is
associated with and is an emphasis of the virtues of participation,
deliberative engagement, awareness of mutual inter-dependence and freedom.
Life is “never about what can be done for us (while
we are spectators or passive). Its about what can be done by us together
through the hard and frustrating, but necessary work of” active citizenship (Barack Obama's 2012
Presidential Acceptance Speech).
We are full citizens
of our families, residential and cultural communities, country and world and we
should be active ones. Being an
"active citizen" means to:
1. Engage - to involve oneself or become occupied,
2. Participate - to take part, be or become actively involved,
3. Get involved - to make oneself to take part in or feel part of it.
We are all born spectators and passive
human beings for the common greater good, but with effort, willingness and
readiness, everyone can become an active
citizen. This community, country and world is our only place to live and
this is our only life to live. Therefore, we need to pay close attention to
solutions to the unique problems in our communities to build a better and
peaceful community and world and creating global impact.
Based on the JCI Creed,
· Active Citizenship
Principle 1. Affirm and promote the inherent worth
and dignity of every human being
· Active Citizenship
Principle 2. Affirm and promote the interdependent
and intricate connection of all humanity
· Active Citizenship
Principle 3. Rely on rationality to understand and deal
with social matters and life concerns.
· Active Citizenship
Principle 4. Organise society based on human worth, moral
agency and responsibility; and
Active Citizenship Principle 5. Develop
society based on merit (i.e. developed ability or skill), effort and
performance.
The
core attributes of being an active
citizen are to be underpinned by integrity in our
individual conduct; dutifulness or responsibility to what is
expected of us with fervency and strong eagerness; and better and
sustainably improving standards of service. This is in respect to
our active duties to oneself and in our families, communities and country.
When one is an active citizen, the following are
the civic responsibilities or duties:
1. Respect for the law and national symbols
2. Being informed and be attentive to public issues
3. Critical mindedness (having the inclination to question,
examine and explore the validity of various situations and positions including
one's own)
4. Monitoring the performance of political leaders, public
officials and government agencies
5. Registering to vote and voting knowledgeably on candidates and
issues
6. Assuming public duties when appropriate
7. Compassion (having concern for the well-being of others,
especially for the less fortunate)
8. Civility (treating other persons and their views respectfully)
9. Paying government taxes
10. Pursue continuous learning to the best of one's ability because
life is like an ocean
11. Maintain a stable, safe and clean family and social environment
(Derived from Thomas Janoski, "Citizenship and Civil
Society" (Cambridge University Press, 1998)
Our families,
education system and citizenship-based voluntary associations should instill
and develop "much about life, civic
duty and graceful self-expression.”
