Active citizenship

• What are the characters of an active citizen

  • Knowledgeable
  • Independent
  • Courteous and aware of the common good
  • Loyal to democratic Principles
  • Provide input
  • Seek to be informed
• Active Citizens help their communities. In particular they contribute through civic activities
• Civic Activities - activities that address important public concerns
• it is politics that makes human beings what they are.
• According to the Greek philosopher Aristotle, human beings are political animals. Only human beings are capable of building collective societies with one another.
• For Aristotle, politics is the "practical science" of figuring out how to build functional and happy communities
• If politics is about collective reasoning and the practice of virtue, it should not be considered "dirty"
• engaging in politics is a noble practice that makes us more human and makes us strive for individual and communal excellence
• there is no distinction between politics and civic activities.
• active citizens are KNOWLEDGEABLE - active citizen are curious about the issues and problems in their societies.
• An example of a Knowledgeable active citizen is that active citizen continuously update themselves about the problems of their country and the world.
• active citizens are INDEPENDENT - This means that they are able to make up their own minds. They ensure that their decision are consistent with their own values and beliefs.
• an example of an Independent active citizen is when voting in an election, active citizens do not vote for candidates just because of their endorsement of their church, family, fraternities, or friends.
• Active citizens act based on their own research.
• citizens also discuss and assess the problems of their community, for Instance.
• active citizen are COURTEOUS AND AWARE OF THE COMMON GOOD - they do not just think of about their individual interests, they also the interest of the public or the common good. On an everyday level, this translate into courtesy.
• Active citizen make other feel like they belong to a community by exhibiting good manners.
• active citizen are LOYAL TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES - since active citizens view democracy as an inclusive and open system, they also oppose dictatorial system that concentrate power in the hands of few.
• active citizens PROVIDE INPUT - this means that they use the knowledge they acquire to propose solutions to the problems of society.
• active citizen SEEK TO BE INFORMED - this final attribute ties in with the active citizen's belief in democratic principles.