What Does it Mean to be an Ethical Democratic Citizen?

Key Definitions:

Ethical - being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice, esp. the standards of a profession: It was not considered ethical for physicians to advertise.
Democratic - advocating or upholding democracy; pertaining to or characterized by the principle of political or social equality for all: democratic treatment.

Citizen - a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection.

To be an ethical democratic citizen means to care about something much greater than yourself. The specific order of the term "ethical democratic citizen" is no coincidence. "Ethical" comes first because it is the most essential factor to consider. "Democratic" is next and "citizen" appropriately follows. When one looks at what each word signifies, it becomes easy to understand why.

When you establish your ethical standpoint, you must remember that you are not the only one living on this planet. Whether you are a relativist or an absolutist, you nevertheless still need to have an open mind. When a decision is made, think of how it will affect your neighbors, your family, other countries, your own country, even your enemies, and mother nature. Thus, the topic of ethics becomes a worldly issue.

The word "democratic" comes second. A country's government is the system in which people use to maintain order over the masses. From a democratic perspective, one would strive for a system that practiced political or social equality. This concept should be the second most essential factor to consider because it is perhaps the most vital element that allows human beings to peacefully coexist in a confined setting.

Last but not least, we have the "citizen" or the individual. Do not be misconstrued, as the individual is just as important as a governmental system and even the world (after all, the individuals are the ones who make a government work; they are the entities that bring life to this world). However, the individual should still be considered last when making decisions as an ethical democratic citizen. You are an ingredient that is needed to make a recipe, and without you, it could come out all wrong. Thus, without first considering how the absence of your consent will affect the entire whole, you are only making selfish decisions.

So we have the world, the democracy, and the individual; all essentials factors to be considered when deciding the fate of mankind. Below is a five-part framework for teaching democratic citizenship:

• The World: the transnational context of human rights, the Open Society, and political order
• The People: the foundation of political community and government
• The Polity: the ordering of civic life, politics, and political systems
• The Government: the formal institutions and processes for public affairs
• The Citizen: The principal actor
  

One of the most important roles of an ethical democratic citizen is to show that you care. Do something. Actions speak louder than words. One of the growing problems that is sweeping through our world today is the epidemic called apathy. No, this is not an actual disease, however, it is an infectious virus that is overtaking many of the minds of today's citizens. Deriving from the ancient Greek word, meaning "without emotion", apathy can not literally take place in a human being, as it is biologically impossible to be without feelings or emotions. Figuratively, too many citizens are roaming without a care in the world. And that needs to change. Below is a video from Youtube in response to apathy:

Each citizen has their own unique role, otherwise the machine called democracy will never work. An ethical democratic citizen will realize their specific role and execute it, even if it means to sacrifice some liberties. I'm not saying that absolute conformity is the answer, just a healthy balance between freedom and cooperation. Just as people in America have to sacrifice some of their liberties to the Patriot Act in order to gain more security against terrorism, democratic citizens have to make sacrifices, too. It's a priviledge to be called a democratic citizen, and it's our ethical choice on whether or not to act on it. What will you choose to do?

"Let's get off our fanies and roll up our sleeves and get to work. So that we may passionately create a perfect world." ~ Isabel Allende

Further Links:

Principles of Democracy