CitizenshipCitizenship

Myril StewartMyril Stewart

September 23, 2003September 23, 2003

Public Affairs WeekPublic Affairs Week

CITIZENSHIPCITIZENSHIP

Today I would like to discuss two questions Today I would like to discuss two questions regarding citizenship.regarding citizenship.

What is citizenship?What is citizenship?

How do we develop good citizenship in our How do we develop good citizenship in our community and promote it at SMSU?community and promote it at SMSU?

Citizenship definedCitizenship defined

If we are going to discuss citizenship, we first If we are going to discuss citizenship, we first must define a couple of terms:must define a couple of terms:

Webster defines citizen as “A member of a state Webster defines citizen as “A member of a state or nation, especially one with a republican form of or nation, especially one with a republican form of government, who owes its allegiance to it by birth government, who owes its allegiance to it by birth or naturalization and is entitled to full civil rights.”or naturalization and is entitled to full civil rights.”

And Webster defines citizenship as “(1) the status And Webster defines citizenship as “(1) the status or condition of a citizen; (2) the duties, rights, and or condition of a citizen; (2) the duties, rights, and privileges of this status; and (3) a person’s privileges of this status; and (3) a person’s conduct as a citizenconduct as a citizen

Citizenship pollCitizenship poll

I asked several people what citizenship meant to them and I asked several people what citizenship meant to them and had quite a few different perspectives. A few examples are:had quite a few different perspectives. A few examples are:

Standing at attention with your hand over your heart when Standing at attention with your hand over your heart when the national anthem is playing. the national anthem is playing.

Citizenship means giving. Giving to your country, Citizenship means giving. Giving to your country, community and family. Taking care of our own.community and family. Taking care of our own.

Citizenship means being responsible, everyone trying to Citizenship means being responsible, everyone trying to improve the environment and society in general. Being improve the environment and society in general. Being unselfish and charitable.unselfish and charitable.

Belonging to the community. Enjoying the privileges and Belonging to the community. Enjoying the privileges and accepting responsibility.accepting responsibility.

Dr. Keiser’s idealDr. Keiser’s ideal

I asked Dr. Keiser what he thought being a I asked Dr. Keiser what he thought being a citizen meant and he said “American citizen meant and he said “American citizenship is based on understanding and citizenship is based on understanding and enacting the American Creed which enacting the American Creed which affirms those truths our founders held self-affirms those truths our founders held self-evident: justice for all, because we are evident: justice for all, because we are created equal; and liberty for all, because created equal; and liberty for all, because we are endowed by our Creator with we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights – life, liberty, and certain inalienable rights – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. the pursuit of happiness.

When Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I have a When Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its and live out the true meaning of its Creed,” he recognized his dream would Creed,” he recognized his dream would come true when all Americans accepted come true when all Americans accepted their duty as citizens to understand and their duty as citizens to understand and practice the American Creed. Citizenship practice the American Creed. Citizenship occurs when an American recognizes that occurs when an American recognizes that his public purpose must be fulfilled before his public purpose must be fulfilled before his private aspirations can be his private aspirations can be guaranteed.”guaranteed.”

The American CreedThe American Creed

Accepted by the US House of Representatives on April 3, Accepted by the US House of Representatives on April 3, 1918 written by William Tyler Page. It was meant to be a 1918 written by William Tyler Page. It was meant to be a brief summary of the American political faith founded brief summary of the American political faith founded upon things fundamental in American history and upon things fundamental in American history and tradition.tradition.

““I believe in the United States of America as a I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the people by the people, for the people, Government of the people by the people, for the people, whose just pwhose just poowweers are derived from the consent of the rs are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a Republic; a sovereign Nation governed; a democracy in a Republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my Country to love it; I therefore believe it is my duty to my Country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”

DiscussionDiscussion What do you think about some of the What do you think about some of the

responses?responses?

What do you think citizenship means?What do you think citizenship means?

I think that if I had to come up with one I think that if I had to come up with one word to describe how I felt about word to describe how I felt about citizenship, that word would be citizenship, that word would be “participation”. I think it is important that “participation”. I think it is important that citizens participate in processes of their citizens participate in processes of their choosing thatchoosing that support and improve their support and improve their governments and society in general.governments and society in general.

Let’s think about some identifiers for the letters in the word Let’s think about some identifiers for the letters in the word CITIZENSHIPCITIZENSHIP

CCreedreed IInvolvementnvolvement TTeamworkeamwork IIndividualsndividuals ZZodiac (everyone is different)odiac (everyone is different) EEnvironmentnvironment NNationation SSharingharing HHelpfulelpful IInterestnterest PParticipation articipation

What are some ways we can demonstrate our citizenship?What are some ways we can demonstrate our citizenship?

Voting is one of the first things that come to Voting is one of the first things that come to mind.mind.

Charitable organizations that help support our Charitable organizations that help support our fellow citizens.fellow citizens.

Adopt-a-school, mentoringAdopt-a-school, mentoring

Support of our troopsSupport of our troops

Support of our governmentSupport of our government

What are some other ways to demonstrate What are some other ways to demonstrate citizenship?citizenship?

What about your career choice?What about your career choice?

If we agree with Dr. Keiser’s statement If we agree with Dr. Keiser’s statement “Citizenship occurs when an American recognizes “Citizenship occurs when an American recognizes that his public purpose must be fulfilled before his that his public purpose must be fulfilled before his private aspirations can be guaranteed.”, can we private aspirations can be guaranteed.”, can we assume then that careers that support a public assume then that careers that support a public purpose, rather than simply a business purpose, purpose, rather than simply a business purpose, demonstrate citizenship?demonstrate citizenship?

I believe each of you working at SMSU are I believe each of you working at SMSU are demonstrating citizenship through your career choice. demonstrating citizenship through your career choice. Many of our employees at SMSU have had Many of our employees at SMSU have had opportunities for better paying jobs in the business opportunities for better paying jobs in the business sector but they feel strongly that they are serving a sector but they feel strongly that they are serving a higher purpose, a public purpose, by being a part of higher purpose, a public purpose, by being a part of the education of our students.the education of our students.

What about the military? Military reservists won World What about the military? Military reservists won World War II, after which Winston Churchill called reservists War II, after which Winston Churchill called reservists “Twice a Citizen”. The Japanese thought we would “Twice a Citizen”. The Japanese thought we would never be able to assemble and train enough troops to never be able to assemble and train enough troops to defeat them. Reservists were called up and defeat them. Reservists were called up and volunteers joined by the tens of thousands. Mentoring volunteers joined by the tens of thousands. Mentoring was what got us ready so quickly. “Each one teach was what got us ready so quickly. “Each one teach one” was the motto.one” was the motto.

• What are some other careers that demonstrate citizenship? What are some other careers that demonstrate citizenship? Government leaders, police officers, etc.Government leaders, police officers, etc.

• Now that we have identified ways to demonstrate Now that we have identified ways to demonstrate citizenship, how do we develop good citizenship? citizenship, how do we develop good citizenship? (discussion)(discussion)

• Certainly, our form of government, the civil rights and Certainly, our form of government, the civil rights and privileges we enjoy, would not continue to be possible if it privileges we enjoy, would not continue to be possible if it were not for the demonstrated citizenship of our citizens. were not for the demonstrated citizenship of our citizens. Government alone cannot sustain what we have, nor can Government alone cannot sustain what we have, nor can government alone develop its citizens.government alone develop its citizens.

The SMS missionThe SMS mission How does SMSU’s mission contribute to How does SMSU’s mission contribute to

citizenship?citizenship?

Let’s go over our mission:Let’s go over our mission:

““Southwest Missouri State University is a multi-Southwest Missouri State University is a multi-campus metropolitan university system with a campus metropolitan university system with a statewide mission in public affairs whose purpose statewide mission in public affairs whose purpose is to develop educated persons while focusing on is to develop educated persons while focusing on five themes: professional education, health, five themes: professional education, health, business and economic development, creative business and economic development, creative arts, and science and the environment.”arts, and science and the environment.”

The SMS purposeThe SMS purpose

To elaborate: SMSU’s purpose is “to develop educated To elaborate: SMSU’s purpose is “to develop educated persons.” The characteristics of an educated person are persons.” The characteristics of an educated person are clear, assessable, and recognizable:clear, assessable, and recognizable:

• An educated person is someone who is literate in the An educated person is someone who is literate in the broadest sense.broadest sense.

• An educated person has an appreciation for the An educated person has an appreciation for the responsibility of lifelong citizenship and an awareness of responsibility of lifelong citizenship and an awareness of global issues.global issues.

• An educated person seeks solutions to problems by An educated person seeks solutions to problems by means of a broad base of knowledge, as well as in-depth means of a broad base of knowledge, as well as in-depth mastery of at least one specific academic discipline.mastery of at least one specific academic discipline.

• An educated person has the skills and motivation to An educated person has the skills and motivation to continue to learn after leaving the university, thus being continue to learn after leaving the university, thus being prepared for both lifelong learning and lifelong prepared for both lifelong learning and lifelong productivityproductivity..

A little history of citizenshipA little history of citizenship

Is developing educated students a relatively new Is developing educated students a relatively new idea as it relates to citizenship? (discussion)idea as it relates to citizenship? (discussion)

Let’s look back a couple of hundred years ago Let’s look back a couple of hundred years ago and see what Thomas Jefferson had to say about and see what Thomas Jefferson had to say about it?it?

““I know of no safe depository of the ultimate I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves, and powers of society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.”but to inform their discretion.”

Can we take this to mean that we have a Can we take this to mean that we have a responsibility to “inform” or educate our citizens responsibility to “inform” or educate our citizens so they can “exercise their control with a so they can “exercise their control with a wholesome discretion”? wholesome discretion”?

As he says, the remedy is not to take control As he says, the remedy is not to take control away from the citizen, but instead, to ensure they away from the citizen, but instead, to ensure they have the knowledge necessary to make have the knowledge necessary to make responsible decisions in electing government responsible decisions in electing government officials, in living their life so it contributes to the officials, in living their life so it contributes to the betterment of our country.betterment of our country.

Citizenship & our missionCitizenship & our mission

Since this is public affairs week and our University has a Since this is public affairs week and our University has a public affairs mission, let’s see if citizenship and our public public affairs mission, let’s see if citizenship and our public affairs mission ties together.affairs mission ties together.

The public affairs mission at SMSU seeks to:The public affairs mission at SMSU seeks to:

Develop an increasing awareness of the public dimension of Develop an increasing awareness of the public dimension of life.life.

Produce a broad literacy in the primary public issues.Produce a broad literacy in the primary public issues. Establish a campus environment where the awareness of Establish a campus environment where the awareness of

public questions is nurtured and their discussion is public questions is nurtured and their discussion is encouraged.encouraged.

Create the capacity for and the interest in doing voluntary Create the capacity for and the interest in doing voluntary public work.public work.

Provide community service learning opportunities as a Provide community service learning opportunities as a significant component of disciplinary instructionsignificant component of disciplinary instruction

Certainly each of these contributes to SMSU’s development Certainly each of these contributes to SMSU’s development of citizenship.of citizenship.

Develop an increasing awareness of the public dimension of Develop an increasing awareness of the public dimension of life.life.• goes back to the belief that the public purpose must be fulfilled goes back to the belief that the public purpose must be fulfilled

before private aspirations can be guaranteed.before private aspirations can be guaranteed.

Produce a broad literacy in the primary public issues.Produce a broad literacy in the primary public issues.keeping public issues in the news and ensuring our community keeping public issues in the news and ensuring our community is knowledgeable on information germane to these issues will is knowledgeable on information germane to these issues will allow our citizens to make responsible decisions.allow our citizens to make responsible decisions.

Establish a campus environment where the awareness of Establish a campus environment where the awareness of public questions is nurtured and their discussion is public questions is nurtured and their discussion is encouraged.encouraged.• what would be the opposite of this? Censorship, no freedom of what would be the opposite of this? Censorship, no freedom of

speech and the press. Certainly it’s important that SMSU speech and the press. Certainly it’s important that SMSU continue to bring guest speakers to campus that bring attention continue to bring guest speakers to campus that bring attention to national discussions affecting us as citizens, and allow freedom to national discussions affecting us as citizens, and allow freedom of speech and of the press.of speech and of the press.

Create the capacity for and the interest in doing Create the capacity for and the interest in doing voluntary public work.voluntary public work.• work that supports a public purpose is one of the work that supports a public purpose is one of the

cornerstones of citizenship as we have discussed.cornerstones of citizenship as we have discussed.

Provide community service learning opportunities as a Provide community service learning opportunities as a significant component of disciplinary instruction.significant component of disciplinary instruction.community service is an important part of what we community service is an important part of what we defined as citizenship. Giving to the community defined as citizenship. Giving to the community through its various service organizations is important through its various service organizations is important as is having programs that make our students aware as is having programs that make our students aware of these organizations and service opportunities.of these organizations and service opportunities.

As I conclude, I would like to leave you with something Margaret Branson, As I conclude, I would like to leave you with something Margaret Branson, Associate Director, Center for Civic Education stated in one of her articles Associate Director, Center for Civic Education stated in one of her articles on citizenship:on citizenship:

““It is relatively easy for a society to produce technically It is relatively easy for a society to produce technically competent people. But the kind of society you and I want competent people. But the kind of society you and I want to live in and the kind of government we want to have to live in and the kind of government we want to have requires effort and commitment on the part of its citizens. requires effort and commitment on the part of its citizens. We want a society and a government in which:We want a society and a government in which:

human rights are respected,human rights are respected, the individual’s dignity and worth are acknowledged,the individual’s dignity and worth are acknowledged, the rule of law is observed,the rule of law is observed, people willingly fulfill their responsibilities, andpeople willingly fulfill their responsibilities, and the common good is the concern of all.the common good is the concern of all.

Making that kind of society, that kind of government a Making that kind of society, that kind of government a reality is the most important challenge we face and the reality is the most important challenge we face and the most important work we could undertake.”most important work we could undertake.”