Being An American Citizen Essay

As American citizens, we are taught in schools, and by the people around us that our responsibility is to follow laws, and keep the peace. That being a respectable, and dependable American that people can count on is what it is all about. But as a person that was raised in a family of immigrants, lucky enough to be born in the USA and to really reap the benefits. It’s hard to say that those standards justify the magnitude of what it means to have a responsibility towards an entire country.

Being a cadet of the Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary Program, also known was “CAP” or C.A.P. We take an oath to the program that sets a high level of standards that are expected from everyone in order to stay in the program. Whether it be, serving our community, or making sure that we promote in a timely manner; we consider these to be our highest priorities. We do this as a way to really stand out from the crowd and bring out the best in all of us. But not only to stand out, but to serve our country without expecting any profit in return. To have the freedom and let our decisions decide if we will serve our country or not, unlike many others where minors our age are forced to fight for a cause they don’t believe.

However, many American citizens often forget what it really means to live free; to live in a country
that although tomorrow may not be guaranteed, there will be hundreds of thousands of soldiers willing to put their lives on the line just to protect that freedom. That means that they are more than willing the put their own existence on the line for a home, a house, a family, or friend, knowing that at any moment, without consequence that may one day turn their backs. Or in much grimmer cases, that they might one day simply forget, or reap the benefits without showing gratitude towards the missing, injured, or abandoned.

But where does this leave us?
As American citizens, it is our responsibility to keep our culture, of what makes us different from the rest of the world. It’s our obligation, and duty to come into action when called upon. Although everyone may be different, the United States wouldn’t be the country it is now without the consent, and the firmness of the people. We mustn’t be afraid to rebel against our home country when are most dire human rights are in jeopardy. The sole right of people is to use their natural rights as humans to express themselves. But there is an obligation given by God to this country to remember the family and friends who we’ve
lost.

We have a role in carrying that burden of remembrance as a way to really show the gratitude that they deserve. Knowing that in doing so, we would be exonerating them from their deeds, exercising out patriotism. Not only by remembering, but by taking an active part in my democracy, because what is the point of having a government that is run “by the people, for the people” if the people in it don’t take an active part. It’s OUR duty, not just mine, to uphold our society so that their work does not go in vain.