“The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time.” – Jackie Robinson. The definition of a citizen is someone, who was born in the United States of America, and is guaranteed certain rights, privileges, and responsibilities. Citizenship is understood as a right to have rights, such as the right to live and work in the United States and to receive federal assistance. Being a U.S. citizen means I have the right to vote in elections, serve on juries, or hold elected office. Citizenship in the United States means that a person is a legally recognized member of the nation and has equal rights under the law.
There are certain rights and privileges that each citizen is given, such as the right to vote and to hold public office. There are also certain responsibilities that each person is required to maintain such as respecting the law, voting, paying taxes, and serving on juries. If citizens want to receive protection and other services from the government, than they owe allegiance and loyalty to the United States. Some examples of allegiance and loyalty would be simply saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day and as a male registering with the selective service at the age of eighteen. Being a citizen in the United States, means I was born to the greatest nation in the world. Being born in this nation, assures me that I can wake up every morning to the rights and freedoms that some other countries and governments do not offer to its citizens. I am able to attend school to get an education, live in a peaceful community where there is no war, and be employed in the work field that I enjoy. As a citizen of the United States of America, I have the opportunity to further my education and choose a career of my choosing.