Assuming Responsibility as Active Citizens
by Mark Skeie January 01, 2009
In the coming years, we may find it interesting to look back on 2008 and see how historians summarize this time. Passing the blame to someone else, such as blaming the greed of financiers on Wall Street or the narrow self-interest of politicians, is always easier. Yet the reality is that we live in a democracy in which each of us has a responsibility for the society we create.
If we wish to leave anything that resembles a positive legacy for future generations, we need a call to action. The most immediate call reaches out to us as individuals: living within our means, being responsible for healthy choices in lifestyle, and being stewards of our environment.
Beyond ourselves, we need to be involved as active citizens. If we ignore this responsibility, we end up with a government that pleases no one. Making democracy work requires all of us, “of the people, by the people and for the people.” Those words need to mean more than just expressions that we memorized in 8th grade.
And, we must remember not take ourselves too seriously. Let’s have some fun along the way.
