Many of us are aware of our “Rights” but do we know our “Responsibilities”? How can Citizenship Education help citizens to be aware of their responsibilities as well?
Every month seems to be an awareness
month nowadays — children’s rights, women’s rights, and the lot. We all can
appreciate and accept the fact that everyone has inalienable rights, some would
go so far as to say God-given rights, but what about responsibilities?
The talk of people’s responsibilities
oftentimes gets lost during these discussions, but we do this at our peril, as
rights and responsibilities go hand in hand.
For example, we have the right to
freedom of speech in this and most nations, and have had it for years. However,
the responsibility of the people is to ensure that censorship is called out and
that people can speak freely without fear of conviction, for once censorship is
allowed in one facet it’s only a matter of time before all subjects are
politically taboo.
Another example is the right to a clean environment. It is widely accepted that
people need clean water and air; therefore, clean air and water are basic human
rights. However, the responsibility falls on the citizen to ensure that they
don’t dump garbage in gullies or on the side of the road, and that they ensure
that cars are environmentally friendly.
Another example is freedom of religion;
long viewed as a core right. This too can also only be upheld through the
responsibility of the people who must ensure against theocracy and the
domination of one religion to the point that other religions are seen are
heretic. These examples, I feel, show that
rights, while important, can be easily overturned or abused, and that is where
responsibility of the citizen comes into play. People have a right to vote, but
politicians abuse power; the responsibility is then on the voter to hold them
accountable. Rights are useless unless we the people are as responsible,
irresponsibility and dereliction of duty breeds contempt and slowly erodes
rights. So, while demanding that our rights be
met and upheld, let us not at the same time shirk our responsibilities. Let’s
hold politicians to account, whichever stripe they wear. Let us scold the
person dumping garbage all over the place and let us expel those who wish to
shut us up. For if we abandon our responsibilities we can be safe in the
knowledge that all our hard-won rights will disappear.
Another example is the right to a clean environment. It is widely accepted that people need clean water and air; therefore, clean air and water are basic human rights. However, the responsibility falls on the citizen to ensure that they don’t dump garbage in gullies or on the side of the road, and that they ensure that cars are environmentally friendly.
Contributor:
Sherice Mitchell
4th Year History and Social
Studies Student
Bethlehem Moravian College
Once we have rights we must have responsibilities. We have to account for our mistakes. Without transparency their is chaos. So rights and responsibilities walk hand in hand.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there would be chaos because People would do whatever they want Because they think they have the right being that they don't have responsibilities.
DeleteRights are definately useless without responsibilities. Rights are those terms that protects individuals and these individuals are responsible to live by responsibilities in order for them to be protected.
ReplyDeleteIf citizens can acknowledge that they have rights and take actions when their rights have been breached. Therefore, citizens must be take actions to edify themselves about their responsibilities. Taking responsibilities will mean citizens playing a vital role in the sustenance of our community or nation. For instance, in chases where citizens are called to served on the jury, they should active participate although not given a large financial return. As a result, Citizenship Education can help in educating citizens about their responsibilities.
ReplyDelete