Being a Good Citizen Manners, Grace and Social Harmony
Jan 22, 2016
Being a Good Citizen
Manners, Grace and Social Harmony
Citizenship
• What is a citizen?– Rights– Duties– Responsibilities
• What is social harmony?
• What is grace?
What is a citizen?
• A citizen is an individual with certain rights and duties under a government and who, by birth or by choice, owes, allegiance to that government.
• Another word for allegiance is loyalty.
Rights and Responsibilities
• We depend on others in the communities to fulfill our needs.
• Joel Westheimer and Joseph Kahne (2004) describe three types of citizen:
Personally Responsible Citizen
• A personally responsible citizen has:– honesty– responsibility – respect for the law
Participatory Citizen
• as above but also believes that:– understanding government– voting in elections– volunteering in the community
are important traits
Justice Oriented Citizen
• As above but also:– fights for the rights of under-privileged– often willing to suffer personal harm in
their fight for justice– sometimes lose focus on wider society
and means to create change
Qualities of a Responsible Citizen
• Obeys the law / respects authority• Contributes to society and community / performs civic
duty• Loves his/her country – patriotism• Courtesy and respects the rights of others• Trust worthy and Honesty• Tolerance• Accountability• Moral Courage• Responsibility• Self-Discipline
Qualities of a Responsible Citizen
• Rights: things we can do because of law
• Duties: things we MUST do because of law
• Responsibilities: things we should do
Qualities of a Responsible Citizen
Using the sheet provided,
Label each activity in the
list as either a:• Right• Duty• Responsibility
A Global Citizen
• Is aware of the wider world• Has a sense of their own role as a world
citizen• Respects and values diversity
A Global Citizen has understanding of how the world works:
• Economically• Politically• Socially• Culturally• Technologically• Environmentally
A Global Citizen
• Is outraged by social injustice• Participates and contributes to community• Is willing to make the world a more
sustainable place• Takes responsibility for their actions• Celebrates diversity• Recognizes that they can
CREATE CHANGE
Social Harmony
People of all faiths, ages, nationalities or colours living peacefully in mutual trust as a society, is social harmony.
Concept dates back to ancient China.
Confucius / Confucianism
Social Harmony
Family is the basic unit of society:
A peaceful and harmonious family built upon 'Family Ethics' is the most fundamental component of a peaceful modern society.
Children
Parents
Love / Devotion
• Selfishness• Hatred• Poverty
Social Harmony
Sources of
Chaos / Conflict
"By giving (others) freedom from fear, hostility and oppression, he himself will enjoy freedom from fear, hostility and oppression."
- The Buddha
Social Harmony
Four Divine Abodes
loving kindness
compassion
altruistic joy
equanimity
Grace
• Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.
• A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.
• A sense of fitness or propriety.• A disposition to be generous or helpful;
goodwill.
Now,
Let’s look at your groups……