Is there such a thing now? I remember there used to be, but I think it died a generation ago and has been replaced by “obedience”. For example, should it be an offence NOT to vote? In some countries it is already with voting being compulsory. But the British government does not think sanctions are necessary as voting is a civil duty. In their amazing wisdom (?) the British government are considering changing the way in which people are registered to vote (“never mind the economy is in melt-down, let’s make sure more people vote for us”). Oh yes?
Perhaps there is something happening to younger generations that makes civic duty be seen as less of a responsibility and that people are disinterested, so that as time goes by more and more people will have less understanding of, and interest in, their responsibilities.
Maybe its roots lie in the fact that Great Britain has no written Constitution unlike many countries – USA for example, where civic duties are written into it – not merely paying taxes or fighting for your country but a whole range of aspects that are enforceable under law.
One of the paradoxes I can see around me is that the intellectuals, the politicians and all the many “voices” that choke, like asthma, the throat of communications media, have never gasped and stuttered so loudly about their devotion to the “public good” and about the “will of the individual” as the highest criterion of value. And never have they been so grossly indifferent to people in general. To me the reason is obvious: their “slogans” merely serve as the rationalisation for those who intend, not to follow the people, but to rule them.
And the result? A quote from Howard Zinn, below:
However, the more I consider what I read, the more I am inclined to the view that we are in the majority, willing sheep, led by the nose by those who seek to bend our will to their requirements but use the slogan “civic duty” to intimidate us to their needs.
Until next time (and refusing to bend my will),
Peripatetic Scribe
I fully agree with you, P.S.! The problem is also why we have become such willing sheep and how to find our way out of this labyrinth again. Whilst in theory it all might appear clear, in reality it seems almost impossible to solve the problem. Or maybe I'm being too pessimistic?
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A series of good points P.S., but I do agree with Lucana - HOW did we get into this mess and, more importantly how do we get out of it? I shall read your answers with interest....
ReplyDeleteLucana and Anonymous, if I may reply to both together. My view on the first question (how did we get here) can be briefly summed up in three words - BIAS, PREJUDICE AND PRESSURE. I shall elaborate on this in the next article. As to the second question (how do we get out of it), I believe in part it can be achieved by a different approach to the education system; secondly (and I believe this is where you score, Anonymous), I want to see more better politicians - those who achieve their position through "contacts" and acting as sycophants but as true, ACCOUNTABLE and PROFESSIONAL individuals with the attitude of doing good for their country rather than doing good for their pocket. I know this is a generalisation, but it's a start point. I shall never see it, but I hope your children will - and to play an active role in getting there!
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