What does it mean to be a citizen?

[LastPoet]

To me it is the right to vote, to exercise my education. It os also my duty to promote education to others specially children. It is obvious its relation to ethics as one can't exist without the other..

A citizen isn't a right, its a basket of responsabilities, of duties. The usual approach is that being a citizen is all about rights. The right to have guns, the right to not wear masks, the right to piss and shit all over each other. I have a different take on this. 

Sure I have rights, but I also have responsabilities as a citizen. So, I ask of you, your take on citizenship?

[Szuchow]

It merely means having citizenship. When one piss on alleged citizen duties one still is citizen, otherwise it would be a concept too similar to exclusionary rhetoric of nationalists who deny people nationality for some imagined infractions. To illustrate - according to nationalists I am not Pole as I am not catholic. However my birth certificate state quite clearly that I am Pole and no bullshit distinctions can change this. Similarly I am citizen by virtue of birth, nothing else.

[brewerb]

You're a watch.

[Aliza]

I think a citizen should give back to society so long as they're able to do so. Some people won't be able to contribute for whatever reason, but everyone else should make an earnest effort.

[Minimalist]

Citizenship is largely a matter of being born at a specific geographical location.

[LastPoet]

It merely means having citizenship. When one piss on alleged citizen duties one still is citizen, otherwise it would be a concept too similar to exclusionary rhetoric of nationalists who deny people nationality for some imagined infractions. To illustrate - according to nationalists I am not Pole as I am not catholic. However my birth certificate state quite clearly that I am Pole and no bullshit distinctions can change this. Similarly I am citizen by virtue of birth, nothing else.

It should mean a little more, but if you are satisfied with that, who am I to challenge you on that?

[M.Linoge]

So, I ask of you, your take on citizenship?

My take is 'overall responsibility for society'. Being a citizen of a country is like being the resident of a house. It's yours to ruin or neglect or maintain or improve.

[SYZ]

I'm happy with the Wiki definition:

"Citizenship is the status of a person recognised under the custom or law of
a sovereign state as a member of or belonging to the state. Each state is free
to determine the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens,
and the conditions under which that status will be withdrawn. Recognition by a
state as a citizen generally carries with it recognition of civil, political, and social
rights which are not afforded to non-citizens."

[c172]

Yeah, I'll go with the dictionary def. But having said that, I really do enjoy voting. It's a way to show I care (if mainly about me).

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I earned my citizenship.

[Thumpalumpacus]

To me it is the right to vote, to exercise my education. It os also my duty to promote education to others specially children. It is obvious its relation to ethics as one can't exist without the other..

A citizen isn't a right, its a basket of responsabilities, of duties. The usual approach is that being a citizen is all about rights. The right to have guns, the right to not wear masks, the right to piss and shit all over each other. I have a different take on this. 

Sure I have rights, but I also have responsabilities as a citizen. So, I ask of you, your take on citizenship?

I have a duty to support the Constitution. I have a duty to pay taxes. I have a duty to help improve rather than destroy my country.

I am happy to pursue those duties, given the benefits I've garnered and will continue to exercise as a citizen. Rights are not rights if they can take 'em away; so said Carlin, and I believe him absolutely correct. So one of my duties is to ensure that not only I, but all other Americans, may enjoy those same "rights".

"Rights aren't rights if someone can take 'em away." I see our primary duty as citizens to defend those rights we have against government organs which continually work to erode them.

I appreciate the rights ensconced in the Constitution, but they ain't free, and are paid for not only by the blood of the soldiers who fought for them, but also by our continued vigilance.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I earned my citizenship.

You're goddamned straight. Sweat equity.

[Szuchow]

It merely means having citizenship. When one piss on alleged citizen duties one still is citizen, otherwise it would be a concept too similar to exclusionary rhetoric of nationalists who deny people nationality for some imagined infractions. To illustrate - according to nationalists I am not Pole as I am not catholic. However my birth certificate state quite clearly that I am Pole and no bullshit distinctions can change this. Similarly I am citizen by virtue of birth, nothing else.

It should mean a little more, but if you are satisfied with that, who am I to challenge you on that?

I don't think that it should mean more. As far as I am concerned citizenship have nothing to do with one actions, only with where mother of person x gave birth.

[LastPoet]

I don't think that it should mean more. As far as I am concerned citizenship have nothing to do with one actions, only with where mother of person x gave birth.

I have to disagree. Being a citizen also encompasses caring for other citizens. One can not live as a citizen when others via birthright shit and piss all over. A citizen should look at others and build a better world. If you look at citizenship as a place where your mother shoot you off, then, you are working under bad premisses.

[Szuchow]

I don't think that it should mean more. As far as I am concerned citizenship have nothing to do with one actions, only with where mother of person x gave birth.

I have to disagree. Being a citizen also encompasses caring for other citizens. One can not live as a citizen when others via birthright shit and piss all over. A citizen should look at others and build a better world. If you look at citizenship as a place where your mother shoot you off, then, you are working under bad premisses.

I think it is you who labor under some misconception in regards to nature of citizenship.  It isn't suggestion to care about other citizens, nor it is some sort of moral obligation toward state or society. It's merely result of being born in country x.

[LastPoet]

I don't think that it should mean more. As far as I am concerned citizenship have nothing to do with one actions, only with where mother of person x gave birth.

I have to disagree. Being a citizen also encompasses caring for other citizens. One can not live as a citizen when others via birthright shit and piss all over. A citizen should look at others and build a better world. If you look at citizenship as a place where your mother shoot you off, then, you are working under bad premisses.

I think it is you who labor under some misconception in regards to nature of citizenship.  It isn't suggestion to care about other citizens, nor it is some sort of moral obligation toward state or society. It's merely result of being born in country x.

If that is what you think. I think it is a bit more, in a world that mingles around in aircraft that transport people side to side. Some bad some good. Heh, just talking. I wonder why citizenship isn't taugh in school.

It isn't the place you are by birthright, it is a duty as a human being. From space you see no borders, except the seas ofc.

[Szuchow]

I have to disagree. Being a citizen also encompasses caring for other citizens. One can not live as a citizen when others via birthright shit and piss all over. A citizen should look at others and build a better world. If you look at citizenship as a place where your mother shoot you off, then, you are working under bad premisses.

I think it is you who labor under some misconception in regards to nature of citizenship.  It isn't suggestion to care about other citizens, nor it is some sort of moral obligation toward state or society. It's merely result of being born in country x.

If that is what you think. I think it is a bit more, in a world that mingles around in aircraft that transport people side to side. Some bad some good. Heh, just talking. I wonder why citizenship isn't taugh in school.

It isn't the place you are by birthright, it is a duty as a human being. From space you see no borders, except the seas ofc.

I may not be able to see borders from space but this does not mean that citizenship transforms from mere formality to duty.

[Aliza]

I have to disagree. Being a citizen also encompasses caring for other citizens. One can not live as a citizen when others via birthright shit and piss all over. A citizen should look at others and build a better world. If you look at citizenship as a place where your mother shoot you off, then, you are working under bad premisses.

I think it is you who labor under some misconception in regards to nature of citizenship.  It isn't suggestion to care about other citizens, nor it is some sort of moral obligation toward state or society. It's merely result of being born in country x.

If that is what you think. I think it is a bit more, in a world that mingles around in aircraft that transport people side to side. Some bad some good. Heh, just talking. I wonder why citizenship isn't taugh in school.

It isn't the place you are by birthright, it is a duty as a human being. From space you see no borders, except the seas ofc.

Citizenship is most definitely taught in American schools.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I may not be able to see borders from space but this does not mean that citizenship transforms from mere formality to duty.

I think you're both right, in your own ways. I owe no allegiance to America, except for the oath I swore of free will, rather than birthright citizenship. However, I do think I have an obligation to help those around me, and that is best obtained by using the perks of citizenship to vote, protest, and otherwise stand up for those not so fortunate as I am.

From a song, long ago:

Better the pride that resides
in a citizen of the world
than the pride that divides
when a colorful rag is unfurled.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

So much hyperfocus on single characteristics.

[Cavebear]

Citizenship is not the same as mere residency or geographical presence. However, it should be easily gained by intent to live in a place and be "of that country". It shouldn't be something denied to anyone who intends to live in a place and become a member of that society.

I hope this isn't some oblique intent to deny voting rights or general governmental support for new arrivals.

[julep]

Ideally: pay your taxes, vote, obey good laws and work to change the bad laws while accepting consequences of civil disobedience, contribute to your community somehow, be trustworthy.  

In practice, the minimums: pay your taxes, vote.

[Szuchow]

I may not be able to see borders from space but this does not mean that citizenship transforms from mere formality to duty.

I think you're both right, in your own ways. I owe no allegiance to America, except for the oath I swore of free will, rather than birthright citizenship. However, I do think I have an obligation to help those around me, and that is best obtained by using the perks of citizenship to vote, protest, and otherwise stand up for those not so fortunate as I am.

From a song, long ago:

Better the pride that resides
in a citizen of the world
than the pride that divides
when a colorful rag is unfurled.

I do think that people should help each other but I don't see citizenship being tied to it in any way.

[skyking]

Yes, I agree with that. It is part of being human, our humanity. Nothing about lines on a map.

[SYZ]

I have to disagree. Being a citizen also encompasses caring for other citizens. One can not live as a citizen when others via birthright shit and piss all over. A citizen should look at others and build a better world. If you look at citizenship as a place where your mother shoot you off, then, you are working under bad premises.

I think it is you who labor under some misconception in regards to nature of citizenship.  It isn't suggestion to care about other citizens, nor it is some sort of moral obligation toward state or society. It's merely result of being born in country x.

Not so. A child born overseas is registered as an Australian citizen by descent
if the biological parents are Australian citizens at the time of the child's birth.

If I'm working in Japan, and we have a baby there, that child doesn't magically
become a Japanese citizen LOL.