Photo by THIS IS ZUN

In The Soul of Adolescence Aligns with the Heart of Democracy, Alfred H. Kurland outlines the importance of being a good citizen of society, especially for the young.

Alfred H. Kurland accurately pinpoints that for society to function as it is, future generations should be allowed access—even if only in a limited capacity—to the levers of governance and administration. This is important to develop earlier a new flock of competent lawmakers and public officials. 

For isn’t it the obligation of the good citizen to become aware of the systems that make up their society?

For that matter, how does one begin to define society? And how does one become a good citizen?

These are all important questions that this article seeks to answer.

Playing Nice and Getting Along

Society can be broadly defined as comprising individuals and groups that have agreed with one another to cooperate for the benefit of the whole community. This neatly encompasses concepts and entities that people can comfortably regard as societies while including ones that may or may not stretch the dictionary definition. 

If you are to go with this meaning, societies can be small groups that comprise only a handful of individuals, and they can be an interconnected network of groups spanning countries and continents. Regardless of how many people are involved, societies often are based on mutual links like family, religion, and geography. Sometimes societies are established because of interests, professional, economic, or cultural. 

This also means that, in essence, for a society to be established, all the individuals and groups involved should be playing nice and getting along, or, at the least, learn to push aside minor differences and place the interests of the broader body before their own. 

How to Be a Good Citizen

The Soul of Adolescence Aligns with the Heart of Democracy outlines the importance of being a good citizen of society, especially for young people. In modern society, democracy is the primary venue by which politics and governance are justified. This means that as members of a democratic society, being a good citizen means being responsible for upholding the specific values and principles that are written into the fabric of the society. 

A very critical aspect of being a good citizen is engaging with the democratic process. Casting your vote in elections—whether local or national—and staying informed about relevant issues that affect your community is vital. In a democratic society, it is the obligation of every citizen to exercise their right to suffrage and participate in the democratic process. Taking an active role in politics is foundational to becoming a good citizen because this means that you are cognizant of the needs of your community and your role within it.

Another critical aspect of being a good citizen in a democratic society is learning to accept that some people will have opinions that differ greatly from yours. As long as opinions do not interfere with the rights of others and the democratic process, everyone is free to have contradictory and, often, conflicting ideas about how the world works and operates. This openness and diversity is what makes democracies strong. Everyone should be free to believe whatever and follow whomever without fear of persecution or discrimination—with the caveat, of course, that, again, they do not impose on anyone else’s rights.

Because you are part of a society and a broader community, being a good citizen also means contributing to the well-being of the whole. This means working with entities or fellow citizens toward shared goals that benefit everyone, the majority or specific groups, volunteering at local communal events, and participating, if able, in community service projects. Simply being a good neighbor is also an important thing to consider because it is kindness and generosity that help a community persist and evolve into something better.