Teaching Good Citizenship

by Alan Ross

Runners will tell you that long distance workouts are a great time to problem-solve. The mind seems especially open then and supplies a constant feed of thoughts and ideas. In the mid-1980s, while training for a grueling Ironman triathlon, a recurring theme kept interrupting the focus of Nick Homer’s run: Who will love and take care of this country after we’re gone?

The matter of responsible citizenship, of passing down the importance of what it has taken to become free in America along with the concept of civic duty, Homer feels, rests squarely upon his shoulders and the rest of his generation. His thoughts that day ultimately spawned a web-book, a nonprofit organization (Good Citizen), as well as a website—www.goodcitizen.org—all dedicated to achieving his goal.

“Each of us, as citizens, could do more for the greater good of all,” asserts Homer, 58, a technology and management consultant from Irvine , California . “We are not doing the small things that, when done on a day-to-day basis as opportunities arise, ensure that the country will continue to be strong, and thus, free.”

Small deeds make big differences, as Homer sees it, since most of us will never become elected officials. The first challenge, he feels, is to be aware of our heritage as a country.

“Most citizens, and in particular our children, don't appreciate why and how we became a nation,” says Homer. “We haven't taught our children about the basic principles and documents upon which the country was founded or of the individuals and events that played major roles in shaping the USA .”

Arming a youngster with this knowledge, Homer believes, increases awareness and appreciation of the “enormous courage, loss of life, pain, mistakes, hard work, and risk that were required to form this country.”

In his free-to-all web-book, Who Will Love America ?, Homer advocates 100 “citizen sacrifices” that will involve young Americans in the democratic process.

“Attend the naturalization ceremony of a new citizen,” he suggests. “Hang the American flag and explain its significance to children. Read a book or rent a movie that shows the sacrifices of war and what people have done to escape oppression.”

Other acts of good citizenship call for supporting people entrusted with the responsibility of keeping our homeland free—elected officials, firemen, law enforcement and military personnel, judicial officials, and teachers—and expressing our opinion to those officials or to a broadcast station, publication, or company.

“There is no one right way to be a good citizen, no approved list of actions,” adds Homer, who has made more than 30 appearances at schools and civic-service organizations on behalf of the project. “But once most of us have imbedded citizen sacrifices into our daily-weekly routine, the impact will create a beanstalk bigger than Jack’s. And keep the country free.”

Alan Ross is a freelance writer from Monteagle, Tenn.