However,
in order to understand just how important involvement on behalf of
the citizens really is to the success the US's once proud democracy,
we must first define what it means to be a truly active and empowered
participant in society. Thomas Ehrlich in Civic Responsibility and
Higher Education has this to say
about it:
A morally and civically responsible individual recognizes himself or
herself as a member of a larger social fabric and therefore
considers social problems to be at least partly his or her own; such
an individual is willing to see the moral and civic dimensions of
issues, to make and justify informed moral and civic judgments, and
to take action when appropriate. (“The Definition of Civic
Engagement”)
By this definition, social civic involvement incorporates elements of
selflessness in the pursuit of progress, be it in the form of
acquired justice or radical, widespread social change. This means
that in order to avoid social stagnation and promote forward
progress, Americans must act outside of their own self interests to
promote good will for all, not simply improvement in their immediate,
direct sphere of influence” (“The Definition...”).
