Rights have become an essential part of American life because they exhibit our freedom as citizens. It was the Bill of Rights that helped ease the colonists minds about the questionable ratification of the Constitution. Some rights do not stand-alone however. Suffrage has been a privileged that many women and minorities struggled to obtain. While it is a powerful right to possess, many Americans do not take advantage of this duty and neglect to vote each November.
Responsibility plays an intricate role in the modern definition of citizenship.
People must not only pledge loyalty to a country in order to be a good citizen, but they must take a proactive role in their involvement, socially and civically. In his recent inaugural speech, President George W. Bush pleaded, I ask you to serve your nation, beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens. Citizens, not spectators . This means that we must not only obey the laws of the country, but we must assert ourselves to improve the quality of life for those around us.