I’m an Action Figure!
A Better Citizen
“When asked where he was from, he said 'I am a world-citizen.'” (ἐρωτηθεὶς πόθεν εἴη, “κοσμοπολίτης,” ἔφη. Diogenes Laertius, 6.63, on Diogenes the Cynic, 4th Century BCE)
“Have I done something for the common good? Then I share in the benefits.” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 11.4)
“Have I done something for the common good? Then I share in the benefits.” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 11.4)
I've been all "eyes and ears" the last few hours as I delve into a new life experience that could easily carry on through the entire week. And I am ready to learn.
At first all I could hear from others were groans and complaints from others who have done this already, but I've also gathered plenty of good advice so I've been prepared. Truthfully, there is a side of this experience that no person should ever have to endure--it's hard, to be sure; however, due to the consequences of human nature run amok and the function of law, the task is necessary.
Jury Duty seems like a heavy burden and an inconvenience and an imposition to the citizenship of others. But it's not. We have the opportunity to contribute as a citizen by performing our service, by doing our duty. On one hand, the benefits we receive are not monetary nor do they contribute any status. On the other hand, the benefits are seen in our contribution to common good by spending a few mere hours every so many years (if ever again) to stop, step out of our routine and think about hard stuff with other folks.
Watching and listening, I've surmised that many fellow citizens are disturbed by the process simply because (among other reasons) they don't want to be responsible, feel responsible. Everyone has plans and the process has interrupted. But think of this: if a crime has been committed, what about the victims? Whose inconvenience is greater? Yours or theirs? What of the responsibilities that follow a possible crime committed? We communicate by our participation that we are concerned citizens.
I'm going into this as a learning experience. I want to be a better citizen.
This is the part of self-cultivation that is not self-centered. We don't withdraw to learn more about ourselves but dive in with others, over our head into tough issues. There we discover more about ourselves, what kind of person we really are. And what we (individually) may need to fix to be a better citizen.
A better person.
After all, folks have to live with you (and me) as much as you (and I) live with them.
Popular posts from this blog
I’ll Be Gnome For Christmas
The Island-Fish
“O ye passengers, whom may God preserve! come up quickly in to the ship, hasten to embark, and leave your merchandise, and flee with your lives, and save yourselves from destruction; for this apparent island, upon which ye are, is not really an island, but it is a great fish that hath become stationary in the midst of the sea, and the sand hath accumulated upon it, so that it hath become like an island, and trees have grown upon it since times of old; and when ye lighted the fire upon it, the fish felt the heat, and put itself in motion, and now it will descend with you into the sea, and ye will all be drowned: then seek for yourselves escape before destruction, and leave the merchandise.—The passengers, therefore, hearing the words of the master of the ship, hastened to go up into the vessel, leaving the merchandise, and their other goods, and their copper cooking-pots, and their fire-pots; and some reached the ship, and others reached it not. The island had moved, and descended...
“And so, about this tomb of mine . . . “
“VANITY, saith the preacher, vanity! Draw round my bed: is Anselm keeping back? Nephews—sons mine … ah God, I know not! Well— She, men would have to be your mother once, Old Gandolf envied me, so fair she was! What’s done is done, and she is dead beside, Dead long ago, and I am Bishop since, And as she died so must we die ourselves, And thence ye may perceive the world’s a dream. Life, how and what is it? As here I lie In this state-chamber, dying by degrees, Hours and long hours in the dead night, I ask “Do I live, am I dead?” Peace, peace seems all. Saint Praxed’s ever was the church for peace; And so, about this tomb of mine. I fought With tooth and nail to save my niche, ye know: —Old Gandolf cozened me, despite my care; Shrewd was that snatch from out the corner South He graced his carrion with, God curse the same! Yet still my niche is not so cramped...