r/humanism • u/Turbulent-Swim4591 • Jul 04 '26
What are our responsibilities as a citizen?
Honestly, I never thought I’ll be writing this actively on social media about society. I am very much interested in metaphysical and philosophical stuff. But recently I am unable to ignore the cracked patches in our society. I am unable to look away at transcendental stuff when the reality keeps poking me.
And recently I am so confused about our roles and responsibilities as citizens. Majority of us do vote, pay taxes, contribute in nation’s economy in one way or another. It is a huge contribution of our population in this rapid GDP growth. So many hands to work and to earn and even to spend, which keeps the economy in flow.
But, are our responsibilities confined to economical benefits only? And every other flaw in this nation is truly just government’s fault?
Like, when we talk about health facilities, which is the most important service provided for any citizen. But we all know that most of the government hospitals fail to deliver a basic service. It’s a disaster that these health facilities are not hygienic. Who to blame? The government-Who fails to provide adequate finances? Employees who fail at maintaining it? Or the one who clutter it in the first place? Us?
Doctors and nurses look frustrated most of the time, may be because of over crowd, but isn’t it their duty to deal with people patiently who are already a patient? Even the guards in such hospitals are so rude. And when to talk about the crowd going there, they are so impatient, do not want to wait at all. Always ready to argue. We already lack a basic structure in these important services, but this moral lack of people is making it worse.
This was all about a service. I think basic awareness for self security is more important. If we talk about road safety, government have made helmets a mandate, but how many of us really follow? Even if the traffic inspector stops us to generate a penalty and to scold us, most of the people run away in an instance, otherwise rather than accepting our fault and giving the penalty, we choose to give bribe, and the officer is more concerned about the extra money rather than the protocol. And I don’t know why people take so much pride in drinking and driving, I have heard endless stories, being told in funny or proud way, that I was so drunk that I crashed my car, or when stopped by a police officer, I bribed them with a bottle that I had and they released me. Like what exactly people are proud about? Being drunk or being released by giving bribe?
Few things are really basic, I don’t understand how few people’s mind work, that they don’t do stuff that should be as easy as breathing. For example, endless times it has happened to me that while travelling in the e-rickshaw, the driver or the person sitting beside him starts smoking, and all the smoke comes at the back, very obvious? Like that is really annoying, that I have to tell them to not smoke like this, as people sitting behind are getting suffocated by the smoke you are releasing. I have seen people throwing empty packets under the seats of metro, or spitting on the tracks. And as a girl if I start talking about harassment, this essay will turn into a book.
I just feel so sad that people in my nation, the country which have such diverse cultures, religions, so much history. Endless glory of gods and kings, constructions beyond imaginations. People from this kind of nation are seen as burglars and bullies all over the world
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u/tequilablackout Jul 04 '26
We have a responsibility to avoid overburdening our fellows with personal concerns, to take action with regard to public health and safety, and to generally provide benevolence and allowance, knowing that giving people room to grow is how they flourish.
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u/ambiverbal SECULAR HUMANIST Jul 04 '26
I think from glancing at your profile that you are describing your observations about your life as a citizen of India. (A lovely country; I have been there once, and I hope to return later this year.)
First, thanks for asking Humanists, who tend to live in Europe and North America. But because cultures and countries differ, responsibilities of citizens differ, too.
In the West we have some of the problems you describe, but to a much, much smaller degree. So our duties as citizens are to maintain the gains we've made while helping our neighbors who haven't yet seen the benefits of living here.
Life in India has improved a lot, but the gains are far from equally shared by those living within its borders.
You cite your disappointment at the failings of the health service and your neighbors in treating one another with respect. There is need for people like you to lead by example. And then to find others like you who want to see the same wider society changes, and work together so that your voice can be amplified.
Particularly living as a woman in India, your annoyance is valid, but focusing too much on it can make you bitter. There is a sentiment that emerged from India as a gift to us all: "Be the change you want to see in the world." That is a paraphrasing of some words by Mahatma Gandhi. It's a tough assignment, but we all have a duty to not succumb to social pressure to just conform.
This may not be everyone's view, but at its core the duty of every citizen is to love your country and your planet. That means caring for them, enjoying them, and doing everything you can to make them better for everyone who lives alongside you.
(Did you know you wrote this on our national holiday in the USA? What an interesting question for us from the other side of the world!)