Bestselling author and diplomat Richard Haass says there are 10 essential obligations of citizens that can help to heal a divided country and preserve American democracy. These habits are not just about voting.
Haass gives his 10 quick “Haass Takes” here, based on responsibilities outlined in his book, "The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens,” which serves as a guide for all American citizens who want to be more deeply engaged in creating a healthy and thriving democracy. As he argues in his book, “We get the government and the country we deserve. Getting the one we need, however, is up to us.”
Do you have what it takes to be a good citizen? The ten obligations are:
- Be Informed
- Get Involved
- Stay Open to Compromise
- Remain Civil
- Reject Violence
- Value Norms
- Promote the Common Good
- Respect Government Service
- Teach Civics
- Put Country First
Haass calls on Americans to reimagine citizenship by taking action and participating in democracy. In his final “Haass Take” about putting country first, he lifts up the words that President John F. Kennedy shared in his inaugural address in 1961: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”
Haass knows a thing or two about citizenship and democracy - he served under four U.S. presidents, both Democrats and Republicans; he served as president of the Council on Foreign Relations from July 2003 to June 2023; and prior to that, he was the director of policy planning for the US Department of State as well as an advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell in the George W. Bush administration.
A Citizens Guide to Preserving Democracy series description:
American democracy is under threat. Do you have what it takes to be a good citizen? Join Preserving Democracy as we dig into the ten habits of good citizens in a new digital series, “A Citizen’s Guide to Preserving Democracy.” Explore real-life examples of Americans who are striving to build a healthier democracy and who embody the spirit of a more informed and engaged citizenry… one person at a time.
Based on “The Bill of Obligations: Ten Habits of Good Citizens,” by author and diplomat Richard Haass and the feature-length PBS documentary, A Citizen's Guide to Preserving Democracy from The WNET Group’s Preserving Democracy initiative.
Now streaming at pbs.org/preservingdemocracy
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