My World

My current room is the dorm on campus. This room holds the key to my definition of citizenship. After class I have a lot to think about. I return to my room and reflect. I think of the readings and the discussions from class. I research on my computer, using World Book or Google as aids. Sometimes I watch the History or Discovery Channel if the shows pertain to topics we’ve discussed in class. By this inward reflection and thinking process I have found that the citizen issue comes down to the individual. The individual must decide between family, community, government, responsibility, and freedom. It comes down to the individual to judge between two rights or two evils in the interest of the public good. Though a single person may not be able to do it all him or her self. In addition a citizen must think critically when it comes to the actions that may affect others. A private room is a great way to collect thoughts before trying to gather the support of those needed to help in action.
As you can see various incarnations of my room having given me the skills and time to reflect needed to take on the responsibility of a citizen without recklessness.

	The effects of My Room on my citizenship and views are two fold. The first is from bedrooms of the past. The second is my present room.
	For as long as I remember I shared a room for 18 years. First with my sister and then for two short periods with my best friend. Sharing a living space can seriously damage a relationship. You have to learn to communicate, compromise, work together, and share responsibility. When you live in a community or society you are not alone. You belong to a body of individuals. Everyone has their own wants and needs. In order to live together some of these things must be sacrificed or at least compromised. If you have concerns or questions you have to communicate. You have to know how to voice your issues without insulting or offending. Basically you must avoid the trap falls of anger in order to not end up like Dr Stockman from Henrick Ibsen’s Enemy of the People. Although he was on the side of right he only managed to anger his fellow citizens by insulting them: "It is a petty thing to catch me up on a word, Mr. Aslasken. When I mean is only that I got scent of the unbelievable pigishness our leading men had been responsible for down at the Baths. . . They stand in a free man's way whichever he turns, and what I should like best would be to see them exterminated like any other vermin. . " On a topic when tempers are already inflammed this kind of language only adds fuel to the fire rather than subtlycoerce your opponent to your way of thinking. Because of the many years I shared my room with my sister I have been in many arguments. I have definitely learned better ways to make clear my points and punch through arguments with out reverting to insults and curses. Working together and sharing responsibilities go hand in hand. Nobody truly enjoys responsibilities or working but when can get more people together you can accomplish chores and goals more efficiently. All those skills that I have acquired by sharing my room go to the heart of my idea of active citizenship. Those years taught me how to participate in civil discourse, the key interaction pertaining to citizenship.
	My current room is the dorm on campus. This room holds the key to my definition of citizenship. After class I have a lot to think about. I return to my room and reflect. I think of the readings and the discussions from class. I research on my computer, using World Book or Google as aids. Sometimes I watch the History or Discovery Channel if the shows pertain to topics we’ve discussed in class. By this inward reflection and thinking process I have found that the citizen issue comes down to the individual. The individual must decide between family, community, government, responsibility, and freedom. It comes down to the individual to judge between two rights or two evils in the interest of the public good. Though a single person may not be able to do it all him or her self. In addition a citizen must think critically when it comes to the actions that may affect others. A private room is a great way to collect thoughts before trying to gather the support of those needed to help in action. As you can see various incarnations of my room having given me the skills and time to reflect needed to take on the responsibility of a citizen without recklessness.