We cannot adequately discuss citizens without analyzing citizenship since it the root word. Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national or human resource community. Citizenship was equated by Virginia Leary (1999) as connoting “a bundle of rights- primarily, political participation in the life of the community, the right to vote, and the right to receive certain protection from the community as well as obligation.[i]
Citizenship can be traced to polis (city state); it was based on the way people lived in the ancient Greek times. Back then citizenship “was not seen as a public matter separated from the private life of the individual person.” In fact, it can be said that it a major reason life was worth living, quotes from famous philosophers and rulers points to this. To be truly human, you had to be an active citizen to the community. Aristotle’s famous quote expressed this when he said “to take no part in the running of the community affairs is to be either a beast or a god!”
Citizenship in the polis was something more of an obligation rather than rights, they saw this obligation an opportunity to be virtuous, and it was a source of dignity and honour. In Athens, citizens were both ruler and ruled, important political and judicial officers were voted and all citizens had the right to speak and vote in the political assembly.
As opposed to citizens are idiots. In Athenian democracy they are considered as selfish humans, they act in self-defeating and significantly counter-productive way. They are said to suffer from idiocy. We have to understand that am not being abusive here; it is the recent connotation of the word that has made it abusive. In fact, an idiot differs from a fool (who is unwise) and an ignoramus (who is uneducated). The word idiot is derived from the Greek ἰδιώτης, idiōtēs, “a private individual” from ἴδιος, idios (“private”, “one’s own”).[ii] In the Athenian democracy, these set of people where characterized by self-centeredness and concern almost exclusively with private as opposed to public affairs.[iii]
Idiocy was the natural state of ignorance in which all persons were born and its opposite citizenship was effected through formalized education. In Athenian democracy, idiots were born and citizens were made. Idiots were seen as having bad judgement in public and political matters.
I hope that this article will drive change and bring awareness to every idiot, making them citizens and making citizens a better one. Look around today; idiots abound in great numbers outweighing citizens in the ratio of 7:3. Idiots would rather keep mute rather than voice out their concerns. They don’t vote, rather do they stand to be voted for, they don’t care about who governs them, or the policies that exist in governance. Their belly is all that drives them. They want to make a living, live good life, drive the best automobile, live in a good house but ignorantly ignore the fact that what they desire is hardly possible save the right government and policies are in place.
Idiots consistently act in counterproductive ways thinking they are being productive. Citizens are registered members of political parties or rather independent holding their own political belief as opposed to idiots who don’t belief in any political ideology.
Often, idiots argue they don’t want to be part of politics thinking it an option. They fail to realize that man is a political animal, though they fail to be part of political politics, they more often than not are involved in other forms of politics like religious politics, office politics, family politics and the rest. For any man to deny political politics is to deny that man breath in carbon dioxide and not oxygen.
Citizens contribute their quota to the development of their society believing that their destiny and the destiny of their society are linked together. Idiots believe that their success is not tied to the society they live in. hmm; can plants grow without the soil? Just thinking!
I hope we do a self evaluation today; idiots would have to think deep and make a conscious effort to grow from an idiot to a citizen. Citizens desire change for the better whilst idiots are satisfied with the status quo so as not to affect their comfort zone, don’t forget self-centeredness is their watch-word. I do sincerely hope that this analysis would bring about the desired change in our society where everyone seems lukewarm about happenings here in Nigeria. Things cannot get better if we all sit and hope, things only get better when we stand –up together, arms locked in each other and peacefully demand what rightly belongs to us. Peacefully demand to be treated right; peacefully demand to make the ruling class realize Nigeria belongs to all and not a few people.
During the Arab spring uprising and the subsequent occupy movement, what was noticeable save for some exception, is the peaceful manner in which the protest started। Ultimately, the government listened and it was a shame on those who hung to the rope of fear and selfishness. Nigerians, this is the time to wear your garment of boldness and citizenship, its duty to your father land, be virtuous, be proud, it’s an honourable thing to stand and fight for what is right and generations to come would be glad you did. Below is a tabular difference between citizens and idiots, enjoy!
These are the major difference between citizens and idiots.
a. They vote and stand to be voted for.
b. Societal advantage drives them.
c. They have political view.
d. They hold office holders accountable.
e. They join in protest/responds to protesters.
f. They carry out duties such as conscription (or volunteer in fighting in the armed forces, in countries without conscription).
g. They pay taxes.
h. They obey criminal laws.
i. They stand for societal security.
j. Interested in citizenry.
k. Sees civil responsibility as a privilege.
l. Detest injustice and fight for their rights.
a. They don’t participate in any electoral process.
b. Selfish advantage/interest drives them.
c. They hold no political view at all and tend towards indifferent.
d. They just don’t care.
e. They are onlookers preferring they migrate.
f. They give excuses to avoid military responsibilities.
g. How they wish it could be a tax-free society.
h. They break criminal law when there are no prying eyes.
i. They stand for individual security.
j. Disdain and ignores topics on citizenship.
k. Sees civil responsibility as a burden that should be avoided.
l. They desire rights but won’t fight or work for it.
The list goes on and on. We must all stand up to our right and responsibilities and if you are still a person not actively interested in political politics, now is the time to take up interest.
In conclusion, let me leave you with a quote from Pericles (5th century Athenian democrat) that he was alleged to have said during a funeral oration:
“We do not say that a man who takes no interest in politics is a man who minds his own business; we say that he has no business here at all.”
[i] Virginia Leary (2000). “Citizenship. Human rights, and Diversity”. In Alan C. Cairns, John C. Courtney, Peter MacKinnon, Hans J. Michelmann, David E. Smith. Citizenship, Diversity, and Pluralism: Canadian and Comparative Perspectives. McGill-Queen’s Press – MQUP. pp. 247–264. ISBN 9780773518933. http://books.google.com/books?id=HIKz0oJxGSgC&pg=PA247. “Since the time of the Greek and Roman civilizations, the concept of ‘citizenship’ has defined rights and obligations in the Western world … The concept of ‘citizenship’ has long acquired the connotation of a bundle of rights — primarily, political participation in the life of the community, the right to vote, and the right to receive certain protection from the community – as well as obligations.”
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