In addition to taking Foundations of Civic Engagement, I am also taking American Revolution and the Founding of the United States. Both these classes focus on society and how they've changed as a result of civic engagement; coincidentally they both have got me thinking about why people get involved in civic engagement to begin with.
Prior to the 1760s the American Colonies were pretty much left alone from the British Empire, they were part of it, but they mostly governed themselves. Following the end of the Seven Years War and the ceasing of internal turmoil in the English government, the Empire decided to focus a bit more on the American Colonies. Imposing taxation laws and threatening to take away property and privileges they had known for so long, the American colonists believed Parliament to be corrupted. And, going off 18th century political thought, they believed their nation could only survive if the government remained virtuous. Building on that, they believed that they were being more British than Parliament standing up for their liberty and did not even want to break away from the Empire until 1776!
A couple weeks ago when we skyped with Professor Campbell's students from Turkey we got a whole new perspective on civic engagement. They were pushing for a more democratic Turkey because that is where they lived and they felt the everyday effects of a less than democratic nation that they lived in. They, similar to the American colonists, thought it to be their duty and responsibility to stand up and defend their liberty for democracy.
I think both of these examples show the reason why participation in civic engagement might be less in America now than it was 238 years ago. It also might explain why people in Turkey or nations with less than democratic principles often have people fighting for their liberties. These people feel the everyday force of a non democratic government and rather than taking on civic engagement as an afterthought, it is a necessity.
After all, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington never wanted their position, but instead they believed it was their responsibility to uphold them. Do you think we should hold these thoughts on our responsibilities?
Stephen- I like how you applied this class to another one which you are taking. As a PPL major I have taken a number of history classes and I liked how you connected your studies in Foundations of Civic Engagement to other things going on in your life. Your connection between history and civic engagement sparked me to ask similar questions from my experience with history classes. We study history as a way to look at the past, but also to guide our futures. By analyzing the colonists use of civic engagement it can show trends of times throughout history when civic engagement was at it's highest and when people needed a push to get involved. Like Jefferson and Washington I think that civic engagement is an important responsibility that we all hold, however people shouldn't be involved because they are told to do so, but because they know know it is their responsibility to give back and make a change
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