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"Respect for the Rule of the Majority"
(See also Patriotism)
(See Democracy Lesson)
Games and Activities
Debate: Divide into two teams. The state of Georgia (use your state) has just broken off from the rest of the United States because of disagreements over taxation. Team one has been elected to lead this new nation. Your first responsibility is to evaluate the current laws and decide what to keep and what to change. You have five minutes to decide whether or not to make laws harsher for drunk driving and whether to put further restrictions on the possession of firearms. While they are deciding on this, team two brainstorms the pros and cons of each issue, preparing to argue against whatever team one says.
Then, team one presents its case to the public (team two) whose responsibility it is to argue against whatever position the rulers (team one) takes.
Debriefing: How is what you just experienced a small taste of what it's like to be a Mayor, or governor or another elected official? (They have many people opposing them, whatever position they take.) What are some of the pressures and headaches that elected officials face? (Big companies that gave millions to their campaign want to influence policy once they're elected. Those opposed to any of your decisions are the most passionate and vocal. You have to make hard decisions that help some people and hurt others. Those who want to run against you in the next election are constantly trying to make you look bad.) If we believed the stereotypes of politicians and authorities as presented in the media, what would we see them as? (Two-faced hypocrites, doing anything to get elected, unethical, uncaring, power hungry. You may wish to find a clip showing this.) How can we be more supportive of our elected officials who we feel are really trying to do a good job? (We shouldn't be so harsh and cutting. Word a letter to your mayor or some other official, thanking them for all they do.)
Game: Who Can Become a Citizen?
Divide the class into four teams by numbering 1, 2, 3, 4. If any of you know the answer, tell your team leader to ring their bell, drop a book on a desk or will raise a hand to indicate that their team wants to guess. Say, "These are actual questions asked of eligible immigrants to make sure they know enough to become U.S. citizens."
Put each team's score on the blackboard. A team scores one point for each correct answer. If a team answers incorrectly, any other team can answer. Winning team gets some candy. Here are some of the questions (found at the U.S. Government site):
Citizenship Game Question and Answer Sheet:
Instructor/Scorekeeper ONLY
(To find 100 typical questions, go to the
government site for this pdf at http://www.governmentguide.com/benefits_and_assistance/govsite.adp?bread=*Main*benefits_
and_assistance.adp?id=16101076*Benefits%20and%20Assistance*citizen.adp*
Citizenship&url=http%3A//www.governmentguide.com/ams/clickThruRedirect.adp
%3F55266531%2C34763911%2Chttp%3A//www.immigration.gov/graphics/services/natz/100q.pdf
)
Quotes and Illustrations
The Proper Function of Government
The proper function of a government is to make it easy for the people to do good and difficult for them to do evil. (Paraphrase of Gladstone)
Benjamin Franklin's Life and Personal Character Development
The son of a Boston candle maker, Franklin had scarcely two years of formal schooling. But eventually he would be received by five kings, awarded honorary degrees by six universities, and be hailed as the ''greatest philosopher of the century'' by an Italian academy. His success as a printer and tradesman allowed him to retire at age 42 and pursue his other interests.
He enriched society by serving as alderman, councilman, burgess, justice of the peace, and postmaster general. He helped to found Philadelphia's watch, fire company, militia, college and hospital.
Scientifically, he enlightened the world as to the nature of electricity and was the first to use the terms ''plus'', ''minus'', ''negative'', ''positive'' and ''battery'' in reference to electricity. He wrote or speculated on yellow fever, cancer, the origin of springs, astronomy, the formation of raindrops, hot-air balloons, the Gulf Stream, magnetism, sleep, surface tension, demography, and heat absorption. He invented the lightning rod, a simplified clock, a machine for duplicating handwritten documents, a tool for retrieving books from high shelves, the Franklin stove, and an instrument called the Armonica, which Mozart composed music for.
He wrote on such diverse subjects as ''agriculture, chess, military strategy, literary style, silkworms, pickled sturgeon, ice boats, mastodon teeth, garters, and the balance of trade.'' He drew an influential political cartoon, helped write the Declaration of Independence, attended the convention that devised the Constitution of the United States, and served as the American minister to France. He was known for his foresight, decision making, shrewdness and tact. [Source: Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography and Other Writings, ed. by Kenneth Silverman, Penguin Books, p. 212, vii, viii)
While today's ambitious people concentrate solely on developing their marketable skills, Benjamin Franklin took his character development seriously. While young, he wrote a list of virtues, and a strategy for obtaining them. (When using this as an illustration, you may wish to mention a couple from his list as examples. I'll give you the entire list. I preserved the capitalizations as he wrote them.) ''
1) Temperance. Eat not to Dullness; Drink not to Elevation.
2) Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling Conversation.
3) Order. Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time.
4) Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5) Frugality. Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself: I.e. Waste nothing.
6) Industry. Lose no Time. Be always employ'd in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary Actions.
7) Sincerity. Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8) Justice. Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.
9) Moderation. Avoid Extremes. Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10) Cleanliness. Tolerate no Uncleanness in Body, Clothes, or habitation.
11) Tranquility. Be not disturbed at Tribles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable.
12) Chastity. Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dullness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another Peace or Reputation.
13) Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.''
In order to progress in these virtues, he made a book, allotting a page for each virtue. He worked on a virtue each week, keeping score of the failures in that area. Franklin lived out many of these virtues, especially early in his life, when his frugal, industrious life allowed him to retire early and devote himself to inventions and public works. (From Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, pp. 91,92)
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resources on "Democracy"?
See also our related trait: Patriotism.