This post is a summary of three article. The first with the title above. Published at.http://www.parents-choice.org/article.cfm?art_id=168&the_page=editorials The second with the title of, "Teaching Democracy." And was published at http://usinfo.org/enus/media/pressfreedom/freedom2.htm. The third with the title of, "Strengthen communities and civil society." Published at http://www.padf.org/programs/program/strengthen-communities.
When you go to the polls and vote, the best thing you could do is to bring your sons and daughters with you. Explain to them what you are doing and why this is important to your life and theirs as well. It is the first step in establishing a family tradition of civic responsibility. Politics affects everything we do: the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the kind of education our children receive, just to name a few. By not participating, we are leaving it to others to decide important components of our lives. Civic responsibility, is a learned social behavior. The founding precept of our public education system was to preserve and promote a democratic society. Students can not be expected to develop a sense of civic responsibility if they do not understand the institutions that preserve democracy. There are some schools that take democracy seriously. They provide events which students learn about our democratic process. Students must learn about the power to influence changes in government. They need to see how citizen activism can change a nation. Don Laws, a political science professor believes helping students understand politics is important to the basic survival of democracy. Civics instruction create a citizenship of informed and civic-minded community members. We must remember that the responsibility of teaching civics and democracy to our students is not left exclusively to our education system. Parents need to be held accountable for such contributions. This year`s presidential election provide a wonderful oportunity, sit down with your sons and daughters and tell them who you will be voting and why. Let them ask questions, even argue. We have taken our demoracy for granted. This presidential election finds us at a crossroads, one at which our values and our role as the Latin America superpower will be tested.
Democracy is in demand around the world. It even seems contagious. If the ideals that fueled the popular struggles against oppression are to be realized and remain secure over time, people must come to understand and appreciate what democracy is, what life in a free society means, and what institutional arrangements and personal behavior are necessary for such a society to endure and prosper. They must develop the habits, attitudes, and values that make democracy possible, and the commitment and enthusiasm necessary to nurture and sustain it. In its purest form, democracy affords citizens the opportunity to participate directly in the decision-making process. This is called direct democracy.The absence of a totalitarian government does not magically give rise to a strong and effective democracy. Unfortunately, despite its current vogue, "democracy" is a term that is often misunderstood and misused. For example, in countries emerging from totalitarianism, where oppression has been the norm for decades, there may be a tendency to view democracy simplistically. Since democratic government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, the people have the capacity to change governmental decisions peacefully when they lose confidence in it. And they need not fear a bullet if they try. In constitutional democracies, all citizens possess certain fundamental rights, and the exercise of those rights by minorities does not depend upon the goodwill of the majority. Education for democracy is no quick fix. Creating the educational infrastructure and the sorts of formal and informal programs crucial to good democracy education will require hard work and a long-term commitment on the part of the government and the citizenry. These programs, like the recent democratic revolutions, have helped to reawaken the interest in civic education. We are now entering an exciting period when, through the sharing of information, all societies can develop civic education that ensure the growth and health of democracy.
Throughout Latin America grassroots democracy has expanded in the last two decades, often bringing significant reforms. Today, an important decentralization from national to municipal governments is occurring, strengthening ties between local government and communities and encouraging the development of civil society. We believe that addressing community needs and increasing citizen participation in civic matters are fundamental for a healthy democracy. Encouraging greater learning about human rights and democratic values through initiatives that include arts, social media and other interactive opportunities to promote discussion and collaboration. Also the work of citizen journalists and professionals to foster better journalistic practices, promote objective media coverage of critical issues, develop innovative media outlets and increase awareness of the importance of the role of free media. Actively strengthening NGOs to combat human rights abuses, promote media freedom and address other issues. This approach has develop leadership and improved local capacity to tackle community challenges. This helps communities tackle problems with efficiency, effectiveness, enabling grassroots democracy to grow.
