The definitions of a good and a bad citizen tend to change from one society to the next. Depending on the prevailing situation and context of events, a person, or society, could be viewed as either good or bad regarding their citizenry. In this regard, various scholars and opinion leaders have been trying to lay a basis for defining the differences between a good citizen and a bad one in that context. Apparently, such a definition has been based on the perceived responsibilities of a citizen in a democratic society. The current paper will compare two characters from the movie ’12 Angry Men’ in the context of identifying the roles and attributes of a good citizen. Additionally, this paper will incorporate Martin Luther King’s opinion on citizenry as well as Charles Bens’ article titled ‘What Does it Mean to be a Good Citizen?’
In ’12 Angry Men’, a jury of 12 men is given the responsibility of hearing and analyzing evidence before the conviction of an accused person in a murder case. The accused person is described to have stabbed his father to death, but he has evidence to indicate that he was guilty of the offense he is being accused of, as described in the movie. As per the instructions of the current question, I will compare the motivations of the third and eighth jurors based on the stands that they take in the case.
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The third juror is the last to vote not guilty despite the indisputable evidence that the defendant provides in the case. Clearly, the third juror fails to uphold the facts of the case considering the emotions that are clear in his arguments and his reluctance to give a not guilty vote. Later, it emerges that the third juror himself has a son whom they have serious disagreements with, and recently, they do stop communicating. Apparently, the third juror carries his emotions to the courtroom, which clearly indicates the weaknesses that exist in the American justice system. On the other hand, the eighth juror is a disciplined architect who is the first to give a not guilty vote in the case. He is clearly not satisfied with the way the case was being handled and dissents most of the claims that other jurors give. Although his position is met with vicious opposition, later it emerges that he indeed looked at the merits of the case and avoided the emotional influence that could have led to a wrongful conviction of the boy who is on trial.
Charles Bens gives an advisory opinion in his title regarding the responsibilities of a good citizen. He states that people get the leaders they deserve, pointing out that people often make mistakes when picking leaders hence the issues of bad governance that often arise. In a common setting, people have the mandate, as citizens, to pick their leaders. However, instead of considering the policies and ideas of governance that such leaders propose, people often are blinded by the emotional appeal and rhetoric that leaders present in their campaigns. Effectively, bad governance is because of citizens who fail to undertake their responsibilities as required by law.
In Martin Luther King's ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail,' he is responding to some of his critics concerning on some of his campaigns. King can defend his direct action strategy in which he calls for non-violent protests with the aim of urging American authorities to uphold justice among all the societies and people living in the United States. King is against the idea of describing some American citizens as outsiders and urges his critics to uphold the idea of injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. In conclusion, King is urging his critics and the wider American society to uphold true patriotism and the values of good citizenship.
