Seth

Politics and Civics 12B

May 3, 2011

An individual may not know it but they have a lot of weight and power that can be used to contribute to society. An important part to emphasize and view is the initiate individuals may have to get involved in society, which is determined by whether or not given the chance to do so. If given this chance it is recommended that smaller communities speak up about their local problems so that the concerns may be brought to a national level.  Pluralism adds appreciated diversity to a society that allows a variety of opinions to appear on controversial topics such as politics and morals. In this society of pluralism it is important for an individual to accept and consider the other morals and values that are present. An individual’s responsibility is to consider other perspectives of morals, values, and religion and then take action if given the chance to by promoting topics of discussion even if on a small community scale.

An important part of society is self governance and the individual power. Self governance is accomplished by democracy in society. Democracy lets an individual demonstrate their views on controversial issues. “What’s the meaning of democracy?…Or is democracy a more demanding thing, something that makes a claim on the moral character citizens and demands them an exercise of self-government that is more than just pursuing their preferences in the public realm as well as in the market” (Sandel 14). Although this is what democracy is it isn’t always viewed as such by the democracy governed society. “There’s a widespread sense that power is located in distant places and individually and collectively, we’re less in control of the forces that govern our lives” (Sandel 14). This means that if people see their society as having a lack of individual power and contribution they just need a chance to get more involved and then maybe their perspective of their society will change. A substantial component to promoting topics of discussion is involvement from an individual’s power and the maintenance of self government.

If given the chance to demonstrate self governance it should be used heavily even on smaller scales. This can be accomplished by smaller communities advancing their issues and values to a higher or national level. Communities have a number of ways to advance their values and controversial topics like through social and protest movements.  “One of the shining examples of political communities that actually did provide an exercise in civic education is the civil rights movement” (Sandel 21).  Instead of resting everything on a national commonality Sandel encourages we look at America as a community. “We should  also appreciate and cultivate and foster, in our political life, the particular forms of life in communities and convictions and moral and religious traditions that make for the plurality, and to enable our politics  to draw strength from those particular forms of identity, as well as from the community  we share as Americans” (Sandel 22). All communities’ have sometimes unheard perspectives on morals, values, and religion.