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Official Writing Sample
- 1. Since the 18th century, the United States of America has presented itself as a safe haven from injustice, tyranny, and discrimination. The freedom to believe and subscribe to any political institution is one of the strongest tenants of American life. Unlike most nations in the world, we, as Americans, have the right to discuss, question, investigate, and enhance our political knowledge. That lifelong process of seeking the truth, and understanding what policies and laws by which we subscribe is referred to as political socialization. Generally, the things we do, see, and experience on a daily basis help to shape those political beliefs. The methods by which we formulate our beliefs and opinions can come from something as obvious as a campaign speech or debate, to something as subtle as having a bad altercation with a foreign person. No matter where they come from, they shape us. Through actively seeking political growth, we as a nation can move towards a global understanding of others and their respective cultures. Political socialization plays an intricate part in todays society, and also heavily influences Americas core values. In the Declaration of Independence, it states that, all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. This quote is the foundation of American political belief. As the Declaration further states, Americans generally believe that the purpose of government is to "secure these rights" and that the government derives its "just powers from the consent" of the people. America's individualism, however, means that there are a wide variety of opinions on almost every issue, be it political or policy related. There are, however, identifiable core beliefs that help define American political culture. These beliefs include, as noted, a strong emphasis on individual liberty, support for justice, equality, a belief in majority rule, and faith in the Constitution and the form of government it establishes.
- 2. Equality before the law and Freedom of Religion are two core American values, which I believe are paramount. These particular core values impacted me because they are quite comparable to my own personal beliefs. My four essential beliefs are Compassion for others, Determination, Humility, and Morality. Its because of these particular beliefs that I have learned to respect authority, obey the law, and to participate in the political process. As a result of my personal core values, I am more passionate about national and political issues. I am interested in a more thorough analysis into the structure of American policy and how it works. After researching further into the foundation of politics, I learned that it requires ones personal values and desires to make a difference, and that we have a duty to get involved and understand what is taking place in our nation. Possessing a Compassion for others is also a key component to governing effectively. Within todays political climate, to the conservative, compassion is simply helping a poor person in need; to the liberal, it is telling someone richer than he is to help a poor person. Both of these depictions of compassion for others are gravely misguided. Compassion is considered to be a human virtue, and a genuine action. Compassion is about the person, and their understanding of the position and perspective of another. Through patience, love, and tolerance, people should set aside the present circumstances of themselves in order to offer hope. In my household, I was taught the importance of compassion, and what it means to put others first. Additionally, my parents helped me to understand that the misfortunes of others are sometimes no fault of their own. Consequently, it is my responsibility to do everything in my power to provide assistance where needed. Determination is also another paramount virtue, which is necessary to succeed in all things. It is a general consensus that exceptional citizens are made, not born. Citizens are
- 3. indoctrinated to have a responsibility and civic duty at a very young age from their families, religion, school, and the media. Political self-confidence, determination, and humility were instilled in me during my formative years and, as a result, I have voted in every election since I became of age. If one possesses determination, they will use the necessary skills to make sound and intelligent decisions when it comes to any aspect of life in general, or more particularly, our political culture. The last two essential beliefs are Humility, and Morality. I believe that these particular beliefs go hand in hand. Humility or humbleness is a quality of being courteously respectful of others. It is the opposite of aggressiveness, arrogance, boastfulness, and vanity. Humility is exactly what is needed to live in peace and harmony with all persons. Without this core value, American citizens would not be able to properly assess certain political situations, and practically participate in our government and the decisions made for our nation. An example of how humility plays a part in our political discourse can be seen in Americas response when the devastating earthquake hit Haiti. The response was swift, coordinated, and aggressive. The mission was to save lives, and because of this the government launched one of the largest relief efforts in recent history. Morality describes the principles that govern our natural behavior. Within a political context, morality sometimes plays a part in how we respond to varying crises around the world. In particular, during World War II, America made, what some may characterized as an extraordinary decision, to use nuclear weapons. All of the consequences from that decision are immeasurable and will likely never be fully known. Overall, political socialization has helped me to strengthen my political orientations, and allowed me to develop a stronger grasp of how the process of political opinion works.
- 4. Additionally, it has provided me with tremendous insights into the changes that are going on in our society and how they are affecting regimes all around the world. My own personal beliefs were influenced by my parents and the things I have experienced within my life. Similar to my own, citizens around the world have family values and ideals that are passed from generation to generation. As I continue to grow and mature, I will gain even more insight into why I believe what I believe, and also open my eyes to the theories and ideals in this world I have yet to experience. One day, I will influence my children and family in the ways of government and politics, and I am going to help politically socialize them. This full-circle ongoing process is the way we, as a people, educate and grow to become responsible citizens, who actively participate in our government.