by Jan Goehring
A platypus, a robot and the ghost of James Madison star in a new animated video, Citizens Unite! A Helpful Guide to Being a Better Citizen, produced by the Center on Congress at Indiana University. This lively video teaches young people the importance of citizen participation in our democracy. “It’s a serious message presented in a light-hearted manner, to grab the attention of young people and get them thinking about how a good citizen should behave,” said Center Director and former Congressman, Lee H. Hamilton.
The video shows citizen participation over the country's history and how people have made a difference. Citizens Unite! is a product of the Center's Teaching with Primary Sources program funded by the Library of Congress. The video weaves in historical images of citizen movements. It's all about citizens playing an active role in their community and creating positive change.
Image courtesy of the Center on Congress.
THIS needs to be taught in our schools (although I seriously doubt it would happen under Obama's watch)! We have waaaay too many complacent, apathetic citizens when it comes to our government!
Posted by: Katheryn Hasara | April 23, 2012 at 12:09 PM
"New video teaches"?
First you should try getting young people to read the Declaration of Independence, and the US Constitution. I don't think you need a robot or platypus to present it, but you might need these tools to read it to them..... Or, get them to READ it! Perhaps they (the children, up to including 26 years, still on their parents health care policies) might attend a Memorial Day Service in their respective communities!
And, it should be noted that the dogma's contained in the documents are not an "animated game"!
Posted by: James Kester | April 24, 2012 at 06:18 AM