What Makes A Model Citizen?

 

 

What makes a model citizen?

Is it going to church?

Is it praying in public places?

Is it anonymity at the Court?

 

What makes a model citizen?

Is it having a lot of friends?

Is it being very popular?

Is it when you do not offend?

 

What makes a model citizen?

Is it being philanthropic?

Is it being at every cockfight?

Is it being no kind of addict?

 

What makes a model citizen?

Is it a clever politician

Who revels in rhetoric

And is great at oration?

 

What makes a model citizen?

Is it the rich and famous

Whose contributions to country

Smacks of the outrageous?

 

What makes a model citizen?

Is it the erudite academic

Who in the higher levels of learning

Does not miss a trick?

 

What makes a model citizen?

Is it the courteous and polite?

Is it the wise old sage?

Is it the one who is always right?

 

 

What makes a model citizen?

Is it the doctor or lawyer?

Is it the consultant or adviser?

Is it the pastor or preacher?

 

What makes a model citizen?

Is it excelling at one’s craft?

Is it doing great exploits?

Is it having a spotlessly clean past?

 

What makes a model citizen?

Is it one’s sacrificial giving?

Is it being contented with little

Or, is it one’s style of living?

 

Is it all of the above and more?

Is this list unending?

Could anyone be that straight

Without ever bending?

 

And what percent of the criteria

Would be expected

For such a candidate

To be elected or selected?

 

Since none of us is perfect

Could any actually qualify?

And what agent or agency

Would he/she need to satisfy?

 

Would moral decency be a factor

And to what extent?

Or, depending on the contribution,

Would this also be bent?

 

And what about our children?

Could they mirror that model?

What makes a model citizen?

Help me!  I am in trouble.

 

Stewart Russell © December 16, 2021