Amish Global Citizenship: Respect, Responsibility, Allies & Enemies

Global citizens have an obligation to treat the world resources as common goods. Additionally, global citizens have to be culturally competent.

Allies and enemies

Amish partners have respect to the universal world and has a responsibility towards creating a better place for others while the enemies are unwelcoming and ignore cultural orientation.

Important Elements of Global Citizenship of the Amish

Global Citizenship is about the moral dimension of citizenship which involves participation (Dower & Williams, 2016). The social theory of global citizenship can be described as social rights and the forces in the society that produce these practices. The method of global citizenship defines a person as not just a citizen of a nation or community but the world. The UN Declaration of human rights established the United Nations general assembly in 1948 which supported the theory of global citizenship by defining that all people have equal rights, dignity and the ability to make a decision (Dower & Williams, 2016). Often there exist a tension between the global human rights and the rights and citizenship rights specific to a nation. This tension thus created different roles of commerce in impacting global citizenship. Global citizenship and the role of commerce is analyzed using a case of the Amish community to explain citizenship, roles, responsibilities, and rights.

Respect for Universal human rights

Among the thirty articles of the UN declaration on human rights are; All human beings are born free and have equal dignity, no discrimination, and everyone is entitled to uphold their own cultures regardless of their nationalities. A global citizen, therefore, should be sensitive to social and environmental issues, responsibility to choose the way that they eat, sensitive to problems that lead to global climate change and uphold respect for all. According to the worldwide citizenship theory, the ultimate goal of every individual is to adopt the spirit of oneness and relationship with the other in society. The Amish people are a community of hospitable people who uphold the country life and a simple way of living. The Amish were culturally established under the rule and laws of William Penn. As the rest of the world advanced into the modern contemporary society, the Amish remained guided by the laws that were created by William Penn. This community even resisted electricity and other modern developments. The cultural ways and strict rules of the Amish people come in line with global citizenship responsibilities.

Role of Commerce in Global Citizenship

Role of commerce may be defined as the responsibility of social dealings between people which may include the exchange of values, norms, cultures, and advancements (Dower & Williams, 2016). Within the framework of becoming a global citizen. Commerce in global citizenship may lead to the spread of diversity, the interdependence that may lead to sustainable development. Therefore, as a global citizen, everyone has a right in different cultural settings as a person before the law. Commerce helps in improving the freedom of movement in exchange for goods services and cultures. Therefore, as supported by article 13 of the Universal human rights that gives freedom of movement within or outside the borders, commerce helps in fulfilling such rights. The Amish moved out of their original home in Pennsylvania and are now settled in different parts such as Mexico, Canada, Bolivia among others. Thus through the way of living of the Amish and their migration, global citizenship requires that they be welcome and allowed to uphold their cultures even though their religion may be different from the others. Article 13 of the universal human rights supports this fact as a responsibility of being a global citizen (Streich, 2008).

Responsibilities and roles of global citizen

Global citizenship roles and responsibilities are standards that require the harnessing of cultural competency. According to Brown (2016), the worldwide interconnectedness of the contemporary world has led to the diminishing of the moral distance. Therefore, there is a demand to enforce moral respect and the responsibility to uphold human rights. The Amish people are classified as global citizens due to the reason of their respect for the land and in God. Additionally, they define themselves as people who care for others, live in obedience humility, and care for the environment. Global citizenship requires that people have a responsibility of upholding the world as a commonly shared good. Thus it is the responsibility of a global citizen like the Amish to care for others, care for the environment since climate change and other environmental issues are a global issue that affects other people.

Allies and enemies in Global Citizenship

Article 27 of the universal human right explains that everyone has the right to take part in the cultural life of their community (Streich, 2008). The Amish resist modernization and cultural ties to the outside world. Friends in society are those that will not interfere with the beliefs of different cultures. Additionally, a global citizen ally is one who has respect for the universal world and has a responsibility towards creating a better place for others who have complicated cultures such as the Amish. Enemies cause oppression to others in society and at the same time ignoring the cultural orientation of others. Allies in the Amish society uphold the duties in the culture that lead to the development of personalities. The Amish communities are allies as they believe in sharing some holidays with the non-believers and taking care of the environment as sacred land.

In conclusion, the global citizen is one who considers the qualities and actions that affect not only them but also those who are geographically distant from them. The Amish people are global citizens since their culture Is sensitive to making a positive difference for society and humanity. Globalization has led to a disconnect that has diminished the commitment of becoming global citizens. Global citizens involve harnessing cultural proficiency and global mindedness. Global citizenship does not allow for the dominance of one culture but the integration of many cultures in heterogeneous harmony.

References

Brown, G. (2016). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the 21st Century: A Living Document in a Changing World. Open Book Publishers.

Dower, N., & Williams, J. (2016). Global citizenship: A critical introduction. Routledge.

Streich, M. (2008). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Crows Nest, Australia: Allen & Unwin.