My CIvic Journey

My CIvic Journey
One topic that has changed my opinion during the course is the system of voting. To be
a citizen of this country, we have certain rights and privileges that we have to always follow.
Voting is very important because we have responsibilities to be active in positive change. To
vote is to give yourself a voice in a role in positive change. This issue is important to every
single one of us as we all have a responsibility to make the world a better place and we have
the right to do so through voting. Voting decides who runs the government, both at a local and
national level. It allows citizens to choose their representatives.
Before I started this course, I was never interested or aware of voting because I thought
it was your choice to vote or not. I thought that whoever wants to vote can, but whoever does
not want to should not be forced to vote. After reading and watching videos about different
people’s perspectives on voting, my opinion has completely changed. The first fact that changed
my point of view is when Statistics Canada asked Canadians who didn't vote in May’s 2011
federal election, where turnout was a near-record low of 61 percent. Another fact that changed
my mind is in the 2011 election, turnout for voters under age 30 came in at roughly 40 percent,
about 20 percent lower than the national average. This means that not a lot of young people
voted and when young people do not vote, their interests are not represented in government. I
feel like young people become more discouraged with a government that seems to be deaf to
their problems as politicians have little incentive to deal with issues that affect them. I realized
that everyone should vote because it is very important that everyone’s voices are heard.
There are many ways that this issue can be changed such as voting should be
mandatory, the voting age should be lowered, and the government should also encourage
everyone especially the younger generation to vote. The government should make a law that it
is mandatory just like in Australia. There will be an increase in voting especially of the younger
generation if ever this law is made. Also, if the government lowers the voting age, young people
would adopt voting habits. Organizations can also make a website where people can register to
vote and where it also shows the mechanics of voting. Lastly, nonetheless, everyone should be
encouraged to vote because this is a time that our voices can be heard even if these
suggestions are not granted.
Even though all sections of the Charter are important, my opinion on Equality Rights as
being the most valued section has remained the same. Equality rights are the most important
Charter because it is the strong base of any fair society where each member has the chance to
reach their full potential. Equality prevents any section of a society from stepping on other
sections in processes such as community building. Also, it recognizes that other people may
need more support than others in order to reach their full potential. Equality does not allow
hurtful judgments about particular groups, races, or gender. It is important for everyone to
recognize others and themselves as equal.
My opinion on the most valued section of the Charter, which is equal rights has not
changed because I knew even before I started taking Civics that one person should not have
more benefits for being a certain race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or class and this
course improved my knowledge about equality. Equality, when done properly, is absolute
fairness and someone being prohibited from doing something because of any of the above is
not a valid reason because none of these things hinder your ability to do anything. Democratic
countries promote freedom for all which means everyone and freedom isn't freedom if some
people have more rights and benefits than the rest.
It is important that every student take Civics because it helps students to understand
how government works, and it provides people with knowledge about how to influence
government as a citizen. Civics can provide students with opportunities to consider local and
national civic issues and learn about what an individual can do to create change where
problems exist. For example, a big part of the civil rights movement involved the use of the
courts and lawyers instead of a revolution to strike down laws related to the segregation of
schools. Civics, then, helps students to understand and to influence them on how to act properly
and legally about serious matters now and especially in the future.

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