One of our fellows, Michael Hartoonian, sent me some thoughts on citizenship, the personal agency which drives free societies. As we begin 2021, after nearly a year of collective regimentation and personal, self-discipline to minimize the impact of a pernicious, but invisible menace, it might be time to focus once again on action by individuals for the common good through their personal commitments and taking of risk and finding courage.
With the U.K. out of the E.U. and with realignments in the Middle East, but populist nationalism comfortably entrenched in some nations, great and small, esteeming good citizenship seems quite relevant globally.
I hope you find Michael’s recollection of past virtues reassuring that they may not be irredeemably lost.