This country has been built upon the ideal that the people decide on how to be governed and that the government is obligated to provide to the needs of its citizens. However, if the people do not or cannot speak up to demand change in the government, how can it fix the problem that the people face? Their silence will lead to ignorance to the problem and the government will, over time, only really address the issues of the few elected officials in power. To combat this, citizens must be active in their civic duty of participating in the protection of their rights as well as the rights of others. I have no doubt that you understand this concept well, Mr. President, but unfortunately I have noticed that my peers often do not share this sentiment. They focus too much on what affects them rather than what affects others. That is why I am asking you to make a day to honor Dorothea Dix. Not only is she a great example of civic participation, but her work also exemplifies working on the behalf of others. As a champion for the rights of the mentally ill, Dorothea fought tirelessly to help a minority whose needs were often swept under the rug by government officials. She alone played an instrumental role in creating over 30 mental hospitals that offered better…show more content… Both of my grandmothers have Alzheimer’s, and for both, life has become increasingly more difficult to live independently. Thankfully, through Dorothea’s hard work, there are elderly homes that have nurses specially trained to take care of mentally ill patients. The homes provide this service around the clock to keep both of my grandmothers safe. This comes as a relief for my family and I (as well as others) because we don’t have to worry about them getting hurt or needing assistance when we aren’t around. I personally am grateful for the work Dorothea did to raise awareness for the mentally ill and I know many others would be too if she was granted a national
