Toward Civic Renewal

Life is more than politics. It embraces faith, family, work, education, and leisure — all the spheres where we live out our humanity. Yet civic life touches each of us in ways we cannot escape. While not everyone is called to follow politics closely or master the intricacies of government, each of us is expected to fulfill certain duties as citizens, shaping the communities we inhabit and the state and nation as a whole. This essay reflects on the study of civics and the cultivation of civic virtues.

Civic virtue often shows itself in ordinary ways — in the duties we’re called upon to perform as citizens. You may, for example, be called upon to serve on a jury. Even if that only happens once in your life, the outcome of that trial could mean five years in prison for the defendant, or none. It could mean that a mother permanently loses custody of her children, or she doesn’t. Or perhaps you will be called upon one day to testify at a trial, or to give a report to police, after witnessing a crime or civil wrongdoing.

Other weighty civic duties include military service, compliance with criminal laws, payment of taxes, and (voluntary) cooperation with civil authorities during natural disasters and other emergencies. Lighter forms of civic engagement matter too, like serving on a neighborhood committee, helping during elections, or reporting local hazards. As a society, we’re all better off if there’s a shared sense of responsibility — if it’s considered shameful to drive 90 mph through a school zone, for example. Of course, there will always be bad actors and violators. That’s human nature, and it’s why societies create safeguards (like law enforcement). But much of human behavior is driven by social expectation and not by compulsion. These expectations can be taught and cultivated.

With that in mind, we should ask ourselves: what kind of citizens do we wish to become? What kind of citizens do we want our children to become? What kind of social values ought we to instill in government, communities, and public life in general? The renewal of civic life is not the work of governments or leaders alone, but the shared work of all citizens — a task that begins with cultivating habits of responsibility, participation, and care for the common good.

”Good citizenship is not a matter of right ideology, but of duty — of having both the willingness and the ability to answer when called.

That’s the purpose of Texapedia. It’s an encyclopedia, a database—but it’s intended to be more than that too. It’s intended to serve as a catalyst for much needed civic renewal. We hope that Texapedia serves as a resource to guide you toward a more robust sense of civic pride and responsibility. Simple acts like picking up litter in your community, serving on a jury, following traffic laws, paying property taxes (however grudgingly), and at least occasionally voting (even if you pick only one candidate on the whole ballot)—these are all critically important for the common welfare, what the English forebears of our republic called the ‘commonweal.’

As you browse the pages of this website, you’ll notice vintage-inspired artwork, evoking the past. This is not because we think things were perfect in the past, nor necessarily even better than they are now. (After all, human nature is the same in every age). But things were different. So, we can look upon the past to learn from it—and to hold up a mirror to our own age.

Unfortunately, modern society has become maddeningly complicated. The amount of paperwork, bills, emails, and text messages that most people have to deal with is overwhelming. This is the price we have paid for modern convenience and prosperity. Compared to our forebears, we suffer fewer illnesses, enjoy more material comfort, live longer, and eat better. But we also bear a much greater mental load. Early Texans lived without air conditioning; we live with stress and anxiety if ours breaks. Early Texans lived in community (sometimes squalid, but community nonetheless); we live in relative isolation. They endured violence and injustices — often much worse than today — but they only knew of the wrongs they witnessed directly or read about occasionally. They didn’t imbibe a daily firehose of viral outrage on smartphones and computers.

”In an era of spectacle, outrage, and distraction, we risk losing sight of the habits that sustain a free people: Steady judgment and purpose, loyalty, and care for the common good. These hold the key to restoring a flourishing republic.

The frenetic pace of modern life has invaded our politics and political discourse. We go from one crisis to the next, from one outrage to the next. Perhaps what we need is to slow down and think carefully about our values, our systems, our traditions, and our desires. Beyond the controversies of today, what is our long-term vision for the ‘commonweal’?

A flourishing republic demands a government worthy of the age. We need a government that does not add to the maddening complexity of modern life, but rather reduces it. At the same time, we need a government that is sophisticated enough to grapple with modern problems and adapt to social and technological changes. Our civic ethos should blend simplicity and sophistication.

As you explore Texapedia, we invite you to reflect on what is already good in Texas’s civic life and governance — and what may be inadequate. If we can pause long enough to resist tearing each other down, we can start building again. Partisanship, political bickering, and viral outrage will not vanish. But we can try to participate constructively, or at least strive to be good citizens, whether or not we participate actively in political life.

Texapedia is a civics project by Texans, for Texans. Share this article to help build an informed, active citizenry.

Toward Civic Renewal

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