In This Article:
- Why fixing things starts with citizens, not just leaders
- Personal experiences that reveal government flaws
- The true meaning of citizenship and civic responsibility
- Why business values and democracy go hand in hand
- Action steps to restore fairness, integrity, and justice
Fix the System, Fix the Future: Why Every Person Matters
by George E. Danis, author of the book: Go Far, Give Back, Live Greek: A Memoir
More than two decades have passed since I received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and in many ways, there is not much that has changed. I have continued to support the causes that I care about, and I continue to take great joy from seeing my employees receive the best treatment in the business. Maybe I am a bit more direct with people these days than I used to be—I recently tried to bribe some builders working on my house to quit smoking—but little has really changed.
How you treat your employees will most likely play a much bigger part in how your business performs than your marketing strategy does. It’s the same with social change. If we want to see things improved, progress is most likely going to be won inch by inch, not mile by mile. Person to person, not leader to nation.
I was taught that every voice matters, every individual is a citizen, and every citizen has a right and a responsibility to do what they can to improve the lives of others. I want to encourage all of us—whether or not we are business owners or workers—to participate and to be good citizens of our country.
I believe that it is especially vital for business leaders to be committed to promoting goodwill and participating in every aspect of our community. We have responsibility toward people, and in many ways, we must be organizers, gathering and resourcing people and equipping them to succeed.
The Western world that cherishes democracy was born and nurtured through my Greek ancestors. Throughout my life I have done everything in my power to stay true to those core values of my heritage: intellectual curiosity; a desire to live in harmony and respect all, including our big home, the planet, with its abundant natural world; a commitment to harmony with others; and an unshakeable belief in the power of the citizen.
We need those strong foundations today, especially as so much of the world has changed in recent decades and even in recent years. The climate emergency is fiercer, political division appears wider, and after COVID-19, prosperity and stability seem further away than before.
Feeling Powerless?
The playing field is far from level, and the sense of citizenship is low. We are living in a world of grown-up problems, but too many politicians are capable of offering only playground solutions in a polarized manner.
Some people feel powerless as individuals. It shouldn’t be that way, and if ever I needed a reminder of the power of an individual to impact someone else’s life, I got it in 2016. I applied for a gun license and went to my local police station to get fingerprinted. A week later I got a call from the chief of police.
“George? Something came up with your prints.”
“That’s funny, Chief.”
“No, I’m not joking. It says here that you’re a fugitive. Something about not leaving the country when you were supposed to back in 1957. Do you know anything about that?”
I took a breath, tried to keep calm, and told him that what I knew was that I had complied exactly with the order I had been given to leave the country by Senator John F. Kennedy. I had been careful to travel down to New York, where I was sure to have my papers stamped so that my exit would be recorded.
“This is a mistake, Chief. Someone must have messed up. It can’t be a big deal. I’ve been a citizen for decades. I’ve got my passport and everything.”
“Well, it says here that I could have you arrested.”
I could feel the walls closing in.
The chief was kind, though, and he had no intention of arresting me. I hired an attorney, filed a Freedom of Information request for my exit paperwork, and waited for the reply.
When the papers came, it was a relief. There, third page from the top, was the form correctly filled out that confirmed I had left the country legally within the time frame that I was given. Somewhere along the line, someone just didn’t do their job properly.
The problem was eventually solved, and my license was granted, but the fact remained that someone had messed up. If I hadn’t been able to afford an attorney or didn’t already have the trust of my local chief of police, the outcome for me could have been very different.
This is an example of how our government institutions are not committed to serving their citizens and doing their jobs correctly, just like my friend who has had similar problems with the IRS. It is up to us to demand a more perfect union to service quality to their citizens.
Citizenship Requires Participation
Citizenship is not a one-way transaction. Citizenship brings with it so many benefits, but it also confers certain responsibilities. If we want to belong to a democratically run country and be protected by its laws and enjoy its freedoms, then it seems to me that the most basic requirement is that we know how our government works.
We need to be informed of the way things work and become engaged in the effort to meet our country’s needs. It is not enough to take what we want, gripe about what is bad, and offer nothing of ourselves. Citizenship doesn’t work that way. Citizenship requires participation. Citizenship happens only when you and I show up.
Here’s where I think we can make a change: we should make it easier for our citizens to vote. After all, how hard can it be? As soon as we’re born, we have a social security number, and as soon as we start working, we’re taxed. Why can’t the government put as much effort into collecting our votes as it does into collecting our taxes?
Unfortunately, we the people have allowed the government and their agencies to mishandle the citizens and give us a hard time about our rights. They don’t care to serve the citizens of the country that they work for.
Demanding Change
We need to demand the service that we require and deserve. The government collects taxes, takes our money while our own citizens (including most of our veterans who fought the wars to protect and defend our freedom) are not being taking care of. Many water systems in U.S. cities are a dismal failure, the infrastructure is deteriorating, an adult education system is missing, and many services have been inadequate. If we want change, we must demand it.
We, the citizens, need to demand that our leaders be more accountable when they spend our tax dollars with no results. We chase wars overseas while at home our problems increase. Our citizens lack access to clean, safe drinking water, veterans are struggling to cope, many of our people are suffering greatly, and yet some politicians appear to care more about taking credit for some overseas intervention than about leveling the domestic playing field.
The answer is simple. The answer is clear. The answer is you, the citizens that make up this country.
I urge you to act. I urge you to take note of the things that bother you—whether it’s the climate, the culture, or the way our country is approaching any of the many issues that need addressing—and act. Be curious about how things can be improved. Be restless until you see change. And be prepared to use some of the time, talent, and resources at your disposal to act.
Curiosity and Restlessness
That curiosity and restlessness was a part of my character from a young age, and it got me into plenty of trouble. But it got me into so much more that was good. Curiosity and restlessness have been two of my most important assets since I left home more than seventy years ago. They still serve me well today.
Fix Things: Do Not Be A Spectator
This is what I want to say to you: fix things. I want you to fix things with your own hands. Fix things with your own sweat. Fix things with other people at your side, working in tandem with your community — both alongside those whom you find easy to be with and with others who require more of your patience. Don’t be an extremist. It will not work for a sustainable future.
Fix things.
Because the world needs people that are not content to be spectators.
The world needs people who are prepared to act. Just as it always has done.
Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved.
Article Source:
BOOK: Go Far, Give Back, Live Greek
Go Far, Give Back, Live Greek: A Memoir
by George E. Danis.
Go Far, Give Back, Live Greek is the odyssey of one man’s journey from his childhood village on a Greek island, struggling to survive wartime occupation, to becoming a highly successful businessman, political advisor, fundraiser, and recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. It is a journey of perilous ocean crossings and illegal immigration, of arrest and deportation, interspersed with years of hard work and high risks that are essential components of the American Dream.
Written with passion and insight, Go Far, Give Back, Live Greek is beautifully optimistic and refreshingly free-thinking, yet is at all times connected to an ancient source of wisdom and love for humanity. From the first page to the last, George E. Danis reminds us that success is best measured not by balance sheets or bank accounts, but in community, care for the planet, and love of family.
For more info and/or to order this hardcover book, click here. Also available as a Kindle edition.
Buy on Amazon or Buy on Bookshop.org
About the Author
George E. Danis is a successful businessman, organizer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Born into poverty in rural Greece, George entered the U.S. as an illegal immigrant, yet decades later was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in recognition of his philanthropic endeavors and promotion of democracy.
Highly active in politics for four decades, George was a fundraiser, advocate, and advisor to governors, senators, and presidential candidates. His new book is Go Far, Give Back, Live Greek (Amplify Publishing Group, Aug. 6, 2024). Learn more at GeorgeDanis.com.
Article Recap:
George E. Danis draws on decades of leadership and civic engagement to deliver a passionate message: we must fix what’s broken in our systems, institutions, and culture. Citizenship means more than voting—it’s about showing up, speaking out, and taking responsibility for creating change. This article weaves personal stories, historical insight, and urgent calls to action to inspire readers to stop spectating and start participating.
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