During last week’s election, many Friends were doing what they always do, engaging deeply in the political process to further beliefs they hold dear.
This took many forms. Grady Lights, an attender at Haverford Meeting, and long-time proponent of equality, stood at 30th Street Station with a poster that read “Keep Calm VOTE,” attracting the attention of documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. Moore, who loved Grady’s presentation, strode up to pose side-by-side for a photo. Enthused by the encounter, Grady shared his story of outreach with several Haverford Members over a cup of coffee, after worship.
Numerous Friends and Attenders served as bi-partisan democracy advocates covering neighborhoods, community events, and county-wide outreach initiatives to encourage voter turnout. Many also served their wards as election officials and volunteers, working from 6:00 AM until 10:00 PM, to log in voters, walk them to voting machines, answer clarifying questions, and provide cheerful, diligent, support to the election process.
Bill Heinemann, a Member at Newtown Meeting, is Majority Inspector for his local ward. He worked the polls at the Newtown fire station, and was captured in Mat Rourke’s photograph (see photo left) for the AP news feed, with three other members of the Newtown community also in the photo. That’s Bill (in the plaid shirt) on the far right going about his work among voting booths and fire trucks.
Bill says he does this work because “democracy depends on involved citizens, whether (that means) running for office, supporting those who do, or ensuring that the election process works effectively. At a time when we’re all very concerned about the state and future of our democracy, every person has the opportunity to be involved in some way.” Bill goes on to say there are many ways to serve, and many ways to have impact. “Jonathan Snipes, (Fallsington) he’s got a good story to tell about his chairing the Fallsington Township Board of Supervisors! And, Norval Reece (Newtown), also served (as PA’s Secretary of Commerce).”
There were Friends who ran for office in the current election, too. Joe Hohenstein, of Frankford Friends Meeting, was just elected State Representative in Philadelphia. Scott Wallace who ran for US Congress, and lost to Brian Fizpatrick, put his Quaker beliefs up on his election web page, stating “As I learned in Quaker meeting-Let your life speak!”
Monthly Meetings have lent their buildings to the election. Haverford Monthly Meeting serves as a community polling place. This year the Meeting supported the non-partisan efforts of Haverford College students to secure the right to vote there instead of two miles off campus. Students now walk just a few steps off campus instead of being bused to the old polling place.
Hard won, and critical to democracy, the right to vote is a muscle that needs to be exercised in support of our civic society. In engaging with our political process, Friends hope the light within people’s hearts—and throughout our community—shines past shadows.
As an attender, Grady Lights is new to the Quaker Faith. Yet his message, in worship during the weekend prior to the election, resonated with Quakerism’s sense of community. Pay attention to your impact on the hearts of others: “…Regard your attention as light–shining on my statements & propositions; also consider the possibility that some of your thoughts responding to mine are “shadows” cast by the light of your attention on the objects of my thoughts.”
