Since the founding of the Society of Friends, social justice and activism have been a large part of Quaker philosophy.  Quakers have always been on the front lines of justice and are not afraid to get their proverbial hands dirty. The spirit (pun intended) behind this activism is based in a recognition that all beings are created in the image of the Divine. Notable Quaker activists who contributed to the Society’s nonviolent change include Harriet Beecher Stowe, John Woolman, and Benjamin Lay.

The Society of Friends place high value on nonviolence and peaceful conflict resolution. Let’s face it: in life there will always be conflict. What makes a difference is how the conflict is addressed and resolved. There will be times when one can peacefully disagree and there will be times when one needs to stand and fight for justice. “So what?” one might ask. “Why should this matter to me?’

It should be important to you because, more than ever in this day and age, we are faced with daily decisions to stand up and be counted. We need to act for the environment, to conserve resources, to more equitably share our resources and to address human rights injustices, alleviating the suffering of those in need here and abroad.

According to John Pemberton Jr. “Civil rights issues cannot be resolved by officials alone; only a total commitment of the conscience of an entire people to fulfillment now of the promises of 1776 will do it.”

I am urging us as individuals and a community to fight for these civil liberties by:

• Purchasing products from vendors that have an environmentally sustainable philosophy
• Choosing carefully the food establishments that one frequents because food workers are some of the hardest worked and lowest paid persons
• Refraining from purchasing and/or distributing ‘toys’ that encourage, portray or re-enact acts of violence, especially violence towards or on women, children or other currently marginalized groups in our society.
• Standing up for the rights of others because only through tolerance and understanding can there be a United States.

References:

“Famous Quakers .” Famous Friends (Famous Quakers), Adherent, 10 Oct. 1999, www.adherents.com/largecom/fam_quaker.html.

“Reflections on Selma: What Quakers Were Saying in 1965.” Friends Journal, Friends Publishing Corporation , 16 June 2015, www.friendsjournal.org/reflections-selma-quakers/.