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08/01/2006: "Sweating it out with the Quakers"
Sunday July 29th. 2006
2200 Clinton South
Sitting in sweltering heat, surrounded by 40 or so silent people, and one well behaved, but not so quiet toddler, I was pretty uncomfortable, and not just physically. This was a “Quaker service” hosted by the members of the Twin Cities Quaker community on the eve of a trial in Federal Court. It was held at the home of the defendant and his family, a long time friend.
My discomfort was in knowing that my friend, a man I admire and respect was facing very serious Federal charges of bribery. He is being portrayed as a “corrupt politician” by the press, and by others trying to score political points. People who had some pones to pick with him, and who didn’t have a bone or two to pick with a City Councilmember from time to time, were blogging and talk showing up a storm about his “Green” being caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
The fly in their ointment was that it just wasn’t true. Dean did not sell his influence; he did not take a bribe, and certainly is not corrupt. My heart sank as I anticipated the upcoming trial.
At a Quaker service, people sit in silence until moved to speak. I have never totally understood what is supposed to move them, I have been told it is not God, but that it is spiritual. I know Dean and Jenny get a lot of their strength from the Friends meeting they are part of, and I was willing to participate for their sake.
I felt “moved” to talk about truth. It is the only thing I thought I could say, is that truth is more powerful than judges, more powerful than lawyers, more powerful than juries, more powerful even then prison bars. I believe that the way to respond to falsehoods is with truth, and although truth does not always set you free, it will, in the long run – in the fullness of time – be more powerful than falsehood. I said that we needed to remember that truth is what we have in our corner.
I don’t know if what I said helped. Other people said things I thought were much more eloquent. Barb Tilsen sang two songs, one of them a beautiful acappella version of “Old Devil Time” that had people singing along.
What do you say to someone on the eve of a trial. Well it seemed that these peaceful warriors in the Quaker community had a handle on it. You share your strength. You sit in silence, and you suffer together in 100 degree heat.
After the service, everyone gave Dean and Jenny a hug, and stood around trying to think of something to say.
I just went home and wrote this.