In Philadelphia, How To Do Democracy
My education as a new Harris campaign volunteer
“Democracy started in Philadelphia, did you know that? The Liberty Bell? Right here. The Declaration of Independence? The Constitution? Made and Signed right here!”
Amos’ eyes lit up as he spoke. I’d just met him. He was helping an elderly friend fix her paperwork so she could cast her early ballot at an advance polling station in Philadelphia. He himself had already voted. He spoke with a thick West African accent.
“Where are you from, originally?” I asked him.
“Liberia. I moved here after high school, more than 30 years ago. And where are you from?”
“Canada, originally. Hey, we’re both immigrants!”
“We’re all immigrants,” Amos corrected me. “Except for Native Americans, we are a whole nation of immigrants.”
Amos told me he was studying for his doctorate in Human Services. “Serving people — that’s always been my job,” he said proudly. And here he is, helping a friend cast her vote.
Voting — it really is a Philly thing. Later that morning, Omar Sabir dropped by the polling office to do two stand-up media interviews. He’s the City Commissioner of the County of Philadelphia, head of a three-member bipartisan board of elected…
