By Celeste Kennel-Shank
Mennonite Weekly Review

Their involvement mirrors high voter turnouts nationally and follows a decades-long trend of increasing political action by Mennonites.

Glenn Martin Klaassen, a member of Chicago Community Mennonite Church, has donated money and volunteered for a campaign for the first time.

“I’ve always been politically interested, but never very active or engaged,” Martin Klaassen said.

Martin Klaassen said Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., inspired him by seeking dialogue with people of different viewpoints.

“So much of our political process is about belittling and enemizing the other’s point of view,” Martin Klaassen said. “A public conversation where different points of view are welcomed builds our community life.”

Duane Friesen of North Newton, Kan., professor emeritus of Bible and religion at Bethel College, saw similar energy at the Democratic Caucus Feb. 5 in Newton, where Obama won the majority of votes.

A large group of Mennonites made up part of the crowd of more than 800, far surpassing expectations for about 100 participants.

“Probably every Mennonite church in Newton was represented,” Friesen said, adding that Mennonites also came from Hesston, which was in the same caucus area.

While such participation in presidential elections is important, Mennonites shouldn’t limit their political action to voting, Friesen said.

“It should be put in the much larger framework of how we engage in society,” he said.

Friesen also said Mennonites ought to be realistic about how the president fits into the U.S. military and economy.

“They can have an impact on foreign policy,” Friesen said.

Foreign policy is a key issue for Roy Jimenez, a regional associate for Mennonite Central Committee Great Lakes in Plainfield, Ill.

“As a Mennonite, I am concerned about the dignity of all people,” Jimenez said. “We are called to transcend nationalities and political alliances.”

The front-running candidates are failing to address U.S. policies that harm people in nations such as Colombia, Jimenez said.

Jimenez expressed his critique of Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama in an essay for Chicago Public Radio he read on broadcast Jan. 31.

“It is sad that candidates have to support the military and this agenda on terrorism without questioning how to be a peaceful nation,” Jimenez said.

The current candidates also do not fully inspire Jerome Graber of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Graber’s first choice, Republican Fred Thompson, dropped out of the race in January.

Still, he is following the candidates, of whom he most supports former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican.

“I try to vote as an informed citizen,” said Graber, who is part of Conservative Mennonite Conference.

While a candidate’s religion makes a difference to Graber, he would not vote for someone solely on that basis — as he has heard suggested by some supporters of Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister.

“I have been a little disappointed by the Mennonites, and Christians in general,” for voting along faith lines, Graber said.

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