WurfWhile

I went to a Quaker Camp in New Jersey for nine years, first as a camper and later as a counselor. Among the many things I learned was that you could have fun in games whether you were “winning” or not. We would often have sports games (Ultimate Frisbee, Softball, etc.) with “Ben Franklin rules,” which meant that no score was kept (I have no idea about the origin of the name). I watched a lot of people play their heart out in diving catches and other amazing plays - and I know I was doing it too. Working as a team, involving everyone in the game and having fun were the “scores” that mattered.

Later in college, where Ultimate was my third major, we played teams like Drew University (they worshipped the cow skull and had lots of “bovinity” rites) that were rarely winners in the score, but acted like winners on the field, always having a lot of fun and putting forth great effort - and sometimes they “won the party” too. Drew was known for having the “Spirit of the Game” - something emphasized a lot in Ultimate - what other sports call good sportsmanship (to the point of applauding the other team for good plays, offering suggestions to newer players on technique, etc.). In a game with no referees, the “Spirit of the Game” is what distinguishes Ultimate from many other competitive sports.

I bring this up not for nostalgic reasons, but to make a larger point. Despite my experiences, even I sometimes forget how necessary fun is in working successfully towards a common goal, whether you win or lose. It does matter how you play the game.

Recently, while trying to deal with some difficult issues, I lost sight of fun in my frustration. Reading an email post by Aldon Hynes brought it all back:

“Volunteering for Gov. Dean’s 2004 Presidential campaign was a lot of work. It was also a lot of fun. Fun is contagious. People want to have fun. I think there is even a song about that.”

There can be a lot at stake in politics - it’s serious business. But just because you’re treating it seriously, and a lot is at stake, doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy it and have fun while working hard to achieve results.

Democrats have gotten lots of advice on what to do in the coming years. For those interested in mobilizing the grass roots, and in winning, they’ve got to find ways to energize people and have fun while trying to make a positive difference. You can’t just have a plan. Fun isn’t a policy. It isn’t a plan. It won’t feed or clothe people. But it can bring people together to work hard. It makes a difference, an important, motivating and even winning difference.