Supporters of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro take campaign t-shirts during an event Saturday afternoon at Lycoming College. The governor made several stops in Centre, Clinton and Lycoming counties to connect with voters to drum up support for his re-election. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Gov. Josh Shapiro is an acknowledged student of history.

During a rally in his reelection campaign Saturday in Williamsport, Shapiro said he would argue that not only do the voters have the power to make positive changes, but that it is a responsibility, referencing how, 250 years ago the Founding Fathers set about to create a new nation, declaring independence here in Pennsylvania.

About a decade later, they gathered again in Philadelphia, and drafted the Constitution, he said.

“The beauty of their work is that they left it incomplete,” Shapiro said. “They left the work for the next generation… and the next generation… and those who would follow.”

Nor, he said, did they contemplate how those today would be a part of the conversation about democratic ideals, or that women would vote, or someone of the Jewish faith, such as Shapiro, would serve as governor.

For generation after generation, people would rise up, seek justice, demand more and try to build a better future for their children and their grandchildren, he added.

“Our ancestors did that work and they helped perfect our union,” he said, adding while there is a lot more work to do the reality is that responsibility falls “on us right now,” he said.

“There’s no one coming to do the work for us, and there is no one we can point to to do the work instead of us,” he said.

“With that responsibility, to me, that helps us find light,” Shapiro said. “That helps us drown out the forces of darkness that want to keep taking us back, and instead allow us to plow forward.

“This community can be part of a national referendum that I think we need to have against that chaos, against that cruelty and against that corruption.”

A challenge offered

Imagine what happens if turnout in Lycoming County amongst Democrats, or like-minded independents or Republicans is 90% instead of 40% or 50%, Shapiro said.

“Imagine if people just don’t pull up the covers and turn off the TV but instead say – ‘I am going to do something about this.'” “Imagine how different the world would look,” he said. “We have a responsibility to do that – starting in Pennsylvania.”

On another historical note, Shapiro referenced William Penn, who he said “started it all in 1682.”

‘He arrived on a ship called Welcome and docked at what is now Chester, getting off the ship and declaring – ‘We are going to set up a place that is going to be an example to the nations,'” Shapiro said, continuing with Penn’s words – “and it is going to be rooted in a few things – freedom to vote, freedom of expression, freedom of religion.'”

“That’s what he started,” Shapiro said.

Channelling Penn’s spirit

“We are going to show in Pennsylvania that we can not only carry on the promise of democracy that was started by our founders, but that we can channel Penn’s spirit and build a Pennsylvania that is warm and welcoming for all,” he said. “No matter what you look like, or who you love, or who you pray to, you will have the freedom to chart your own course here and the opportunity to succeed.”

That is what is at stake in this election, Shapiro said. “Yes, it is about re-electing your governor,” he said, adding his gratitude for any support.

“It is about winning our state rep and state senate races, winning the congressional race, sending a clear message that we do not like what we are seeing in this country,” he said.

“It is also about something bigger,” the governor said. “It is about the responsibility that you now have to do this work, that I now have to do this work. That responsibility that has been passed down from generation to generation. It is about doing the right thing, in a way that brings people together – doesn’t scapegoat certain folks, but, instead, understands that we’re all in this together.”

“That is what is at stake and that is why you are so important in this process,” he said.