It started with two online petitions that I signed. One, to halt experimentation on animals, and the other for a political concern. It didn’t take long. My email and a checked box served as my ‘signature’ and I was finished.  

A moment later, the ‘Ricochet Rabbit’ effect occurred. Ping! Ping! Ping! came the sounds from my computer as three new emails popped up in my inbox. So much for being finished because the messages stated that there was still more to do. Would I donate money to the cause? Would I forward this petition on to a friend? Would I like to sign a petition for a related or similar cause?

How exactly do these on-line petitions work? Does anyone actually ‘see’ or care about my ‘signature’? Or, is my ‘signature’ simply a way to get me to contribute money to an organization or cause? With today’s on-line petitions, I rarely see or hear any tangible evidence that the petition I signed was helpful or led to any meaningful action. Am I missing something?

In the not-too-distant past, petitions and petition signing worked differently. First, a canvasser came to a neighborhood, university, public event, or area and presented the petition to people one-on-one or in groups. The canvasser explained the intent of the petition, to whom it was being sent, answered questions, and gave you a sense of connection with the cause. After this, one physically signed the petition, in cursive writing; no printing allowed! Afterwards, I usually heard or saw some news report, or received a sponsor report, about the outcome of the petition effort.

The first petition I ever signed was to stop the brutal beating, clubbing, and slaughtering of seals in Alaska and Canada. With great solemnity, I placed my signature on that petition, alongside hundreds of other signatures, all of which were readily visible on the printed pages of the petition in the canvasser’s hand. It was my understanding that this petition, and many others from around the U.S., likely helped the Fisheries Act at the time to establish Seal Protection Regulations (albeit preliminary). Did it solve or stop the problem totally? No, but it helped raise awareness for the issue and has since evolved into numerous protection regulations for marine mammals.

The earliest petition canvassing I remember occurred in the mid-1960s when a canvasser came to my neighborhood advocating that mass credit cards, i.e., Master Card, be made readily available to the general public. This petition was, of course, only available to the adults for their signature, but I heard everything and thought this a rather curious issue. My young mind thought that mass credit would just get people in money trouble and have them buying things they really couldn’t afford in the first place; living beyond their means. I don’t know if the petitions for mass credit at that time made a difference one way or the other. I would venture that this petition effort was a matter of rhetoric because soon after, in 1966, mass credit via the Master Card became widely available to the public. It was helped along with the advent and ‘magic’ of magnetic strip verification technology.

The question that came to me as I was thinking about all these petition efforts, past and present, was, what does it mean to ‘petition’? The simplest definition of petition is to ask for something formally or earnestly; a prayer or an entreaty. Petitions, usually solemn or serious in nature, are a supplication or request presented to a superior, a deity, or to a person or group in authority. Often, a petition is signed or supported by a number of people all of whom support the petition cause.

More importantly, how do we use petitions, as individuals, groups, or organizations, and are they effective? When I think about it, petitions and the act of petitioning, whether individual or corporate in nature, are very real, powerful influencers and can be very effective tools of change and improvement.

We can, and do, create our own petitions all the time. I myself have petitioned God, angels, my parents, teachers, advisory boards, bosses, etc. on numerous occasions. Some petitions were successful, others not as much. Each petition though, was for something about which I was passionate.

Here’s the point. Petitions and petitioning, whether for oneself or a cause, are choices each of us can make at any time. When done in earnest, with sincerity, signed properly, supported, and followed-up on, the petitioning effect can occur, where all concerned, are led to their highest good.

May all our petitions be as such.

Good day.

Melinda Grohol 2-24-23