Big Enough Umbrella

Thursday, 28 October 2004

Something which I found of great interest was passed on to me by the ever vernerable James regarding a letter writing campaign sponsored by a newspaper in the United Kingdom, the Guardian attempting to provide their readers a way to reach out to voters in Clark County Ohio. I lived in Clark County, more specifically Springfield, for four years whilst I attended Wittenberg University and then a year afterwards when I worked there at a trucking firm. The idea was that citizens of America's closest ally in the world could correspond over election providing a perspective that many voters might not otherwise consider or be exposed. The paper purchased a list of unaffiliated voters from the county board of elections and distributed the mailing addresses to readers who wished to patricipate. This very well intentioned effort to open dialoge in a battleground county in a battleground state as the Presidential election nears was aparently met with less than enthusiastic voters enthusiastic voters, aparently causing quite the a backlash.

Personally, I find the idea novel. Knowing Springfield as I do, I can see where it backfired. But I doubt it'll have any real impact with regards to the election in the end. Both Bush and Kerry have made mutliple stops in the city - something which was previously unheard of. When I attended Wittenberg stories were still told of how Kennedy visited 30 years earlier. I have serious doubts that there are few who have not already made up their minds and those who protested the loudest were ones who see this as an attempt by Bush-haters in the UK to influence the vote. I've had a chance at reading the selected letters on the Guardian site as well as hearing a number read from other media outlets. None of the letters I've seen were disrespectful or mean - which is a large step up from what most American politics today.

I have half a mind of writing to the editor of the Guardian expressing support for the concept. Heck, I might even offer myself as a pen pal for anyone who'd be willing to have an open dialoge on politics of the day. Those of you who know me understand I am all about discussing important issues of the day, even when I'm at odds with those with whom I'm talking. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you don't grow unless you're challenged in your beliefs. I'm sure there'd be many an issue which I disagreed with a Brittish counterpart (especially one who reads the supposedly left leaning Guardian - I am still a Republican realist after all). The issues facing the United States also face those who stand by us, like the Brits. I've long had enormous respect for them, a sentiment which will forever be cemented in my mind by the reaction in the days following 9/11. I was an Anglophile before that, but the Brits have shown me that they are one of the few who can be counted upon. I really just need to find a good English girl to marry...

On a side note, I'm headed up to Cleveland tomorrow for the wedding of an ol' college friend, Kristen. I'm looking forward to seeing her and being there to celebrate her wedding. I'm also looking forward to getting out of Charlotte, seeing the leaves through the mountains, and going back to Cleveland one last time before I head off to Peace Corps. I haven't been back there since before I graduated from college. I'm also staying with a Fraternity brother who's going to law school at Case Western. He stepped up earlier this week when my previous housing arrangements backed out. I haven't really spoken to him in 3 years and he's giving me a place to crash. Let me just say it's another example of what a Fraternity should be. I'm truly lucky to have had the chance to join that band of brothers (not a term I use lightly) I did. Say a prayer for my safe travels if you don't mind.