The British newspaper The Guardian has undertaken Operation Clark County, in which readers who provide their email address will receive the name and address of a voter in Clark County, Ohio.
Writing to a Clark County voter is a chance to explain how US policies effect you personally, and the rest of the world more generally, and who you hope they will send to the White House. It may even persuade someone to use their vote at all.
As you can imagine, there are a number of Ohioans who aren't too happy with this effort. Here's a selection of responses; some supportive, most not so much. It's an intriguing concept, but I can't imagine how I'd react if I got such a letter. It does give off an air of arrogance.
My favorite of the responses:
My dear, beloved Brits,
I understand the Guardian is sponsoring a service where British citizens write to Americans to advise them on how to vote. Thank heavens! I was adrift in a sea of confusion and you are my beacon of hope!
Feel free to respond to this email with your advice. Please keep in mind that I am something of an anglophile, so this is not confrontational. Please remember, too, that I am merely an American. That means I am not very bright. It means I have no culture or sense of history. It also means that I am barely literate, so please don't use big, fancy words.
Set me straight, folks!
Dayton, Ohio
In any case, this only helps make me think that my trip over there (England, not Ohio) should be very intriguing.
Posted by Barb at October 19, 2004 02:10 PM | TrackBack