Tammi's World

The Response is, Well, Interesting

Most of us heard and read about the piece in The Guardian suggesting that it's British readers contact voters listed as undecided in Clark County OH and offer their suggestions on how to vote. Well, the Guardian is posting some of the responses it has received.

These fall into three categories for me.

I was surprised to see so many from the US that actually supported the idea. I know, I'm just so innocent sometimes. But really - I thought even the liberals would want to keep this a "family affair". Oops - there I go thinking again. Here's a response that pretty much captures what most in that category had to say:

I am a registered voter in Clark County, Ohio, and am very much interested in hearing what our overseas friends have to say about our election. You are correct in assuming that this election in the US is the most important election in memory. The threat of terrorism is a very real threat, not just in our country, but all over the world. In this day and age there must be worldwide unity against these fanatical groups who just hate. Not just Americans, but all western civilisation.
United States

What scared me the most with this one? The author is from Clark County!!!! I'm speechless.

Then there were the responses requesting that the Guardian, well, butt out.

I suggest that if a particular reader of the Guardian would like to vote in America - would really like to influence the American election, say - that reader should move to America, become a citizen of the United States. Everyone is welcome here. Even the readers of the Guardian. But if you don't wish to be an American, to live in Ohio, for instance, and participate in the American political process, that is too bad. Perhaps there is something wrong with you. Perhaps it is your teeth.
New York

(and this was about the nicest one posted)

Now....I have to believe that there were some reasonable and rational responses received, but those seem to be missing from this story. The Guardian is allowed to publish any collection of them that it chooses to. I would have liked to think it would have been open enough to post a clear cross representation, but being as it is a Liberal paper I'm not surprised.

But I would have liked to have seen some response that were devoid of insults and stereotypes.

Here is my letter to the Guardian. I'm sure it won't ever see the light of day, anywhere but here, but still - it's out there now.

I am an American citizen that is deeply offended by your post suggesting that your Non-American readers should have some influence on our Presidential elections. No, I don't think you should.

You have a country of your own. You have your own elections and we Do Not interferE in that process. Do we have an opinion? Yes, of course we do. Do we write and talk about it? Yes. But, in my memory there has never been an action taken like that suggested by your paper to actually contact voters and sway them to vote as we believe.

Democracy is about Freedom of Choice. Our ability to vote and have a say in who runs this country is one of the most precious parts of that Freedom. I, for one, do not believe that Freedom extends beyond our shores to include other countries or the citizens of those countries.

For the record, I am a conservative and a Bush supporter. My response is not because you do not back the man that I believe to be the best selection. It is because I am amazed that you feel you have the RIGHT to do so.

I do not believe your project will have any real impact on our elections. All it will have accomplished is causing more hard feelings between the citizens.

I'm sorry that you did this. In my mind it was a waste of paper, bandwidth and time.

Posted by Tammi at October 18, 2004 10:58 AM