10.20.2004
"We in the rest of the world, who sadly cannot vote in the one election that really affects our future, are depending on you," said Mr. Dawkins, professor of public understanding of science at Oxford University. "The proper way to get rid of that smirking gunslinger is to vote him out."
Our English brothers and sisters, knowing far better than we what is good for us, joined an 'uno et uno' letter-writing campaign to their 'undecided' American cousins in Clark County, Ohio (a swing state, of course). Spurred on by the leftist newspaper The Guardian, they used exemplars from such notables as John LeCarre and Richard Dawkins to get the point across.
In typical American fashion, here is the NYT's take on responses published in The Guardian on 10-18:
ADDENDUM: Here are the Guardian's printed responses."Go back to sipping your tea and leave our people alone," one American sniped.
Another suggested that perhaps Britain would like people elsewhere meddling in its affairs.
"The next time you have elections in Great Britain, I shall endeavor to send names of your citizens to people in France, Iraq, India, the United Arab Emirates, Botswana, Pakistan, China and Argentina," the writer said, "so that they may attempt to influence your election."
There were also a number of remarks to the effect that the United States had already indicated to Britain, back in 1776, how it felt about outside interference. Also noted was the United States' decisive entry into World War II.
"If it wasn't for America, you'd all be speaking German," one writer said.
