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So, it seems that the esteemed left-leaning UK newspaper The Guardian has been trying its hand at joining the US election campaign, by inviting readers to write to non-aligned voters in Clark County, Ohio.
I have mixed feelings about this.
Granted, some of the responses have been nasty enough to reinforce any European’s distaste for US culture – but heck, if I’d received this sort of pretentious letter from a foreigner – heck, from anyone - telling me how to cast my vote, I’d be pretty pissed off, too.
On the other hand, there is a serious point to be made here. I grew up hearing, every four years, that the Americans were electing a president ‘for all of us’, and it is obvious that the choice of US president has ramifications far beyond US borders. But then, as![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
curia_regis pointed out recently, one would expect a country to look after its own interests first. And on the other hand, when I vote, isn’t it incumbent on me to acknowledge that in casting a vote I have a share of personal responsibility for the consequences, should it affect the outcome? Personally, I want to know how the lives of other people in the world are affected by British foreign policy. But I also want to be respected to make my own decision on how to cast my vote. And if I’m completely honest, it may well be that domestic considerations would take a higher priority, depending on circumstances.
Anyhow, I reckon the Guardian has shot itself in the foot a bit here. Yes, there is probably a need for greater person-to-person communication about the effects of all countries’ foreign policy, but right before an election is not the time to do it. Unfortunately, there seems to be a section of the US population that regards the preferences of non-Americans to be by definition bad for America, so expressing a preference might be counter-productive.
If you disagree, and you aren’t eligible to vote next week, and you want to have a say, check out this site before the end of the weekend.
Oh, and one final question to any Americans reading this: I was really intrigued about all the references to teeth in those responses from the US – is it a common stereotype in the US, that we Brits all have bad teeth? I hadn’t heard that one before. :)
(Disclaimer – although I do read The Guardian on occasion, and I do value a point of view that believes that society is more than a collection of individuals, the sixth word in this post is not completely devoid of irony…)
I have mixed feelings about this.
Granted, some of the responses have been nasty enough to reinforce any European’s distaste for US culture – but heck, if I’d received this sort of pretentious letter from a foreigner – heck, from anyone - telling me how to cast my vote, I’d be pretty pissed off, too.
On the other hand, there is a serious point to be made here. I grew up hearing, every four years, that the Americans were electing a president ‘for all of us’, and it is obvious that the choice of US president has ramifications far beyond US borders. But then, as
curia_regis pointed out recently, one would expect a country to look after its own interests first. And on the other hand, when I vote, isn’t it incumbent on me to acknowledge that in casting a vote I have a share of personal responsibility for the consequences, should it affect the outcome? Personally, I want to know how the lives of other people in the world are affected by British foreign policy. But I also want to be respected to make my own decision on how to cast my vote. And if I’m completely honest, it may well be that domestic considerations would take a higher priority, depending on circumstances.Anyhow, I reckon the Guardian has shot itself in the foot a bit here. Yes, there is probably a need for greater person-to-person communication about the effects of all countries’ foreign policy, but right before an election is not the time to do it. Unfortunately, there seems to be a section of the US population that regards the preferences of non-Americans to be by definition bad for America, so expressing a preference might be counter-productive.
If you disagree, and you aren’t eligible to vote next week, and you want to have a say, check out this site before the end of the weekend.
Oh, and one final question to any Americans reading this: I was really intrigued about all the references to teeth in those responses from the US – is it a common stereotype in the US, that we Brits all have bad teeth? I hadn’t heard that one before. :)
(Disclaimer – although I do read The Guardian on occasion, and I do value a point of view that believes that society is more than a collection of individuals, the sixth word in this post is not completely devoid of irony…)
