A letter

The following is a letter I sent as part of The Guardians Operation: Clark County.

See http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1331922,00.html

Dear Candy,

I am writing to you as part of a campaign initiated by a British newspaper ‘The Guardian’ which gives readers the opportunity to send letters to registered voters in Clarke County, Ohio, in advance of the upcoming presidential election. After registering with the campaign I was provided with your name and address

I would like to start then with some apologies. First, I would like to apologise for imposing upon your time in this way. Second, I would like to apologise for being so presumptuous as to believe that you would be swayed simply on the basis of receiving a letter from someone you have never met. Finally, I would like to apologise for my handwriting; I have tried to make it as legible as possible for you but I acknowledge, and I know that my Mum would agree, that it is awful.

So, why did I decide to take part in the campaign? Well, it wasn’t because I wanted to talk to you about a specific political issue that I am passionate about. It wasn’t because I have a special insight into US politics, and it certainly wasn’t because I thought I could have an impact on the eventual outcome. Instead, I decided to take part because I really wanted to get involved in something that will have such a huge impact on everyone around the world, not just those lucky enough to actually get a direct say in the result.

So, why do I care who wins? Well, I care because I have a young daughter and another child that will be born this coming February and I know that what happens on November 2nd will touch their lives in many ways. I care who wins because I want them to grow up in world where we respect and protect our environment. I care who wins because I want them to grow up in a world which is not run in the interests of massive corporations. I care who wins because I want my children to grow up in a world where we don’t just accept that some people have and others do not. I care who wins because I want them to grow up in a world where we respect and cherish the fact that people have different beliefs and values. I care who wins because if I didn’t then I would be failing in my duty as a father.

There is one final reason why I took part in the campaign and wrote you this letter. That is because I love your country and I love its people. I was lucky enough to spend a summer living in America and I think back to that time with great fondness, partly because of the places I visited, partly because it was when my wife and I got engaged, but mainly because I met so many wonderful caring and generous people. So, I can’t describe to you how sad it is for me to see the reputation of these people damaged essentially by one man.

Therefore all I ask is that when you cast your vote please spare a thought for a small family in England and, if you do not already plan to do so, please vote for John Kerry.

With regards

Nick Wylie

Spelling errors courtesy of Nick

I feel obliged to apologise most sincerely for my husbands lack of literacy. The "shepherds" will be distraught, not happy!

Anyway, suffice to say, I'll be marking and re-drafting Nick's work before publishing from now on!

Liz

The sheperds were happy this night! 

An early career choice? 

No news is...well a bit boring really.

That, I'm afraid, is the story behind the lack of activity on the WylieNews website over the past few weeks. The best that we can do really is a (too dark) picture of Jessica combing mummy's hair and a beautiful sunset over semi-rural Warwickshire. However, in the coming weeks watch this site for pictures of my most ambitious DIY project to date - that's right, I'm attempting to 'do' (bit of DIY speak for you there) the downstairs bathroom with plasterboard and everything, who says it's not all go here. Unfortunately I am not in a position to give anyone a definite timescale for completion although if I can drag it out till Christmas then that could be Liz's present sorted! I do actually have a picture of the ceiling that I completed at the weekend (well a picture of the second ceiling I completed, the first one having fallen on my head - no really) but feel it would be much more meaningful in a sort of then and now style. So, until then I will say goodbye.

Nick