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We know, you have probably heard it a 100 times from teachers, websites, and anyone who hears you complain about something you wish could change in your community "Why don't you write a letter?". So now we are saying it too, WRITE A LETTER! Officials will listen, especially if they are local leaders.
In a world that revolves around people communicating through their computers, we often forget how nice it is to get a personal, hand-written letter from a friend or pen pal. A "snail-mailed" letter gives you a chance to talk directly to any politician or elected official and have them listen to you. The truth is that 90% of the time, adults make 100% of the decisions about what happens in your life. Break that cycle and tell them what you're thinking.
The Who
Figure out who should get your letter.
The elected official you choose is up to you, (but local officials are usually best). Click your way to your town's website to find the names and addresses of town and school officials. Here is a great resource for finding your state's official website. Canadians can try this site or find your MP here.
If you choose to write about an issue involving your school you should also send a copy of the letter to your School Board President (your school secretary has this information).
DO IT!
Choose whether you want to type or handwrite the letter. Don't underestimate the power of a handwritten letter. If you write the letter yourself, it will stand out from the piles of faxes and emails officials and representatives receive daily.
Pen Points:
- A short direct letter = a powerful letter, officials don't have a lot of time, so the longer the letter the greater chance your message will not reach them quickly enough.
- If you decide to handwrite your letter, make sure your writing is neat and legible. If other people can’t read your writing, then they won’t read your letter.
- Be polite; don’t be too aggressive about your opinion.
- Include your name, address, and ways to contact you (phone number, email) on the letter AND the envelope.
- Be as specific as possible with your concerns and requests. Elected officials deal with a lot of problems every day, but if they see that you have a particular problem or issue in mind, then it'll be easier for them to take action to resolve it.
- Keep in mind that facts carry a lot more weight than reasons such as "because it’s bad" or "because I like it."
If writing to members of the U.S. House of Representatives: |
If writing to members of the U.S. Senate: |
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Date The Honorable (full name) Dear Representative (last name): |
Date The Honorable (full name) Dear Senator (last name): |
Passion is contagious. There are some basic structure rules you should follow when writing an official letter, but otherwise, make the letter yours. The more genuinely and passionately you write, the more effectively your message will be driven home to your local official.
I AM TIRED OF ALL THIS RACISM IN THIS WORLD!!!!
JUST GET OVER THE FACT THAT MEXICANS, LATINOS AND THE OTHER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAN DO EVERY THING BETTER THAN WE AMERICANS CAN OKAY! THEY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE. I HAVE BEEN HANGING AROUND HISPANIC PEOPLE ALL MY LIFE AND MY FIANCE IS ALSO A LATINO FROM GUATEMALA. HE IS A WONDERFUL PERSON. I AM JUST SICKEN TIRED OF PEOPLE BEING SO MEAN AND RACIS AROUND HERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT. ALSO IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THEY ARE OVER HERE ILLEGALLY OR NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE PART OF THE UNITED STATES AND AMERICANS NEED THEM TO SURVIVE JUST AS THEY NEED US. THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE ONCE YOU GET TO KNOW THEM AND GET OVER THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL THE SAME NO MATTER WHAT LANGUAGE WE SPEAK, OR WHAT WE LOOK LIKE. IF EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD WAS THE SAME THEN THE WORLD WOULD BE A UGLY AND DUMB PLACE. THANK GOD FOR HISPANICS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BEST. THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS ALSO REALLY MESSED UP BECAUSE HOW IN THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO GO TO SOMEONES WORK AND JUST STOP THEM FROM WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING AND DEPORT THEM BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY. YOU CAN NOT HURT PEOPLE LIKE THAT, YOU CAN NOT TAKE PEOPLE FROM THEIR CHILDREN AND OTHER FAMILY MEMEBERS. IS UN- HUMAN AND A HURT TO SOCIETY. THIS IS JUST WRONG. THE WORLD SHOULD BE FREE AND THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY AND LIVE WHERE EVER THEY MAY CHOOSE. HOW ARE WE GOING TO TELL SOMEONE THAT THEY CANT LIVE IN AMERICA JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AN AMERICAN CITIZENA, WE CANT AS LONG AS THEY DONT HAVE ANY BAD RECORDS I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY, EAT, SLEEP, PLAY HAPPILY AND LIVE A PEACEFULL LIFE OVER HERE AS LONG AS THEY PLEASE. POR FAVOR AMERICANOS!!!!!!!! THATS WHY JOHN EDWARDS SHOULD BE VOTED FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE CAN FIX THIS MESSED UP UNITED STATES THAT ALL THE DUMB REPUBLICANS CREATED.
Immigartion
The country of the United States has always being a country of immigration how can we stop this? Well i think that even though if we thy the hardest we can immmigration will never stop. To my poimt of view I think that congress should make something that will work out for example many immigrant had been living here for about 15 years long and still can become citizens so why not make them citizens if they have follow the laws(payed taxes, clear criminal records etc).As for protection we shoul improve the protection on the border to stop immigration and instead we can make visas for temporal work time. This way the people are going to come for while only for work, visit and then go back to their homecountry.