I have to say, with all due respect, that I don't agree we are fighting for our very foundation. Our foundation is just what will resolve the whole issue sooner or later. None of this would even have been an issue if the vote hadn't been so amazingly close. (We had an entire county in Iowa that was split exactly in half--the same number of votes for Bush as for Gore.) I don't believe this is the first time a ballot has been difficult to decipher, and I don't believe it's the first time that voting irregularities have occurred. It's just the first time those problems have come out of the shadows, purely because of the nearly equal split in votes. If the vote had been split 60/40, there would be no question about who had won, and these issues wouldn't be such a big deal, if they came to light at all. There are procedures in place to resolve the problem, and in due time, I believe they will be resolved. Unfortunately, approximately one-half of the population will probably be unhappy with the results, and I'm afraid I will probably be one of that group! (I will console myself with the thought that it gives the "other party's" candidate an opportunity to prove he's no better at being president than my party's candidate!) ;-) I think it's important that we not get into a panic over this. It will be very interesting and educational to see how it all plays out, but life will go on, and one of these days it will all be an interesting part of history. That's my take on the whole thing, and I think having a sense of humor about it helps to keep it in perspective. Isn't it great, and aren't we lucky, that we have laws and rules already in place to resolve the conflict? Dorie ----- Original Message ----- From: Angie <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 20, 2000 10:03 AM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] Reply to British Revocation Announcement > Hello, > > At first I did not understand what this conversation had to do with German > Life. But now I think I get the connection. It must be all those AMERICANS > who risked their lives in W.W.II or else you "obedient servants of Her > Majesty" would know a whole lot more about German Life. > > I am sorely disappointed in this conversation and the fact that it was > allowed. Isn't this the same list that spent well over a month in a > discussion that strove to break the stereotypes of Germans? > > Please understand that the current state of affairs deeply concern many > Americans. We are fighting for our very foundation. Making fun right now is > down right rude. > > Angie > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, November 17, 2000 11:10 PM > Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] Reply to British Revocation Announcement > > > > In a message dated 17/11/00 21:11:40 GMT Standard Time, [email protected] > writes: > > Our considered replies > > << Since receiving the royal announcement, I have a few questions to as > the > > new > > goverment. > > 1. Must we salute the queen with all our fingers displayed or can we be > > selective? > > One does NOT salute the Queen (Note the capital Q) unless one is a member > of > > the armed forces when a regulation salute, made with the cap on you will > > note, never as is done in the United States sometimes in a hatless > condition. > > If one is male the correct thing to do is bow, if female, a curtsey is > > appropriate. Tuition will be given. > > 2. How many East Indian doctors will manage our clinics for public health > > care? > > About as many as appear to be employed in similar establishments in > America > > except that in the U.K. they are Indian or Pakistani. > > 3. Must we relearn how to cook bacon? > > We will allow you to retain your culinary skills, such as they are. > > 4. How can I get a seat in the house of commons and who will count the > > ballots? > > US citizens will not be eligible for a seat in the House of Commons (Note > the > > capital letters) until candidates can refrain from the overheated frenzy > of > > elections that appear to be the norm up to this time. Placards, balloons > and > > funny hats will not be countenanced. Neither will donations of more than a > > modest sum of money be allowed. Vote counting will be carried out by an > > official called the "Returning Officer" The voting issues will be simple, > > provided that the voter is able to read and write. > > A simple piece of paper bearing the names of all the candidates and their > > political party will be handed to the voter at the Polling Station. This > will > > only be provided after his or name has been checked on the register of > > voters. A X at the side of the name of the candidate of your choice is all > > that is required. There will be no other position than the vacancy for a > > Member of Parliament. Papers will not list vacancies for petty local > > officials. > > 5. Who will be crazy enough to direct traffic the first day we switch to > > driving on the left side of the roads? > > We suggest that it would help to slim down the local police force if they > > were to perform this duty. They could then be slightly prouder of the > garish > > badges that appear to be the present fashion. > > 6. Are we permitted to throw bombs on Guy Faulk's day? > > One should first learn how to spell the name which is Guy Fawkes. To throw > a > > bomb would not be emulating this person. Mr. Fawkes did not throw anything > > anywhere. He deposited barrels of gunpowder under the Houses of > Parliament. > > Caught and executed, you might remember that. > > 7. Do we get tax credit for wasting all those previous dollars on English > > sport cars? > > Do you mean precious or previous? Certainly you may claim if you have a > > legitimate and provable case. Bear in mind though that any claim may be > set > > against a certain model of unstable car called a "Discovery" and for > > cleansing the streets of the United Kingdom of discarded containers and > > wrappers from what are euphemistically called "fast food outlets" > > Dictated by and signed by > > John Bull > > Her Majesty's obedient servant > > Published in the Bradmore Gazette > > This 17th day of November in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand > > > > > >