"I'll write an open letter to them!"
Sometimes, however, we feel so touched by someone's actions that we would really like to express our gratitude through a public announcement of praise. We consider writing an open letter to say thank you.
Many great thinkers in history have considered the power of writing open letters. And often these letters have made a huge difference in the lives of their peers. Mostly for the better.
This lens tells the stories of such letters and their authors.
Contents of this lens:
- What does that mean - "open letter"?
- Quick! Two examples:
- Open Letter To Obama Video With Lyrics
- Open Letter to the World
- The "Other Side"...
- On a lighter note...
- Open Letters to George W. Bush
- To whom would you like to write an open letter?
- Open letters to people or entities who are unlikely to respond
- 1963 Martin Luther King from Birmingham jail
- "Open Letter to Obama", and other open letter videos
- A very special "Open Letter to Obama"
- Books containing open letters
- A fascinating read!
- Help with letter writing...
- The shortest open letter ever written...
- Margaret Schaut's Blog - An Ongoing "Open Letter"
- Join the Masterpiece Movement on Squidoo Group...
- Visit the Isle of Squid
- Love This Lens?
- No open letter necessary!
- A bit more about me...
What does that mean - "open letter"?
Usually, we'd like to let as many people as possible know about our issues with a person, an institution, or a situation. We write down our statement and post it on a blog, address it to the editor of a newspaper, or take out a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times. Or, run a TV ad if we have a few extra smackeroos in our millionaire piggy bank.We might intend to:
- Emphasize our position on an issue
- Inform a large audience of our target's wrongs and try to force a change
- Try to begin or close a discussion on that topic
Quick! Two examples:
Night and day, so to speak...
- Martin Luther - a historical piece.
- Martin Luther's "Open Letter to The Christian Nobility of the German Nation" (1520) was written after it had become clear to him that his separation from the papal church would be final and permanent. This read is not as dry as it might sound. Lots of medieval passion here!
- Candy to Britney - a hysterical piece.
- Open letter from Candy Spelling to Britney Spears: "Britney - it's no pap smear!"
Read it, if you must. (Go ahead - I know you can't wait!)
Open Letter To Obama Video With Lyrics
Open Letter to the World
Beginning a discussion...
The "Other Side"...
...the debate continues
On a lighter note...
...we'll get serious again, later!
This Malaysian blogger offers a hilarious template with drop-down menus:"How to write an open letter to the PM"
Open Letters to George W. Bush
Please vote!
I could have written "President Bush" in the title, but then I'd have to edit this lens again in a few months...
An open letter from Michael Moore to George W. Bush
Official web site of Michael Moore1 point
Letter to President Bush on the War on Terrorism
Bill Kristol and The New American Century0 points
Open Letters to George W. Bush from his ardent admirer, Belacqua Jones
Several open letters on this blog0 points
The Nation
Open letter to Laura Bush, by Sharon Olds, "T more...0 points
CommonDreams.org
Ralph Nader writes...0 points
Democrats' letter to President Bush - CNN.com
This is the open letter Senate Majority Leader Har more...0 points
Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy
Concerned Arab and Muslim intellectuals...0 points
Four and a Half Years Later
Sean Penn wrote this open letter to the President. more...0 points
Evangelical leaders
Open letter in the "New York Times"0 points
Open Letter To President Bush by Phyllis Schlafly
...on the Ramos and Compean trial0 points
9/11 victim Ellen Mariani
"This open letter is coming from my heart. I more...0 points
To whom would you like to write an open letter?
Vote for your favorite recipient of "your 5 cents worth"...
Gordon Brown - UK Prime Minister...
..but probably not for very much longer.1 point
Open letters to people or entities who are unlikely to respond
Timothy McSweeney's site features many hilarious open letters to celebrities, corporations, neighbors, foods, animals and much more.Here are some choice examples:
- Shirley MacLaine - An 11-year-old was sent to Ms. MacLaine's apartment by Senator McGovern's campaign office to return the book "Adultery and its Compatibility with Marriage". 36 years later, he wonders about that...
- Intestinal Parasites - Hilarious goodbye-letter to some nasty critters
- Geraldo - A fairly "high" hotel janitor causes a fire and is fired later for stealing a cherry danish in the presence of Geraldo...
- Fake Boobs - Open letter to the fake boobs that the writer's husband bought for his ex-girlfriend. Very funny!
Go see the whole collection of letters - it's a trip!
Here's my favorite link:
"Open Letter to Obama", and other open letter videos
Free speech in action
A very special "Open Letter to Obama"
This blogger asks Obama to start talking "real politics". This intelligent common-sense letter is a great example of style and substance, so often missing in our political discussions.
Books containing open letters
A fascinating read!
Open Letters: Selected Writings, 1965-1990
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 07/09/2009)
List Price: $15.95
Used Price: $0.99
Vaclav Havel was Chechoslovakia's leading dissident before becoming that nation's president. His musings on Gorbachev, police harassment and injustice make for a fascinating read.
Release Date: 06/02/1992
Avg. Customer Rating: 
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Help with letter writing...
...right here on squidoo.com (of course!)
Tips and tutorials, inspiration and instructions - find info on conversational, formal, freelance, business, hobby, custom - all kinds of writing styles in these great lenses.
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As a communication expert, working with corporate more...0 points
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The cover letter can usually seem like dead weight more...0 points
The shortest open letter ever written...
From: Chef Keem
To: Seth Godin, squidoo.com and all lensmasters
March 22, 2008
Thank you!
Margaret Schaut's Blog - An Ongoing "Open Letter"
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- Open Letters review
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No open letter necessary!
Just a comment, please...
Well, a comment in a public guest book is an open letter, right?
Please let me know what you think about this lens.
lollyj wrote...
Your fine mind and the way you apply it to your lenses is always amazing to me. This one is quite unique, an interesting mix of serious and humorous.
In one way or another, all my lenses and my blog are open letters to the world.
Posted April 24, 2009
karen550 wrote...
I love this lens. It is so unique. What a great concept. Afterall, isn't that what we are all writing...open letters, yet personalized. Thanks so much for sharing. I enjoyed the Letter From Birmingham.
Posted April 22, 2009
JaguarJulie wrote...
OMG! Reading through your list about who I would like to send an open letter to -- my eyes stopped on proctologist! Hmmm, dirty job, but someone has to do it, right??? My experience a couple of years ago was indeed memorable -- my doctor is rather adorable in that when we discussed one of the procedures -- I had 3! -- he said he like performing it as it was rather like a video game. Yep. Now, the barium enema guy didn't have such a good sense of HUMOR!
Posted April 20, 2009
OhMe wrote...
Great work. I am one of the ones that talks about writing Open Letters but don't usually follow through. I think you may have inspired me. Thank you.
Posted April 18, 2009
luvmyludwig wrote...
One of my lenses is an open letter, I tend to write open letters when I upset about something then I ball it up and toss it signifying to myself that I said my piece and can move on. I am one of those people who has to say my piece, but I do have the forethought to do it in an open letter that I will only read when the situation warrants that I just deal with whatever it is at the moment. Open letters are one of the ways that I deal with emotions and process them.
Great Lens!
Posted March 26, 2009
A bit more about me...
Lensmaster chefkeem, aka Achim Thiemermann, has been a member since January 29 2008, has rated 2,540 lenses, favorited 1,943, and has created 123 lenses from scratch. Achim Thiemermann donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund and Operation Helmet. This member's top-ranked page is "Best Tres Leches Coconut Macaroons". See all my lenses
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