Open Letters

Ranked #118 in Culture & Society, #2,824 overall | Donates to Operation Helmet

"I'll write an open letter to them!"

Don't we all think, occasionally: "I'll write a public letter!" or, "I'll write to the New York Times!"? Sometimes we feel so hurt that all we want to do is write down our anger and issue an open letter. Write to the top. Let the world know what's wrong and who made it so.

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. Do you know how to write an open letter?

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 their stories and features examples of open letters.

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!)

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"

To whom would you like to write an open letter?

Vote for your favorite recipient of "your 5 cents worth"...

Seth Godin

4 points

God

4 points

The World

4 points

Chef Keem

2 points

George W. Bush

1 point

John Lennon

1 point

Your Customers

1 point

Gordon Brown - UK Prime Minister...

..but probably not for very much longer.1 point

All business owners (the biggies, especially)

There is a genuine lack of customer service in tod more...1 point

President Obama

1 point

Britney Spears

0 points

The Devil

0 points

The Pope

0 points

Your Boss

0 points

Your Proctologist

0 points

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!

"Open Letter to Obama", and other open letter videos

Free speech in action

Open Letter to President Obama
by Funbobbasso | video info

3,028 ratings | 295,611 views
curated content from YouTube

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.

Best of Open Letters on Twitter

Best of:

Community write-ins:

Write a new tweet for this list! If chefkeem likes it, it could get picked for the best-of list above.

Add your own!110

Your message will be automatically sent via Twitter.

Books containing open letters

Loading

A fascinating read!

Open Letters: Selected Writings, 1965-1990

Amazon Price: $7.94 (as of 02/14/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $15.95
Used Price: $2.51

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

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

The shortest open letter ever written...

From: Chef Keem
To: Seth Godin, squidoo.com and all lensmasters
March 22, 2008



Thank you!

Visit the Isle of Squid

Directory of quality squidoo lenses

Isle of Squid
Go see a collection of lenses hand-picked for quality, and then submit your own
Open Letters review
Please go here and submit your review of this lens

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.

submit

A bit more about me...

Loading

by

chefkeem

Welcome to my lens, dear visitor! I hope you enjoy your stay. I'd like to invite my German-speaking friends to browse my articles on more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Sprechen Sie Deutsch? 

My articles on the German online portal PageWizz.com

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Open (the verb) Letters With A Sword 

The perfect way to open open letters!

Traditional Katana Sword Letter Opener Black

Amazon Price: $13.95 (as of 02/14/2012)Buy Now