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| Robert Schuman, 'Père de l'Europe' and co-founder of the European Coals and Steel Community (EU forerunner) |
Well, actually it is Karen Melchior who wants you to vote. This is the story.
I was cold-called, last
Friday. Or rather cold-emailed. Someone mailed me, someone called
Karen Melchior, and she drew my attention to the fact that foreigners - EU-citizens, that is -
can register to vote for the European Parlement. The deadline for
registration is 22 april, did I know that?
No, I didn't, and I did
not know her either. In fact, I felt a little bit spammed, but
instead of throwing away her mail I mailed her back. Because I was
curious about the why and how of her e-mail. And also because I felt
SO tempted to click on the link in her mail. But clicking on links in
mails from persons you don't know, is the grown-up version of
following the man who promises you candy. You don't do that.
So I wrote a very short
mail, and did not expect much out of it, other than it being bounced.
But no. Within twenty
minutes, I got a reply, in which she apologised for spamming and
explained that the tempting link in fact was a link to the site of
the Ministry of Economy and Internal Affairs, showing how you can
register tor vote in Denmark as a European citizen. And the reason
she mailed me, was that she had read my blog.
That flattered me right
into outer space, of course. So now I am spamming you with a call to
come out to register and vote – if you are a European citizen, that
is.
Sad thing is that I
cannot vote in Denmark myself. I, as a dutiful Dutch citizen, have
already registered to vote in Holland, by letter. It was more of a
democratically inspired Pavlov-reaction than a well-considered
political deed – which realised when I received the Danish
registration papers in the mail. Then it dawned on me that it was
perhaps a better idea to vote for Danish candidates. After all, I
live in Denmark. But then again, we are all one big European family. Or are we? But I digress...
So please register, in
your own country or here, and vote. And if you are casting your vote in Denmark, you might
consider voting for Karen Melchior. I can't.
