Hi Michael,

I agree that the Tea Party activists have a right to their say. One reason they are so zealous is that they are opposing, and being the underdog means being scrappy and loud. The liberals are now on top, so we naturally sit back a bit. Believe me, when Bush was in office those 8 years, there were MILLIONS of
passionate activists out on the streets protesting his wars. The media didnt cover us, so it seemed like it wasnt happening, but it was. It was very unfortunate there was a nationwide abdication of responsibility to cover anti war activists by the mainstream media. Ironically, they now they are dutifully covering the Tea Party like they are some influential movement, – which, when they started, they certainly were not, but when the media covered them they got influential.

I believe one of the reasons Americans are not voting is because we are kept just comfortable enough to be complacent. If you sign people up earlier, perhaps you can instill a sense of duty and pride to continue voting. Also, young people add peer pressure to others to register and vote.

There are many folks who are certain they dont want to ever vote. Those folks are a waste of time, as they have made up their minds. Work to get to the ones who are so busy with their own lives they dont have the motivation to go out and seek a registration form, but if they run into you they will register with you. There are millions and millions of these people, and if you just concentrate on these people, you will still be busy for years. So making it easy for them to register, and giving them information on when and how to vote (or to vote absentee), is the best you can do. After that, it is up to them. In Australia, citizens are fined if they dont show up to vote, but in the United States it is purely voluntary.

Keep up the great work!

Alexandra

Dear Christophe,

Thank you for your lovely email, Because I spent 4 years in France as a child, I am so happy that there are tv shows about me there. I have fond memories of my best friend from that time, Marianne Peltzer, who is undoubtedly married with kids now! I wonder if she even knows I am an actress.

I know what you mean about sports not only being fun, but also giving you inner strength and self confidence. It isnt always easy to work out every day, but it is always worth it in the end!

I do feel lucky to be married to Ian, who is the most wonderful partner. I respect that, through his triathlon coaching, he helps people every day to feel good about themselves and to get in shape.

Keep up the active lifestyle with your son!

Alexandra

Hi Bethany,

I always attribute my mother being the reason for my activism, and probably the reason my sister and brother have always been involved with issues and making the world a better place.

My mom is super cool. She was born in England in 1936, so she was a young girl during the World War II. Surviving during the war taught her to not waste, as certain food and many things were rationed then. She passed this value on to me and my siblings as a strong environmental ethic of conserving the earth’s resources. I remember her being excited about becoming a US citizen and voting in every election. She recycled and composted, and boycotted Nestle in the 1970s because of their baby formula policy. She refused to buy iceberg lettuce to support farm workers. Before it became chic, Mom boycotted certain tuna that had dolphins as bycatch. My mom has always given blood regularly and volunteered for various organizations – the child care centre in my hometown of Cornwall, Connecticut, for example, and now for her local Oregon Action.

Even though my dad was a conservative Republican, he always supported our liberal activism. He loved his kids that much, and was even proud of us. He took me to my first No Nuke rally and didnt try to talk me out of becoming a vegetarian when I was 14. He loved animals more than anything, and he was a very generous benefactor to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. My dad read the New York Times daily, and his job took him around the world sometimes, so both my parents were aware of world affairs. I am grateful that they both supported my beliefs, even if they didn’t necessarily agree with me.

Best,

Alexandra