Thats a cool idea Jen...maybe you might want to reword it a bit... "presentation" sounds a bit formal. Also, many people have different ways of expressing what their passionate about-- maybe instead of a letter it could be a short summary of what the 'issue' is about and why you feel how you do about the topic? Also, maybe you could put some suggestions about what "passionate" topics you're thinking of...ie, global warming, republican/dem., civil rights, etc...

In general I think this is a very creative swap idea but I could see it getting a bit hairy...ie, what if someone made up a whole box about being pro-life and sent it to someone who was pro-choice? Ally for sex ed classes to someone who is staunchly against it? Christian items to a Jewish person?

You and I- I believe we're open people and willing to try to understand where others come from and that's GREAT..howver, the swap has the potencial to offend some, I guess- maybe that's why people are shying away?

Thanks for the suggestions, Muffina. I will reword it to include some of your suggestions. The idea was that we will either a) find someone who shares the same passion and viewpoints or b) be exposed to the things that someone else is passionate about and maybe get some insight into where they're coming from. Being someone who is a complete contradiction in my various viewpoints I'm almost certain of getting a peek at something that is NOT my personal view, but I'm looking forward to learning what makes someone else tick. I think you're right that anyone who might be upset by hearing a differing viewpoint would simply not join. I did find at least one person to sign up since posting here, so I am grateful and happy with that! Thanks again!

I don't see much of a problem with getting someone you might disagree with... that's sort of the point.

My resistance to join is really just that I always have trouble expressing myself. My "argumentative writing" class was kind of fun... but, mostly just extremely stressful for me. (Giving a presentation on birth control/Plan B/sex ed in a class run by an ex-pastor with 15 children, in the "Birthplace of the Republican Party," to a group of people who mostly wrote papers on pro-life and anti-gay-marriage topics. Whee.)

I do have a sort of collection of religious and political pamphlets, though... which is one reason this sounds awesome to me. I love getting pamphlets on things I might not agree with. And I have tons of them to give away.

So, I think I might just be shying away from the formality, like Muffina said. I'd love to write a letter about a topic I'm passionate about, as long as it doesn't have to be "persuasive." Just me talking about what I believe, how long I've felt that way... what sort of action I take because of it.

Awesome - it sounds like you'd do fine, but, of course, it's not meant to make anyone feel uncomfortable. The idea is to just express why you feel passionately about a certain view. It doesn't have to be anything more than that. So often we have to hold back so we don't step on anyone's toes. We have to be careful about not offending someone's delicate sensibilities when we really want to just go off, no holds barred. The idea is to be able to write about something we care about without having to worry about that. That's what I was going for. P.S. There are a few places that claim to be the birthplace of the GOP. I wonder which one you are referring to? I've been to Ripon, Wisconsin! On purpose even.

Jackson, Michigan... which is supposedly where they thought of creating the party, then went to Wisconsin to actually do it. Apparently we just claim anything we can around here.

I've been to Michigan once before, too! There are only a few states I've visited, but that is one of them. I'm glad you joined :) We've got four total participants now and I'm pleased as punch.