Meredith Wheeler (NTW) - Naked!

http://www.connexionfrance.com/the-global-reach-of-us-expat-votes-10073-news-article.html

The global reach of US expat votes

Connexion edition: February 2008

Americans living abroad were not permitted to vote in U.S. elections before the 1980s, yet millions of Americans are living overseas these days - an estimated 50,000 in Paris alone - and the numbers are growing. Democrats Abroad France is one of 75 active committees around the world connecting Americans with US politics. This non-profit organisation elects eight members to serve on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and sends 22 people, with nine votes, to the Democratic National Convention every four years. They are considered to be the 51st state. On both grass-roots and global levels, the events they help organise range from debates, lectures and movie nights to dinners and fundraisers. But most importantly, they motivate and assist overseas Americans to vote.

Southwest France:

DESPITE growing up in the staunch Republican northern suburbs of Chicago, Meredith Wheeler founded and chairs the SW Chapter of Democrats Abroad France, based around Toulouse - where the high tech industries and a relaxed lifestyle attracts many nationalities, including Americans and Brits. She was also among the founders of American Voices Abroad, a European coalition of American activists who opposed to the war on Iraq before it was launched. How did she get started? “I organised one of those demonstrations where everyone strips naked and lies in a group spelling out, in this case, Paix - literally making peace on earth,” she said. “It was a freezing cold day in February 2003," she recalls, "and the newspaper photographer was 45 minutes late. At age 51, I wasn't looking forward to taking off my kit but this seemed the best way to show the French that many Americans in France opposed this war. My British husband (actor Robin Ellis of Poldark fame) participated too, along with local volunteers from France, Italy, Denmark and Holland. Mercifully, the picture resolution was very fuzzy!"

Just back from political meetings in Italy where she addressed the Italian Stop the War committee, Meredith found it sobering that a recent international poll revealed that the United States is considered the most dangerous nation in the world today but the former ABC news journalist is not discouraged or deterred.

She is focused on helping Americans register to vote and concerned about the political burn-out and apathy - "the mid-term blahs" - although this November's American elections are heating up. To counter the ennui, her DA chapter runs "Café Américain political salons" named after Humphrey Bogart's gin-joint in the classic film, Casablanca. “It seemed appropriate,” she said, “political intrigue, war, foreigners abroad, idealism curdled into cynicism - then transformed by truth, courage and humour.” With As Time Goes By playing in the background, 18 Americans and Britons gathered for an animated evening dissecting the American political scene over a dining table covered with newspapers in lieu of a table cloth. "Most Brits I meet are as horrified by the current U.S. Administration as we are", says Wheeler. "And we Americans can't understand what happened to Tony Blair either."

Not all soirees go so harmoniously. While giving a political talk at an English language bookstore, Meredith was amazed to find her speech being heckled by an Englishman. “It escalated into a shouting match in the audience until the heckler stormed off. The baffled French enjoyed it as street theatre demanding urgently - ‘could someone please translate?’ Another French woman whispered, 'I thought all Englishmen were known for their understatement!'