Letters and such

William Munny: "You sure you ain't armed?"
WW Beauchamp: "No. Look, I'm not. I don't have a gun. I never had a gun. I write. I'm a writer."
William Munny: "A writer?"
WW Beauchamp: "Yes."
William Munny: "Letters and such?"

from Unforgiven


I was sitting at my desk the other night, writing a letter to my Uncle Jack, thinking about, among other things, how little we write letters these days. With email, instant messaging, cell phones and what not the need for the hand written letter has decreased substantially. I probably write twice as many letters as most people (which ain't saying much), but it seems that just about everyone I correspond with grew up during a time when writing letters was the norm (that is to say they're old). In some cases writing letters is the only reliable way for me to correspond with these friends and family members since they don't have access to the internet, and in other cases it just seems more personal than email.

These days I throw away or shred more than half of my mail. It seems the letter is only good for mass communications, advertising and solicitation these days. Any time I open my mailbox and see hand writing on an envelope it is about as surprising as finding a snake in my boots... or something like that. Hell, some solicitors these days try to simulate hand writing on their envelopes and letters just cause it seems more personal and gets your attention better. Of course, when you then see that it is mass produced it just turns you off to the offer even more.

I think we should try to write more letters, and keep the letters that we receive. Think of the historical significance of letters in the founding of our country. We first look to the Declaration of independent and the Constitution when trying to determine the founders' intent, but then we start looking at the letters they wrote. Thomas Jefferson's views on the structure of government can be better understood by how he wrote about it to his friends and family. Ben Franklin's designs for democracy are evident in the letters he wrote to others. And let's not forget that a large portion of the New Testament is Paul's letters to his friends, rather than a journal or mediations on his faith.

Let's not forget the significance of the letter, how it can come to be more than simple communication over time. Do you remember the joy you used to feel as a kid when you learned that you had mail, when you got a letter? There is no reason you can't feel that way again, or make someone else feel that way again. Give it a shot, see if you like it. Write a letter.