Dear beloved Utopian,
As you know, last month Utopia was
inundated with unsolicited packages,
bearing a cryptic message about
experiencing:
,
together with the injunction to ÔTravel OregonªÕ
and various paperwork on a city called
ÔSalemÕ which is apparently ÔNaturally Inspired!ªÕ
We honor you in advance for
undertaking a Ôfirst contactÕ investigation
and look forward to your careful
report.
Our foreign intelligence has
established
that Salem is the capitol of Oregon,
that its name signifies Ôpeace,Õ
and that its ÔdowntownÕ is exemplary
of Ôsmall-town American valuesÕ.
We ask that your investigation of
downtown Salem adhere to standard protocols and format:
Befriend an agreeable local
(preferably one of the ÔmorosophsÕ from a nearby educational
establishment called ÔWUÕ,
since they profess to believe that
Ônot unto ourselves alone are we bornÕ).
Walk about, mark your route on the
map of the downtown below,
and convey to us in rich detail what
you see.
Do not try to entertain with fanciful
exaggerations, or lengthy descriptions of their technology.
Instead, describe the actual quality
of life and social interactions of Salemites.
Evaluate their lives, including their
political arrangements, economic activities, and cultural pastimes.
How do they measure up according to
Utopian Values? Is everyone happy? Do they share?
Be sure to justify and defend your
evaluation against potential objections,
including the attitudes and arguments
of your local morosoph guide.
Highlight those aspects, if any, of
life in Salem, Oregon, America
from which we might learn something.
Your report should be 10
double-spaced pages or approximately 3000 words of lucid prose
(as always, we want you to work hard
but not exhaust yourself).
May the wisdom of King Utopus be with
you, and speed your report back to us by
Monday November 19, 2007.
Sincerely,
YY
Syphogrant Ykeehc Yeknom
City of
Salem ÔDowntownÕ
P.S.
DonÕt forget your
