I recently had the opportunity to visit Washington, DC. Yes, I ventured into the lion's den. It's no secret that I have a particular disdain for politicians. It seems like politicians are more concerned about getting re-elected than governing. Laws are passed to appease business interests rather than the general public. To lawmakers, the country is a bunch of businesses, not a bunch of people.
But I digress... back to DC.
Here I was in the power center of the planet. It was amazing. You could feel the power in the city. There were lawyers, tourists, politicians, lobbyists, lawyers, politicians, lobbyists and more tourists. Wow.
I was even more awed by the National Archives. There I got to see the actual US Constitution (all pages) in its glory. The thought, the imagination, the determination of this country's forefathers was amazing. I wish that that kind of patriotism existed today. When I left the Archives and stood outside, I was hit by a sudden swell of remorse and fear. I had seen a great document that was being trashed by politicians just up the street.
We went to the Library of Congress next. It was my wife's desire to get a library card there. This is something special to a Nationally Board Certified Language Arts teacher. I thought it was significant enough to apply for one myself. It now has a place of honor on my desk. Not necessarily a "tourist" thing to do, but totally cool. Especially on a first trip to the nation's capital.
Outside the Library of Congress, we were passed on Independence Avenue by a presidential motorcade. My wife shuddered, then she growled, and I almost thought I was going to see her give the limo the finger. But she is classier than that. It was pretty cool how the motorcade can maneuver through the streets with relative ease during rush hour! I was impressed. It wasn't our first. We were passed by Vice President Cheney's motorcade (which was doing about 80 MPH) on a freeway in Salt Lake City during the 2002 Winter Olympics. He was obviously on his way to an undisclosed location which we all knew was the Snowbird resort.
Back in DC, we ran into the motorcade a second time as we (and the President) were headed towards the White House. Again the reaction from my wife. I actually had to calm her. I told here we were more likely to run into our least favorite person (let along politician) since we were in HIS town, not ours. And I pointed out to her how I felt about DC. The whole city has a feel of power and history. Monuments that stand tall and strong. Documents that have amazingly out lived so many that have come and gone since it was conceived. The notion of the United States is a concept more powerful than a person dead set to weaken it (Cheney, not his puppet Bush).
I told her that she only needs to relax. Until, at least, the election process is completely removed from our reach. That Americans have rarely elected someone the same party for 12 consecutive years. The odds have it that a Democrat was going to the White House, we just don't know who yet. The popularity (or lack there of) and the unpopular war for oil in Iraq would guarantee it. That the concept of democracy and freedom was far greater than a man and his puppet. We will survive this administration. We survived Nixon. We survived Reagan. We will survive Bush. (I hope).
