Posted on 11/17/2008 9:59:58 PM PST by AmericanGirlRising
This past weekend husband and wife FReepers flew to Washington DC to pick up our niece. Departing from Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport, we waited at the Delta gate of our delayed flight. With an open copy of Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism on my lap, and the latest National Review peaking out of my handbag, I looked up to see none other than Congressman John Lewis (D). The same race card playing John Lewis whose remarks in the final days of the campaign likened John McCain and Sarah Palin to George Wallace.
Upon seeing him there, I immediately folded my Goldberg book and laid it on top of my purse, in Lewis' plain sight. When I removed my reading glasses and stood up, my husband, the calm one in the family, said "use your head" under his breath. To determine the mindset of my opponent, I recently read Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals and my husband didn't want its instructions exercised at gate A7.
A few minutes later, we boarded the plane. Unafraid, I walked past John Lewis, tilted the book in his line of sight and looked him straight in the face. He turned away.
After arriving in Washington DC, we were picked up at the curb by our niece. We drove into the city, grabbed some chow and headed for sleep.
Our niece's work in DC has been with middle school kids. One of their popular tours is of the Newseum. Reluctantly, we went with our enthusiastic niece to see the Taj Mah-news. Once inside, I immediately asked who owns, supports it, etc. Not a single staffer could answer my question, they all directed me to the wall of names in the lobby: ABC, NBC, NYT.... Annenburg Foundation. Needless to say, the niece now has a full understanding of Annenburg-Ayers-Obama. If the very people celebrated in the Newseum were doing their job, the niece would have been able to share the history of Annenburg with those middle schoolers. sigh...
Inside the Taj Mah-news, the most unbiased exhibit award goes to the FBI Files. Remarkably, the only criticism from this FReeper is the buried "DC Snipers" story while "Mississippi Burning" had a prominent display near the entrance. Otherwise, the curator seemed to do a fair and interesting job covering the selected FBI breakthroughs. Ted Kaczynsky's cabin told a story of its own.
From the outdoor roof of the Newseum, you get a terrific view of the Capitol. Spotting a few protesters, we stopped to watch them yell "free Tibet" into a megaphone. As the crowd grew, we learned from the roof guard the G20 members were driving by in a few minutes. We watched as they closed the surrounding streets and fifteen members of of the G20 motorcaded down Pennsylvania Avenue. Met with groups protesting China, unborn babies, and Prop 8, the motorcades sped right past. Speaking of Prop 8 protesters, we watched a few hundred of them scream, chant, and swear until the rain poured. God can break up a protest faster than any police force.
Later, we walked to the White House. Walking past the National Archive, a microphoned megaphone voice broke the air from above. Sitting atop a three-story scafold, a camoflague-clad, twenty-something male was reading the names of military service members next to a banner reading 'Veterans for Peace." Sitting below him on the concrete ledge, five gray-haired, bearded men sporting sweatshirts printed with "IMPEACH BUSH." The disgrace of using the names of fallen soldiers for their political gain was saddening and horrifying at once. They were demonstrating on the building that houses our most sacred American document - the Constitution - using the names of soldiers whom they had NO IDEA if those soldiers supported the war, President Bush, or their printed sweatshirts.
My niece immediately walked to a cop and asked, "Are they allowed to be doing this?" Female officer replied, "No." Which led to, "Is somebody going to be doing something about this?" Female officer replied, "We're not allowed to tell ya what's goin' on." Three hours later, the IMPEACH BUSH bunch - megaphone and all - were still there.
I knew this would be my last tourist trip to DC for the next four years, but I had no idea how the things I saw and heard would sadden my heart and shock my mind. When we reached the White House, I stood silent, cheeks pressed between the iron fence. Staring at the back of our historic home of leadership, warm tears rolled down both cheeks. I could no longer hold my emotion, and quietly cried. As my niece and husband snapped pictures for other tourists, I dried my eyes and face. Before we left that sidewalk, we joined hands and prayed for our country. We prayed to God for leadership, guidance, and mercy.
The day ended after dinner, a glass of wine, and packing for the Sunday drive home.
On our way out of town, we stopped at the new September 11 Memorial at the Pentagon. It is truly beautiful. We especially loved the thought put into the recognition of each victim, and the positioning of the metal platforms.
I'm almost middle-age, but the changes in our nation's capitol just in my lifetime are startling. I've been to every major American city many times, I live in one. Washington DC's dirty streets, abundant homeless population, frequent street closings, and dirty bathrooms never bothered me. However, this trip signaled that Washington has changed, but I have not.
Almost finished with Goldberg's Liberal Fascism, thanks to the 10-hour drive. Leaving DC, my solid sense of fight returned. The far-left may have won this battle in the war for our nation. But I can damn well guarantee they will never win the war, on my watch.
My copy just came in the mail yesterday. I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking this way! lol!
Well written.
Good read.
Thanks and God Bless.
I lived in the DC burbs for the past thirty four years and saw and heard it all. Protest is allowed in this society, but it is worth noting that only a minuscule number of us are protesters. Those who are not build lives, homes, business, highways and the many other things that make society work. We have that to celebrate, an it is far greater than those things that some protest.
Very thorough report; thank you for your efforts. I was in D.C. twice, once in 1963 as a child — it was beautiful as I recall then, hot summer days spent touring monuments and such —
The second visit was in 1971, as a young adult — when I drove through with a Navy nurse friend who’d been overseas and wanted to stop at Bethesda to greet some friends she’d met while on duty. Again D.C. seemed nice, at least the touristy areas. We did not stay long —
I’m glad I had the experiences I had — would not want to return to D.C. now for any reason. Such a shame the capital city is such a sewer for the most part — and one must put up with all these obnoxious dissidents at every turn. Too bad they can’t just be branded traitors and banished from the country.
I have a copy on order, too. Maybe we should get a book circle together on FR and read it together?
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