After delays and overcrowded planes and about twelve hours of traveling, I finally made it to Washington DC. The shuttle ride was my grand introduction into the world of DC politics, as it was full of tea-partiers that were coming in from Oklahoma and Seattle. Our driver, an Ethiopian, made the mistake of asking some of them what the tea-parties were all about. One of the younger tea-partiers, a loud, brash and rather homely high school girl from Oklahoma decided to explain. She gave a passionate sermon about how we need to take the government back from Obama. She had the overall idea of the tea-party mixed up a bit, and her rant was a major turn-off. I consider myself a pretty conservative person, and I have my fair share of issues with Obamaology, but for some reason I just found her to be really annoying. The Ethiopian disagreed with her, and the rest of the drive was a 6 on 1 argument over everything from healthcare to the wars. After about twenty seconds of that, I put on my noise cancelling headphones and passed the rest of the ride in blissful silence.
I got to my room and realized I was missing some essentials like toilet paper and food, so I took a trip to the 24 hour CVS pharmacy a few blocks away. By the time I got to bed it was about 4, so I slept like a rock.
The next morning I woke up and went with a few new friends to the tea-party to check it out. It was spectacular, with close to a million people gathered together around the reflection pool. The crowd was so thick you couldn’t even move through it, and it stretched all the way up the Lincoln memorial, down to the Washington monument, and deep into the trees all the way around. There were large groups that wore matching tee-shirts that signified where they had all come from, families all holding flags, and several tea-partiers in real colonial outfits. Wigs and all. In summer heat and humidity that was killing me in a t-shirt and shorts. All this brought me to the question: what is it that can move people like this? What brings half a million people from places all over the country, at their own expense, for a four hour meeting in one hundred degree heat? No sporting events or concerts could muster a crowd even close to that size. Those people came to stand up for their values. To make a statement. Half a million people came together to say that our nation is moving in the wrong direction, moving away from religion and morality and the idea of having values or a code to live by. The family is key to it all, and even though much of the rally was compared to televangelicalism and overzealous ranting in the media, there were important messages that made their way through. Glenn Beck said “pray with your doors open, so your children can see.” How many kids would have greater moral fiber if they were raised in a household that prays, and embraces religion and values? The world would be a better place, there is no doubt.
The rest of the day was spent doing some shopping and moving in. We went to Watergate because it has the closest safeway, and it was actually kind of cool. We went to pentagon city to do some shopping, and then at night just hung out at the Barlow center.
All in all, the first day was great. It is amazing to walk around and see and feel the energy of the city. It seems like everywhere you look there is something to see, some historical sight or monument. It is inspiring just to be here. I think I am going to enjoy my stay here in good ole warshington DC.
Near future To Do:
Eat at Raise Hell Burger in Arlington (The burger place Obama takes foreign dignitaries) and go to Iwo-Jima (same Rosalind Metro Stop)
Eat at the thai restaurant next door
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