To be honest, I was sorry to leave Baltimore. It had provided what so many criticise American cities of lacking, a genuinely unique architectural aesthetic. This was a surprise, as so many people had told me to expect the opposite. However, I can now say with complete confidence, that not all American cities are the same at all, and anyone who says otherwise is simply wrong.
When we arrived in DC, we did so with a strategy. From a hazy decade old memory that has lingered long in the empty hole that is my mind, I recalled that the metro system provides a reliable and well functioning method of navigating between the various monuments and tourist attractions. So we checked into a comfortable motel in Cheverly, a nearby suburb from which we could get easy access.
DC Metro StationCheverly proved to be the perfect launch pad from which we could explore Washington DC’s (thankfully) pedestrian friendly central core. From here we could travel to and walk around the many miles of paths and walkways that link the various elements of Pierre Charles L’Enfant’s original design for this planned capital.
Despite two sore legs and an equal number of aching feet, I was glad not to be dependent upon a vehicle for the first time in weeks. It reminded me how constricted life can be when forced to use a car for every journey, and it brought home thoughts of the old world back home in Europe, where walking is a more prominent feature of everyday life.
All around us tall columns imposed a classic almost phallic interpretation of masculine architecture that could have been lifted straight out of ancient Rome. This is obviously a capital that was designed to intimidate foreign heads of state using tried and tested symbols of power. It’s not original, but its architectural posturing is definitely impressive.
That night we ventured into Georgetown, the friendly and bustling social centre for many who live in this city. This place provided the beating heart that was lacking in the more functional and imposing central districts. Here immaculately maintained Georgian inspired brick buildings provide temporary shelter for late night shoppers and inebriated but well-behaved revelers. This was more like it. It felt human and alive, like a well behaved version of Dublin on a Saturday night.
Georgetown SunsetAfter a few days meandering between the various monuments and museums it was time to do what any visit to Washington DC really requires. It was time to attend a political rally. Thankfully, during our stay the more rational voices of America were congregating in front of Capitol Hill for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's rally to restore Sanity and/or Fear.
Some opinion (please feel free to ignore this)…
It appears that the political discourse in America has polarised in recent years and tribal tension between both camps in its strict 2 party system is at an all time high. This is partly due to the recent emergence of the Republican right in the form of the Tea Party, but it is also due to Democratic Parties’ reaction to this change to the political landscape.
In Britain, our problem is that both main political parties have moved toward the centre ground in search of votes and in doing so they have left little room for an increasingly bewildered electorate to make choices at election time (hence our hung parliament). In America, things are quite different. Here instead of chasing votes to the centre, political parties have actually shifted the very location of the national debate. Let me explain…
The political right has in recent decades shifted further to the right and the left has shifted into what was considered to be the centre ground. As a result when the two parties now reach out and agree with each other in order to facilitate change, the only policy they can agree on is policy that anywhere else in the world would be considered to be marginally right wing. As a result the right is the real location of modern American debate, and this is the real reason why a proper debate of more leftist issues (health reform, public sector investment etc) generate such violent and negative rhetoric.
Jon Stewarts attempt to bring reasonable balanced debate back to America is to be applauded and his central belief that most people are reasonable, and that most people can cope with differences of opinion is completely right, not just in America, but all over the world. Media bosses and political leaders need to just give them a chance.
Aggressive tribal politics is dangerous in any country, it decreases the quality of debate and as a result, it prevents the electorate from being able to form reasonable conclusions based on the balance of political argument. This in turn enables political parties and media outlets to dictate where on the political scale the national debate takes place, because leaders know they can rely on the backing of tribal supporters for whom their support is a defining characteristic.
On a lighter note, this rally also enabled me to see Ozzy Osbourne and Cat Stevens (two Englishman) perform on same stage in front of the central houses of national democracy.
Only in America
© All Images By Paul
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