To Washington and Back
Last week I went to Arlington, VA and Washington DC and several things struck me when I was there and after I came back. Luckily none of those things was a car…driving in VA is worse than driving in Boston, hand to possible but unknowable deity up there.
We went to DC to see my elder nephew graduate high school. I’ll spare you all the sentimental musings on time, growing up, and teenage boys. We spent most of our time driving within Arlington, switching lanes too fast, and going to dinner with my brother’s family, my mom, my SIL’s mom, and my Dad and Stepmom. After 38 years of them being married, I’d love to have a better word for my kiddo’s Nana. But I digress….
Last Friday, 16 and I went into Washington, a mere 15 minutes away. We were going to take a driving tour of some of the monuments and then go to a museum about words in English and a lot of other languages. It’s called Planet Word and I recommend it to anyone who loves words, reading, writing, access to books and kids (does that cover all of you?) I first pic is of huge 3D wall of words which had some microphones for kids to talk into. It was fascinating to learn how words are made and used, via a voice actor and strategic spotlights. Mostly I loved the interactivity and the paean to the written word. And that’s why I’m always trying to talk to you about what to say to others about this political moment.
And as I was in that museum, seeing little kids and grownups alike appreciating words, curiosity, and multiple perspectives, I realized that very close by (very close) was the Capitol where our former president tried to subvert an election and interfere with the peaceful transfer of power. I thought about some of my congressional heroes like Jamie Raskin, Jasmine Crocket, Corey Booker and how some Dems have risen to the moment and some have definitely not (looking at you, Dick Durbin). And then I thought, because I was on K street where the vast network of lobbyists hang out, that this charming city was the location of those think tanks that produced Project 2025, the sociopathic Christo-Fascists (except Stephen Miller, who I’m ashamed to say is Jewish), who want to consolidate authoritarian power.
Friend, my deepest thoughts are about my compatriots out there, living their lives, doing the college application nightmare, getting married, looking for a new job…those folks who aren’t in a state of constant vigilance like we are.
And that’s where we absolutely need to focus, but also we need to understand that they are trying to carve some relaxation out of a summer that’s forecast to be the warmest on record (which should surprise nobody, ever). So these summer months are critical for candidates and organizing, but we’ll have a hard time reaching the normies until after the summer is through. I’ll keep sending you things you need to know, and framing you can use to talk to your neighbors, but I’ll take some time too. And I hope you do too. Hope those of you under the heat dome stay cool.