It was seven years ago. It was dusk. I was in Washington, DC
attending the Book Expo America trade show; the largest trade show for the book
publishing industry in the U.S. The show was actually at the DC Convention
Center. I shot this photo from the area surrounding the Capitol Building near
Union Station and the U.S. Post Office building on Capitol Hill.
Photos of this building fill me with bittersweet thoughts and
mixed emotions. On the one hand it is the symbol of "freedom," as
defined by what most people describe as the greatest experiment in a functional
republic and democracy the world have ever known throughout the thousands of
years of civilization. On the other hand, it is also the seat of scandal,
controversy and exploitation - all three in many forms. As an idealistic youth
studying world history and American history and due to my lack of experience,
limited knowledge of the world and naiveté, I believed in mother, apple pie,
baseball and the American flag completely and without questioning. This
building, the White House and the other great government buildings of
Washington, DC represented what I understood as good, as true freedom and The
American Way.
My views began to change a bit when I HAD to register with
the Selective Service (Draft Board) at 18. My college and graduate school years
opened my mind even more as I began to understand "critical thinking"
and my view of our government began changing dramatically when I HAD to serve
in the military at age 24. I chose to "voluntarily" enlist in the
U.S. Air Force because I could serve my county in my chosen career in the
recording industry in Washington, DC. I was right in the thick of it all. My
view of Washington, DC and our great American experiment changed forever during
and after this experience. Now, 40 years after that Air Force experience I have
grown wiser, more realistic and pragmatic.
I'm still glad and thankful I was fortunate enough to be born in this country
and I'm glad and proud I served my country. But, the flaws in our government and our
system are so pronounced to me at this time that the future concerns me. No,
not my future. I know what my future is and I don't have a lifetime ahead of
me, only the natural culmination of a life lived. My concerns are for the
future generations. Perhaps, sometimes it's just better to go along with the
false notion that "what you don't know can't hurt you," and just go
through life fat, dumb and happy. No! That's not right! I'm glad I didn't go
down that road.
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