A Letter from Washington
A couple of weeks ago my wife Lori and I were on an international trip, connecting through Washington Dulles, and our flight was delayed 24 hours due to a mechanical problem.
Suddenly we had an open day in Washington DC. It was a beautiful fall day, and we headed to the Capital Mall where walked from one end to the other.
The Washington Memorial - Did you know construction was suspended from 1857-1877 due to funding challenges along with the Civil War? The stone color changes part-way up as a result!
Each site provided its own meaningful reminder of the principles upon which our great nation was founded, and the sacrifices made by so many to support this ongoing experiment in our own unique, messy, version of democracy.
This quote on the Korean Memorial particularly resonated, especially in these divisive times: “Freedom is not Free.”
The Korean War Memorial, where this quote is inscribed: "Freedom is not Free"
I was struck by the amount of personal reflection and emotion this day inspired. Pride in our nation. Respect for the vision of our founding fathers. Gratitude for the sacrifices of so many over the past 250 years. Wonder at the amazing opportunities our country has provided for so many, whether they were born here or journeyed and settled here. And a reminder we are a nation of immigrants, as were my grandparents and great grandparents.
I have always found the term “American Exceptionalism” to be somewhat unapproachable and arrogant. But this day – especially against the backdrop of a divided nation at home, and conflicts and threats around the world – I felt a newfound appreciation for what we do/should/can stand for as a country. Pride in being an American. And hope that we might "right this ship," as so many of our fellow citizens feel our country is on the wrong course.
The results of yesterday's election were not what I had hoped or expected. The outcome challenges my ability to make sense of the world. Many of us are shaken to the core, seeking to comprehend. But rather than dwell on division and anger and our own feelings of trauma, now is the time to offer compassion and understanding, to seek our own insights as how something like this could happen and why so many of our fellow citizens - of whatever party - feel so disenfranchised. Optimism and hope are choices we get to make as we move forward. both individually and as communities.
These are times that test us. But as I think back on that beautiful fall day in Washington DC, I know we are up to the challenge. America - the nation and the concept - depends on it.