6.07.2008

Witnessing History




Sorry for the delay in posting to the blog ... I've been walking and working hard.

We've had a busy couple of days. Where to begin?

Friday, June 6

On Friday, we took a walk see the hotel that was the scene of an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. We saw Dupont Circle. Oh, and we recovered my missing camera from the offices of The American Interest where I left it. Which means that the above gallery has photos from the daily press briefing at the White House ... yeah!

We stopped in at an interesting meeting at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. The topic was U.S.-China relations. The speakers were Admiral William A. Owens, who served as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1994-96; General Ronald R. Fogleman, who served as the 15th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force; and General John M. Keane, who is a former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army. The group was part of the Sanya Initiative which brings together retired senior military leaders from the U.S. and China to openly discuss, in an informal environment, the relationship between the two countries. It was interesting to hear that, at least from their perspective, relations with China are the most important foreign relationship that the U.S. can be cultivating and strengthening.

We spent time at the National Law Enforcement Memorial that includes the names of all fallen officers throughout the entire country. Suffice it to say, it was rows upon rows of carefully scribed names of men and women who lost their lives protecting and serving. Of course, honoring human sacrifice is a large part of what makes Washington, D.C. so intimately humbling and infinitely reflective.

After a self-guided tour of the National Building Museum, the students got the opportunity to visit with Richard Bissell, director of policy and global affairs for the National Academy of Sciences. Bissell explained the essentially symbiotic role that the National Academies--also comprised of the National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council--plays in advising the federal government about issues such as health care and transportation. While not a government entity, it is clear that the research that happens and the advice that is given is clearly vital to innovation and advancement.

We concluded yesterday with a quick stop at the Kennedy Center. Students and their cameras were beaming at the spectacular 360 degree view of Washington, D.C. afforded from the roof. It was a wonderful way to end an intellectually satisfying day.

Saturday, June 7

We witnessed history today. As everyone knows, this year's presidential election is groundbreaking with the first woman and first African American making tremendous waves. Before today, I guess you'd say that Barack Obama was merely the presumptive Democratic nominee. After Hillary Clinton's concession speech before thousands at the National Building Museum this afternoon, Obama became official. The scene was electric. Campaign button-toting supporters, babies with Dem shirts, the media, and even Ted Danson were all in fine form to hear what Clinton would say. And, I'm thinking she didn't disappoint. She officially went on the stump for her former competitor and fellow Dem. She even managed the words that many have been waiting for and many others have been praying against. "We must help elect Barack Obama as president."

It really didn't matter which area of the political spectrum the students reside in--all would agree, I think, that they witnessed history today.

That's pretty much a wrap for now ... if you've made it this far, thanks!

No comments: