We are holding these walls up
January 6th was a staggering trauma to this country, and to me personally. I’ve not handled it very well, to be honest. For those who have followed me for a while, you remember that each spring for 13 years I have lead educational tours to DC and the Capitol Building. It is never a boring experience. After a stirring orientation film, we join an enthusiastic Red Coat guide who leads us through the building, impressing us with their intelligence and reverence for the Capitol and the country’s history.
The building itself, a neoclassical architectural masterpiece, inspires awe and purpose. Hallways are filled with stunning detail like the paintings by Constantino Brumidi. Or the Frieze of American History, which wraps around the inside of the Rotunda. And what a Rotunda—where the most awe is inspired. It is the place of honor where our nation’s heroes lay in state—people like Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Rosa Parks, John McCain, John Lewis, Ruth Bader Ginsburg to name a few. The building is also an art museum, containing statuary and paintings that are historic and important to the nation. We sometimes visit the House or Senate Chambers, listening if its in session, or if not, just sitting and looking and chatting with the knowledgable, friendly Capitol Police and Gallery staff. At no time during the dozens of visits I have made to the Capitol have I not felt the specialness, the awe and reverence for the building and what it represents: that America may be a nation of law.
Perhaps it is corny to get choked up about notions like that, especially in this age of cynicism. But when I look at the kids, and I see how special they feel during the experience, and how that special feeling will stay with them throughout their lives, I know it is an important part of being an American. I’m sure many young people were recalling their tour experiences as they watched events unfold on television. I hope they are able to turn the trauma into a purpose to restore that feeling of awe and dedication to the Constitution. The walls of this nation’s capitol have been shaken, but they did not break, because we are holding them up. #courage
