It is very easy to criticize the behemoth that is the United States of America - especially when you are not an American. When I was younger and studied modern world history, I practically idolized the US (Thinking back, the fact that our history teacher was actually an American might have been influential.) Then I grew disillusioned over the last ten years or so, watching with my own eyes, the role US played on the world stage. One may begin to question the arrogance of the nation, its foreign policy, and sometimes, its people.
I visited the capital out of convenience and did not expect too much. But the moment I arrived into the capital, some part of me was alerted. This is the capital of the United States. This is where the president resided, where history was made, where policy is determined. So many times I had heard the name, and now I am finally here.
The city is littered with memorials. Who would have thought, but that I was actually taken by such structures? It reminded me of what Americans fought for at their founding - freedom (never mind that they still had slaves then). It is for each person, the right to be who are they are, the right to say what they want, the liberty to live their lives. Some people never get to live that life.
DC reminded me how important it was, to be democratic. To have a vote. To have a voice. Living in China for seven months reinforced how negatively I felt against suppression of the individual voice. It reminded me, that this is what the US stood for. And I am thankful, that I am a citizen of a democratic country, that I have a vote, that I have the freedom to travel, and to speech, and to act.
Pentagon Memorial with the Pentagon in the background
The Air Force memorial in the background
US Capitol
The White House
The Australian Embassy - of course it had to be the ugliest building on the block
Gandhi memorial
White House from the front
Washington Monument
Lincoln Memorial
Cherry Blossom
Jefferson Memorial
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