Written October 6, 2004 11:30pm:
I am writing this on my laptop for you, even though you won’t be able to see it until tomorrow. You see, my Ethernet cable broke, and so I cannot access the internet until tomorrow (or as you read this, today). Despite my inability to put this online just now, I wanted to get it down.
Today was rather busy for me. I ran around doing last minute errands all morning, got my haircut, raced to Jefferson City for the Grand Opening of the UPS Store, then jumped in the car again to get to the airport in time to catch my flight. I am now safely within my hotel in Washington DC. I am staying at the Governor’s House Hotel, the same place I stayed last year which is not far from downtown, and conveniently across the street from the new HRC building. It is a pretty nice place with lots of the amenities that I like the best, so it’s a good fit.
Anyway, it was certainly not the hotel that I intended to talk about. Actually, I want to talk about the drive to the hotel. As I left the airport, I was looking out at the skyline, easily picking out some of our nation’s greatest monuments, and I was struck by the wonder of where I was. Even though I have been here on many separate occasions, I am still amazed at the feeling I get when I am here. I must say it is hard not to feel something when in the capitol of the most powerful nation in the world.
Riding through the downtown streets, I thought a lot about a newfound favorite show of mine,The West Wing. Regardless of your opinions politically, I doubt that few people who watch that show wouldn’t come away with some sort of energy. For me, the feeling is immense. Being here rekindled that fire within me even more. This is where the magic happens. Good and bad, right and wrong, justice and injustice all embodied in one place. One of the things that I like about the show is that it shows so many sides to the struggles. Even if you are in the right, you cannot always succeed. Often when you think you are right, you are in fact wrong. Those who “fight the good fight” will always have to contend with those who are selfish.
The show for me is realistic because it shows that there are many mistakes made here too. Though we may be the only superpower in the world, we, and our elected leaders still make mistakes. A glance at Arlington can show you more than words ever can some of the grievous errors in our history.
I am sure it would come as no surprise to you who know me, but I often feel more like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington than anything else while I am here. I feel that there is a potential here unlike anywhere else in the world. So many times I think that we forget about what is possible. So often we get hung up on the bad things that have happened, or what might happen, that we neglect the potential. So much could be done, not only here, but everywhere, were people simply willing and able to reach out and make a difference.
As I sit here looking at the wonder that is our nation’s capitol, I cannot help but be energized to do just that. I hope that you can share some of my excitement, and maybe you can do something tomorrow that makes you feel as though you have made a difference in the world even if it is to just one person. We all have the potential. Being here helps me find mine. Seek out what unlocks yours.
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