Visiting the nation’s capital this weekend really gave me a lot of perspective on some current events as well as world history as a whole. Let me address those as succinctly as possible, should I write a longer post about some of the issues that arose.

1. Yes, I heard about the Sean Bell trial. I heard about it as soon as it happened. I’m still seething from the events that happened. I’ll be wearing black tomorrow for certain. More importantly, though, I’ll continue to voice my dissident opinions about the injustices that occur daily on the part of this (lack of) justice system. When will the genocide and police brutality end? If we can’t have justice for the few, imagine what they’ll do to the many. No justice, no peace …

2. I visited the Holocaust Museum, and I’ve visited the Holocaust Museum in Detroit, MI, but this experience was different. The experience was a little more interactive. Not to give everything away, but once you go in there, you pick up a “passport” detailing the life of an actual Holocaust survivor. You start from the top and spiral your way down, reading about European and world history during that time period along the way. My first thought was really how excellent the exhibit was. It was really well thought out, and accessible to both children and adults. I read most of what I saw at the exhibit, but more than anything, it just made the material I read come alive. (more on this tomorrow)

4. We went to the Vietnam War Memorial, too, and noticed first, how the structure itself is constructed in a wedge, almost like a ditch, even. Hmm …

5. We went to the Lincoln Memorial, and the scene was packed with all types of people wanting to get their picture taken with Mr. Lincoln’s edifice. Yet, a fraction of those people really read the inscriptions on the inner walls of the structure, and a smaller fraction of those went downstairs and inside, where many of his quotes about slavery and the union are highlighted. At first, we see a man who could care less whether he ends slavery or not, so long as they preserve the Union. Then, we see a progression from that point of view to seeing that slavery is the key to true human freedom. (As to whether or not that’s been resolved is a whole ‘nother matter.)

6. In there, and almost in direct juxtaposition, is a section dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., who recalls Lincoln in his seminal speech, “I Have a Dream.” Also highlighted was Marian Anderson, who performed on the steps in 1939, a momentous occasion in a time when overt segregation and racism were law.

7. Speaking of mass murder, on Saturday night, we stayed at the Washington Hilton Hotel, a pretty nice hotel near Embassy Row. We went out for some food, when we see tons of police and Secret Service men all over. Then we hear people on a bullhorn screaming something indiscernible. We saw a banner that read “Arrest Bush.” For some reason, I booked my hotel at the same time as the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, whose guest of honor was none other than Dubya! Wow! I haven’t been that close to a president since the 90s when Bill Clinton drove by my hood. I’m not scared of the president, but that night, my girl and I had some terrible nightmares. I’m about 99% convinced that it was because the devil himself was downstairs, singing his cowboy songs.

jose, who thinks we need to reconsider reclining chairs on buses and planes …