Day 4 - "Tax Day"

Tax Day is a ver appropriate way to describe the action going on arround the city. If you couldn't tell that it was tax day, then you REALLY weren't paying attention. The TEA Party was everywhere but especially at the Washington Monument. We have been told that Sarah Palin will be giving a speech at 6:00 pm and that the majority of the partying was taking place in front of the IRS. To be truthful, that really wouldn't be my sort of thing even though I would enjoy watching all of those people (some of whom are acting a little bit too strongly) react to their favorite star Sarah Palin. On a different note, we visited the Arlington National Cemetery today. This was truly one of the most sobering experiences I have had all week. There are 600+ acres of people who have given their lives so that we can live freely. We watched a wreath-laying ceremony by a general from Ukraine, and we watched the changing of the guard. It really was one of those things that makes you appreciate the service of many and realize the work that is still to be done with the threat of terror still alive and well in our world. We also visited the home of Robert E. Lee (this was incredibly interesting because you could see D.C. and the Potomac River and realize that D.C. was incredibly vulnerable during the Civil War). After that, we travelled to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History for lunch and a little exploration. I had heard stories that the Smithsonian was huge, so let me say this: the Smithsonian is HUGE! It has about ten buildings with each one about the size of a normal museum and each dedicated to a different subject. It took us about two hours to get through this museum. Then, we went to the Washington Monument area, went "vendor hopping," and saw the legions of TEA partiers. This is truly an interesting sight. For those who have never seen them, imagine that you are going to a Nebraska football game. It's pregame and tailgating time. Now imagine that the Washington Monument is Memorial Stadium, and the fans are members of the TEA party. That is the most accurate description I can give to the TEA party. I heard members of the party talking about all the "autrocities" of Barack Obama up and down the sidewalks. I may have agreed with some of their points, but it did get a little old. This was our first day without "Close-up Intervention" meaning that we were led only by our teachers. It was great to not have that constant attention. Tonight we will have our last workshop, a farewell banquet, and a dance. Then, just two more days here in D.C.