A Day on the Tidal Basin

Hello Everyone!

DC weather is insane! The first few days I was here, we were treated to 97 degree weather. Today, however, was about 70, cloudy and very windy. It made for a perfect day to walk by the Tidal Basin in DC. Here is home to the Jefferson Memorial which is currently under slight construction. Many of you know Thomas Jefferson as the the Third President of the United States. He is also the author of the Declaration of Independence, a Founding Father, and the founder of the University of Virginia. He famously wrote the phrase, "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness". As a history major, I feel it necessary to point out that Jefferson praised the idea that all men are created equal. Indeed though, he had over a 100 slaves working on Monticello. So perhaps he meant that only white male landowners who could vote were created equal?  Regardless, Jefferson contributed greatly to the ideology that America claims today. He also succeeded in expanding America by acquiring the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon in 1803. In my opinion, he deserves to have a monument that bears his name and I was honored to visit it today.

I also swung by the Holocaust Museum for a bit to view their new exhibit on the power of Nazi Propaganda. It is this college student's belief, that if the media retains their right to print whatever they like, our democracy will remain safe. I quite enjoyed myself today and look forward to tomorrow! Here is a quote I wrote down from the Jefferson Memorial:

"It is comfortable to see that the standard of reason at length erected after so many ages during which the human mind has been held in vassalage by kings, priests and nobles; and it is honorable for us to have produced the first legislature who has had the courage to declare that the reason of men may be trusted to the formation of his own opinions" ----Thomas Jefferson 1786

Thank you, Mr. Jefferson, for the formation of our democracy.

AL