Silence...

Is not always golden, it can be very loud. Like when two people who love each other are not speaking, or when you are in need of help and no one seems to step up...when you wanted a partner in elementary school and when the teacher said your name...and there was nothing, nothing but this loud, head-banging silence. The kind of silence that gives you a headache because you keep thinking about what is not being said. The kind of silence that allows a President to have his way with a country's national identity. The kind of silence that allowed a nation to legalize discrimination because that was just how it had been...silence.

America, today...is silent. Many would argue that it, or the proverbial she, is not. That America and its subjects speak out on all things...they act against the tyranny in the world, injustice at home and wrong-doing everywhere. I would not rebut, but, I would add that in doing some of that and not all, and choosing where to do this at because it is directly attached to future gain, well, that is not exactly doing anything...and the lack of doing anything, saying nothing-is silence. In other words, America does intervene all over to include at home, on issues that she finds immoral or unethical or just down right bad...except maybe when it comes to how those immoral, unethical or just down right bad issues may push our own political or economic agenda.

In this, I would then argue, is the illustration of America working most often out of benefit to herself, and not out of a so elevated sense of Moral Leadership. This to me, only acting when it is advantagous to oneself, is like not acting at all. Some good will come of it, but it is not in an effort to do good but simply to do better for self. In that, I feel that the actions are unworthy of praise, making them without true merit. Silent.

I sit here in the Nation's Capital...some call it the center of the political world. Right down the street from where I am seated is the Capitol building, where the business of government takes place. I have visited the building before, and the architecture and design is truly breathtaking. If you have never been there, in the grand Rotunda, you need to go. I have heard of the designs in famous buildings around the world-the Egyptian tombs, the great Cathedrals of Italy, but I have never been to them so I cannot do a comparison...regardless, the Rotunda inside of the Capitol building is a wonder.

An architectual wonder, and within it the story of America. However, the story is not entirely told in the carvings in the walls. No, much of the beloved story of American Emergence is not recorded...not etched in stone is the history of death and denial of rights. No where are there images of chattel slavery-the trail of tears cannot be found anywhere in the round...not even the Civil War is clearly identified.

So why is the Rotunda, seen by millions of tourists each year and within it the "presupposed" history of America serving as the major design element in its walls, why then is the place...upon entering and full of people, why is it so...silent. The walls of the space spoke not of the contributions-of love, labor and blood, of generations of people. The space itself, built by slaves, makes no mention of their labor in the construction of the Capitol. There are books on the building, the architecture, the beauty and splendor but not mere mention of the men who erected the place. Silence.

I could truly go on and on about different aspects of our American community, where not a word is uttered with regard to the treatment of our citizens...but for the moment ponder what has been written. I will delve more into the silence as the blog gains its voice over time.