A Moment Of Inspiration

Have you ever sat in a room and had the distinct feeling that you were surrounded by great minds?


Today I went to a round-table discussion held at and co-sponsored by the Aspen Institute, a Washington based think tank that prides itself in encouraging critical thinking on stimulating issues. The second co-sponsor was the Bipartisan Policy Center, which I am growing to like more and more.


These two neutral centers brought together a panel of speakers which included a pair of former Senators, Republican Bob Bennett (Utah) and Democrat John Warner (Va.), 2010 Senate candidate and former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Greyson and NPR Correspondent Cokie Roberts. The two hour discussion was intriguing from the jump, with Mickey Edwards, Director of the Aspen Institute, moderating a stimulating conversation on  invigorating the younger voting audience, the integrity of the electoral process, and who is to blame for the current hostile rhetoric and partisanship that is happening in Congress. I was completely hooked on what the speakers had to say. They quoted Aristotle off the tops of their heads, like his words were as easily memorable as a advertisement jingle. 


As I sat in the front row, observing the speakers (whose seating was more of a square-table than  round-table arrangement), I fell under their spell of wisdom and knowledge. It made me giddy. Inspired. 


They tackled issues and debates that have plagued Washington this season, but they did so in a respectful, logical, reason-based manner. They were aspiring to create good conversation, instead of ambitiously biting each other with clipped, pre-rehearsed remarks. 


“[We need to] think in terms of what’s the goal,” Edwards said. “The ability to compromise, to sit down with people who don’t start out where you are and find a way to talk to each other, to listen to each other, to be civil, and to have the kind of civil society Aristotle wanted us to have.”


After the discussion, I went and spoke to Cokie Roberts. She is my new heroin. She was smart and classy, bright, quick, and encouraging. Although she is the senior political analyst for NPR and is a political advisor for ABC, she was not rushed or dismissive when I told her I was a student and admired her. Instead, she told me how encouraged she was to see young people showing an interest in policy. 


This is a stark difference to the stony politicians and egotistical reporters that I usually meet here on the Hill. 


After today's discussion, I am more excited than ever to be back at school, broadening my education to increase my awareness. Scoot over Barack, Aristotle is in the house!

L-R: Cokie Roberts, Mickey Edwards, Jack Markell

More to come! 

Family Junkie

I realized that I STILL have not blogged about some of my familial adventures here in the District!!!

In mid February my mom came to DC and stayed for a week, just in time to curb the beginning bites of homesickness. We spent a couple of evenings enjoying the lavish dining of DC, but also spent a lot of time just chilling, chatting, and chasing the ends of our books. But we also enjoyed a quick excursion to Gettysburg, PA. Mom rented a car and we ventured out of the city (after wondering through construction for an hour and a half, bad navigation on my part) and into the countryside. The landscape of southern Pennsylvania was absolutely stunning, full of rolling hills and red barns. The battle of Gettysburg has been my favorite time in history ever since I was fifteen and read The Killer Angels by Michale Shaara. 

We also visited a Maple syruping farm and learned how to tap maple trees for their syrup. Since early Spring is the tapping time, we were even able to help tap a tree! It was so much fun, partly because of the beauty of the surrounding mountains, and partly because we were in a tour with a group of 4-H kids who were incredibly bright and well mannered. 

Mr. Eddie, the guitar/harmonica/singing educational phenomenon 

Mom checks the sap levels in a sugaring pot

Tappin da tree!

Then in mid March, Molly came to DC on her Spring Break! Even though we vowed to take some time to chill, we actually covered a lot of ground. We hit numerous coffee bistros, enjoyed the open air at Eastern Market, and biked along the Potomac. PLUS got romanced by a drunk taxi driver and had to hitchhike back home, all after meeting David Brooks, the opinion writer for the NY Times!  The same weekend Molly was here, our cousin Gary came to DC as well. The three of us laughed our way through the city, enjoying the good food and budding Spring flowers.

Molly chills in the Senate TV Studio

Meeting author David Brooks and his son

Biking the Potomac

Only a few weeks from now, Mom and Dad will be coming to Washington to help me pack up and head home. Already, I'm counting down the days on my calender until their arrival. Even with Mom here in February and Molly here in March, the miles that separate us seem to stretch on and on for ever. I feel incredibly lucky to have a family as close-knit and amazing as mine. I wouldn't have had the courage to study in Washington this semester if I didn't have their backing and support. Even though their thousands of miles away, I still talk to each of them daily. And although my time in Washington has been a blast, I can't wait to get back to NM and enjoy a Sunday afternoon with Mom, Dad, Molly, and four burgers on the grill. 


More to come!