The Mall in Washington, DC, is one of my favorite open
spaces. Anchored at one end by the
Lincoln Memorial and at the other by the U. S. Capitol building, the Mall is
impressive not because of what surrounds it but for what it represents. The Mall is an area that symbolizes the
openness of the United States of America to fresh ideas and new people.
Certainly, one does not have to look too closely to
observe the security precautions even in this area, but I am always impressed
by this great open space in the middle of a busy major city. On most days, the Mall is occupied by people
walking, jogging, playing games, taking pictures, or just “hanging out.” These are U. S. citizens from many different
ethnic backgrounds and many of the states, representing the diversity of our
nation. Visitors from other countries
are evident as well, coming to see the national capital of our country and its
many sights.
For me, the Mall is an expression of community. Community does not come easily; it takes
work. From the beginning, citizens of
our country have been trying to determine what community really means. Who is in and who is out? Despite the noble words of the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution, many were excluded from full citizenship in
that community at the beginning. Women
were second class citizens. African-Americans
were property. Native Americans were an
inferior people to be used and abused. People
of various ethnic minorities were feared and marginalized. Our understanding of what it means to part of
the community in the United States has continued to evolve to match the high
ideals of those founding documents.
We are not where we need to be, but when I stand on the
Capitol Mall on a beautiful, sunny day, I see signs that we are moving in the right
direction.
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