Well, I have been here two weeks now, although it feels like much longer.
This past week was pretty busy, but I saw and experienced some amazing things!
Last Friday we went to the Newseum, which was a really really wonderful place. Some highlights included the Berlin Wall exhibit, where there is actually a portion of the Berlin Wall - see picture below. Around the room there are other pictures and information about how the press/media influenced the situation and how despite the physical barrier of the wall, the media was able to bring information to East Germany. Another highlight is the 9/11 exhibit. In the middle is a piece of an antenna from one of the towers, and there is a time line of the events that occurred on that day. Most impressive, however, is that one of the walls is covered with the front pages of 127 newspapers from around the country and world. Again, see pictures below. It is certainly a powerful display.
Many other pretty great exhibits exist in the Newseum including the Pullitzer Prize exhibit where the two Pullitzer prize winning photographs from every year are displayed. There are some very heart wrenching pictures up on the wall in this room - from the genocides in Rwanda and Sudan, to the hurricanes in Haiti and Louisiana. Other exhibits feature the front pages from major newspapers all over the world, one exhibit displays a large map (see picture below) of the status of the press all over the world. We are reminded that the United States was the first country to grant freedom to the press, and while we often take that right for granted, there are many countries in the world that put restrictions on the press. In some areas, journalists even face physical danger - arrest, detainment or worse, for reporting controversial stories. One could literally spend hours in this building. If you are ever in DC, I highly highly recommend that you go to the Newseum. I know that unlike the other museums it does cost money, but it is very much worth it.
On Saturday, some friends and I decided to go over to the Capitol to see Senator Kennedy's funeral procession. I could barely believe that I was standing with 5000 other people outside the United States Capitol watching one of our greatest Senators pass it by for the last time. Truly a unique experience. It was very moving to see the steps of the Capitol filled with his staffers and colleagues and to be led in the singing of America the Beautiful as the procession arrived. The crowd was pleased when the Kennedy family and other notables such as John Kerry stepped out of the cars to wave to us and listen to the prayer, and to hear Kennedy's son thank the staff for their commitment and hard work over the years. I am very grateful that I had this opportunity. I hope to make it over to Arlington in the next few weeks to visit the grave site as well.
Another busy week is ahead. I will update soon!
Enjoy the pictures, and again feel free to comment on anything!
Until next time,
This past week was pretty busy, but I saw and experienced some amazing things!
Last Friday we went to the Newseum, which was a really really wonderful place. Some highlights included the Berlin Wall exhibit, where there is actually a portion of the Berlin Wall - see picture below. Around the room there are other pictures and information about how the press/media influenced the situation and how despite the physical barrier of the wall, the media was able to bring information to East Germany. Another highlight is the 9/11 exhibit. In the middle is a piece of an antenna from one of the towers, and there is a time line of the events that occurred on that day. Most impressive, however, is that one of the walls is covered with the front pages of 127 newspapers from around the country and world. Again, see pictures below. It is certainly a powerful display.
Many other pretty great exhibits exist in the Newseum including the Pullitzer Prize exhibit where the two Pullitzer prize winning photographs from every year are displayed. There are some very heart wrenching pictures up on the wall in this room - from the genocides in Rwanda and Sudan, to the hurricanes in Haiti and Louisiana. Other exhibits feature the front pages from major newspapers all over the world, one exhibit displays a large map (see picture below) of the status of the press all over the world. We are reminded that the United States was the first country to grant freedom to the press, and while we often take that right for granted, there are many countries in the world that put restrictions on the press. In some areas, journalists even face physical danger - arrest, detainment or worse, for reporting controversial stories. One could literally spend hours in this building. If you are ever in DC, I highly highly recommend that you go to the Newseum. I know that unlike the other museums it does cost money, but it is very much worth it.
On Saturday, some friends and I decided to go over to the Capitol to see Senator Kennedy's funeral procession. I could barely believe that I was standing with 5000 other people outside the United States Capitol watching one of our greatest Senators pass it by for the last time. Truly a unique experience. It was very moving to see the steps of the Capitol filled with his staffers and colleagues and to be led in the singing of America the Beautiful as the procession arrived. The crowd was pleased when the Kennedy family and other notables such as John Kerry stepped out of the cars to wave to us and listen to the prayer, and to hear Kennedy's son thank the staff for their commitment and hard work over the years. I am very grateful that I had this opportunity. I hope to make it over to Arlington in the next few weeks to visit the grave site as well.
Another busy week is ahead. I will update soon!
Enjoy the pictures, and again feel free to comment on anything!
Until next time,
Rachel
Senator John Kerry
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