Nethercutt Foundation Fellows' D.C. Experience Blog

Our last full day in D.C. included a visit to the Brookings Institution where we met with Steve Bennett, the organization’s chief of staff.  I went in thinking Brookings was a left-leaning think tank that was intent on promoting a partisan agenda.  I was surprised, however, to learn about the intellectual integrity and political independence the institution requires of its scholars.  Brookings’ motto is “Quality, Independence and Impact,” a reflection of its commitment to political neutrality and quality, focused scholarship.  Mr. Bennett noted that Brookings scholars have often published reports that are later criticized and challenged by other Brookings members. 

The Brookings Institution does research on a wide variety of issues, ranging from healthcare to foreign policy to international development.  However, they do not contract their research services to any individual or group.  I was also interested to learn that many of the scholars move in between the think tank and the government.  For instance, Peter Orzag, the former director of the Congressional Budget Office and current director at Office of Management and Budget, was previously a top scholar at Brookings.  Further, Mark McClellan, currently director of Brookings’ Center for Healthcare Reform, was previously the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and former commissioner for the FDA.  The knowledge gained in one sectors provides a great foundation for the other and vice versa. 

I am excited about the quality work Brookings is doing and hope to use their research in future projects.  While they may be slightly left of center on some issues, their commitment to intellectual integrity and neutrality in assumptions makes them stand out as a quality organization that is doing highly valuable work. 

After visiting the Heritage Foundation, I was under the impression that the Brookings Institute would be more of the same. I thought that it would be a think-tank that conducted research to promote a particular policy position. From our conversations with Steven Bennett, I felt as though I couldn’t have been more incorrect. What is unique about the Heritage Foundation is that it is a politically independent organization that produces peer review books, journals and articles. The institute initiates conversation on various issues and advises policy that is not part of legislation. I was intrigued by how the Brookings Institute serves as an independent scholarly institution. It partakes in research to inform the public yet it does not rely on formally educating individuals as a University otherwise would. There are many great intellectuals that work for the institution who formally held positions at Universities or were involved in government, drafting legislation. When contracted, these employees are considered senior fellows and conduct research while remaining non-partisan. This alone seems like a daunting task and I was interested in how the fellows keep their personal politics out of the research. I found that the fellows at the Brookings Institute are held to a high standard of independence and quality – They can’t be too theoretical. Fellows must start with a question instead of an answer. This prevents them from falling into an ideological trap.

Learning about the Brookings Institute gave me great insight into outside forces that affect our political system. The Brookings Institute and many of its sister institutions play an important role in our democracy. They contribute to our complex system of checks and balances while providing legislators with non-bias information that can be used when drafting legislation and forming policy. Interested in the career path that most researchers followed in order to work for the Brookings Institute, I asked Steven Bennett if he had any advice for use students. He told us that we must first and foremost be passionate about something. Once you have passion, you can gear your resume toward this focus. It is this focus that employers respond to when you apply to your first job. I will retain this advice as I enter the professional world, and search for issues that I am truly passionate about.

Our last full day in DC began with a visit to the World Bank Group, where we discussed International Development issues with two economist representatives from the organization. I have, since my study abroad semester in Central America, had mixed opinions and feelings about multi-billion dollar development organizations, the World Bank being one of those entities. It was a bit surreal for me to sit in a high-rise, elegant and professional conference room in my business suit and discuss specifics of poverty, disease and implementation of grass roots projects. Quick fixes and easy answers will never exist in the fight to eradicate poverty. If those options did exist, we would have already moved in that direction, perhaps with great success. If funds are to be continually raised, however, and systemic, comprehensive implementation is to take place, both the hands-on workers in the field and the sharp, business-suited professionals must be involved.

I should not judge those people at the top of development organizations simply because they are working for real change from a lofty, often comfortable vantage point. Many of them have worked in the field in the past, and they have dedicated their lives to ideals that often remain elusive. We should not allow high-ranking employees to lose touch and accountability with the core values and tenets of their organizations (that goes for elected officials of our government as well), but we should, through a lens of our common humanity, seek to challenge and respect one another as we work for that which is good and just.

As a foot note of sorts, I am adding a poem that I wrote. This was originally delivered as a free-style rap on the steps of the Supreme Court a couple days ago…feel free to force the beat and meter to fit your personal preference.

Nine great judges, sitting in a row,
Though not perfect, there are many things they know.

They interpret the law and apply it to our life,
In hopes of eradicating all our pain and strife.

Starting with John Marshall, and now to Sotomayor,
They defend the peoples’ constitutional rights – people both rich and poor.

So here we are today, on these great steps of stone…
and once we make our way inside, we’ll make our presence known!

Today was an interesting day, as they have all turned out to be.  We had an early morning; breakfast meeting at 7:30 with Ken Bentsen, President and CEO of Equipment Leasing and Finance Association.  In spite of meeting so early in the morning, he was animated and had a lot of great advice for us. He commented on the experience that comes with working on the Hill, and how it seemingly provides one a second education based on the fact that you learn so much interacting with the system itself.  He also made a point to emphasize that your opponent today could be your ally tomorrow.  It’s been valuable to see and learn about the different friendships and alliances that result from the politics here.

We also spent time with Senator Patty Murray, Bob Livingston of the Livingston Group, and the Ambassador of the Norwegian Embassy.  Each one of them came from a different sector of Washington DC and had different work experiences and perspectives to offer us.  Seeing a representative, a lobbyist, and an ambassador definitely gave us a more broad understanding of what’s going on in this one city alone. 

The highlight of the day for me began with meeting Congressman Greg Walden and ended with having coffee with George after sitting to watch the House Floor.  Congressman Walden was incredibly personable and very honest about the struggles in the House regarding minority/majority tensions.  It was refreshing to have someone be honest and upfront about the real challenges that the parties’ experience.  We proceeded to watch the House of Representatives vote on the floor.  It was particularly exciting because the representatives were debating the very issues we had just been talking about with the congressman.  I love making real-life connections and seeing our democracy in action.

By the time we left the Capitol it had started raining, so we ducked into a coffee shop to warm up and have coffee with George for an hour or so.  We had a great time just sitting around a table with our coffee, debating the most up-to-date issues that are taking place in the Capitol.  We’ve come so far in the week and a half we’ve been here, both in our understanding of how our government works and in how we feel about issues personally.  Our discussions have become so much more informed, and I feel much more prepared to contribute to conversation when I go back home and to school. 

Today had a running theme: get the job done. We met with former business executives, congressmen, senators, and even the Norwegian Ambassador His Excellency Wegger Strommen. We had the pleasure of meeting former Congressman Bob Livingston who inspired me not only by his own personal story of overcoming setbacks and obstacles, but his call to action and love of the United States. It is a shame Congressman Livingston isn’t still serving in Congress because his pragmatic approach was a refreshing voice of reason in a city full of half measures and fence sitting. In between votes in the House, Congressman Walden was able to meet with us and enlighten us with his ideas as to how to better perfect our union. Congressman Walden is an incredible leader and the citizens of Oregon’s 2nd congressional district are lucky to have him - the name of this entry is inscribed on a wood plaque upon his desk. Everyone we met with today was dedicated and inspired me to “git ‘R dun” and overcome any obstacles I may encounter.

We met with several people today from the House of Representatives, the Senate, and extra-government agencies; however, amongst the eight people we met with today, two stood out.

In the morning we met with Brian Lamb of C-SPAN. He was a very intriguing person in that he first wanted to know about us and then wanted to answer our questions. Mr. Lamb does not subscribe to a party and keeps C-SPAN bipartisan in order to maintain the station’s integrity. He was the most honest and genuine person we have met thus far and I will not forget the advice he gave us: “Ask questions and listen”. Once in a while, I come across a person who’s subtle leadership permeates throughout that leaders work; Mr. Lamb is one of these people. Instead of talking for the sake of talking, Mr. Lamb asks a question out of pure curiosity and actually listens to the answer rather than thinking of what he will say in response. Because of his natural curiosity, he is very well read and knowledgeable. His passion for his work is quite impressive and I came out of the meeting wishing that I could speak with him longer.

The second person to stand out today was Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Going into the meeting with Ms. Cantwell, I was not sure what to expect. We were told that Ms. Cantwell is a difficult person to arrange a meeting with and the limited number of people we asked about her were quite vague when discussing her. When we arrived at her office, Ms. Cantwell was running slightly late, so our group sat in her office conference room with her Chief of Staff, Katherine Lister. Ms. Lister told us a brief, but great story concerning how she ended up where she is now. She was energetic, wonderful to speak with, and came off as one of those people who I would not mind working for in the future.

Ms. Cantwell joined us shortly after we were shown to the conference room. She walked around the room shaking each person’s hand then sat in the chair at the head of the table. Then she asked what we wanted to know (something only a few people have said to us since we have arrived). I asked her a question regarding the state of the economy and her thoughts on the drastic increase in deficit spending. Ms. Cantwell spoke with ease and intelligence and she gave us a real answer instead of dancing around the question. Her honesty and willingness to speak her mind made her one of the favorites of the day unanimously among our group. She is a very impressive person and leads with a calm passion that motivates those around her.

Today was a very busy day! We had several exciting meetings, the core theme of which has been the economy and the healthcare reform. I am glad to have heard the two sides to both of these issues. It is fascinating to observe how the worldview of each representative affects their stands on these issues. Doc Hastings and Maria Cantwell gave us their insights on the technical aspects of the healthcare reform. We had a unique opportunity to hear a variety of opinions in one day, first hand from the people directly involved with these issues! I enjoy hearing different opinions, and I hope everyone else does as well. Days like these spark many thoughts and are tough to describe in a short blog posting. I love this country, obviously. If I did not, I would not be here right now. I love the freedoms that this system guarantees and the benefits that it offers. I want the United States to be the best it can be. The fact that forty some million Americans are living without a healthcare insurance is a frustrating reality. I sincerely hope that people residing in this wonderful political entity will find a way of providing a high quality healthcare to all the segments of society. Resources are the driving force behind everything. Individuals who suffer the most are the ones that lack the resources and are therefore vulnerable. These same individuals cannot afford healthcare. Everyone in this country has the right for the pursuit of happiness, thus everyone must have access to healthcare, I believe.

We, the people, really do have a say. We really do have access to many benefits and treasures in our capital city. Our day today was an experience in accessing those rights and gifts. We began our morning at the Supreme Court, and although we arrived about two minutes too late to claim one of the fifty seats in the court room reserved for the public, we were able to tour the Court building and learn much about its history. On days the Court holds hearings and convenes, we, the people, are invited to attend and observe. One of these days, I hope to see the highest law of our land in action, but that will have to wait for another day. The fact that the public does indeed have access to that innermost chamber, however, is a testimony to our government, as complex as it may be.

Our second privilege of the day was a tour and visit to the Library of Congress, and specifically the ornate, incredible Jefferson building. This amazing building creates the closest experience in the United States to that of a majestic European cathedral or museum. The detailed mosaics, marble, paintings, murals, grand staircases, vaulted ceilings and warm wood accents are impressive indeed. The walls call out the wisdom of the ages with quotes such as, “There is but one temple in the universe and that is the body of man.” Another archway reads, “In books lies the soul of the whole past time.” One of our greatest gifts is the knowledge of our history and the roots of our families, culture and country. So much of that history is recorded in the millions of books, maps, manuscripts, tapes and videos in our Library of Congress. The rotunda of the reading room towers above the people at the desks below, and we are all welcome there to request to read virtually any book in the collection. Our tour guide was sincere when she said that this library and its books belong to us, the people of the United States of America.

We concluded our day with a visit to the Pentagon, one of the largest low-rise office buildings in the world. The Pentagon employs about 23,000 people, only a couple thousand less than my current hometown of Bozeman, Montana. Everyone we met at the Pentagon was respectful, welcoming, intelligent and professional. After winding our way through a small portion of the maze of 17.5 miles of corridor space, we stopped at the memorials to the September 11 attacks. Although I have seen the vacancy in the New York City skyline where the World Trade Center towers previously stood, I have not walked around close to Ground Zero. Standing directly behind the reconstructed wall where the Pentagon was impacted, however, was a new, eerie and incredible feeling. After hearing amazing stories from that fateful day, I am humbled by and grateful for the courage that many people showed in that trying time. To quote many stones that commemorate that day and that historic place, “we will not forget.”

Monday we had the great opportunity to spend an hour with Charlie Cook, the creator of the Cook Political Report.  Mr. Cook has been involved in American politics for several decades and brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.  Our conversation with him focused on a variety of subjects, but the most interesting to me was his prediction of the 2010 midterm elections.  While recognizing that many factors could change the election outcome, Mr. Cook states his belief that the Democrats could lose between 10-12 seats in the House, but that they could also pick up one or two Senate seats. 

On the issue of whether the Republican Party is bound to die, he reminded us that in his more than 3 decades on Capitol Hill, he has seen both parties “die” several times, only to rise again.  This was good to think about as the Republican Party, although not presently in vogue, is likely to reshape itself in the next few years and find wedge issues to highlight their difference from the Democrats and how they can bring positive change to Washington.  Mr. Cook was a wonderful and funny guy to spend our afternoon with, and I am glad we had the chance to learn from such a political pro. 

Often Mr. Nethercutt will ask us what we learned at the end of the day from the important people we met during the day.  I decided I would formulate a simple version of some things I learned, especially since we met SO many people today.

Brian Lamb, President of CSPAN: “Ask a lot of questions, and listen” “most people are on transmit and not receive”

My lesson: Leaders must be better listeners than talkers; Good leaders will always question.

Dave Warren, President of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities: Was president of WSU Pullman in student government while he attended school there.  Worked in local government.

My lesson: Get involved, be involved.

Senator Wicker: Took the time to meet us, spoke slowly and deliberately and didn’t rush our meeting.

My lesson: Live in the moment, it is as important as the next one.  Pay attention to the people right in front of you.

Congressman Tom Latham: Left early because he had a vote, but met with us before that.

My lesson: Keep your appointments, they show you value the people you did that for.

Congressman Doc Hastings: Discussed the importance of Bipartisan cooperation

My lesson: Cooperation is essential to results, foster relationships.

Congressman Norm Dicks: Has worked in the congress for so long he has seen the majority change, and change again.

My lesson: Things are cyclical; you will want to treat others the way you wish to be treated, because it won’t be too long before you may be in the opposite position, needing help.

Senator Maria Cantwell: Took time to open the floor to us and our questions.

My lesson: Sometimes it is more productive to allow others to take the lead.  A leader doesn’t need to dominate the conversation.

After a long overdue workout, I hopped on the metro and headed to St. Joseph’s Church on Capital Hill to catch the noon service. For anyone who hasn’t visited St. Joseph’s, I would highly recommend it; the church is literally right across the street from the Hart Senate Office building and is absolutely gorgeous. After mass – I decided to hoof it over to the Eastern Market. The Eastern Market is an amazing indoor/outdoor flee market, complete with a deli and fish market. While perusing the crafts, I soaked in the sun with a delicious fresh squeezed lemonade. This evening we all went over the Nethercutt’s home to relax and enjoy a backyard barbeque. Throughout the afternoon and into the evening we discussed everything from American politics to the sorry state of Washington, D.C. professional sports. Today was a great day.

Today was our chance to explore DC for ourselves, and a chance to gain a better understanding of George. This morning, a few of us asked to join George and his family at their home church, National Presbyterian Church. The church was beautiful, and it was great to experience the congregation that the Nethercutt’s call home. The sermon felt serendipitous as the minister spoke about the importance of knowing one’s roots; particularly knowing one’s historical roots. It fit very well with our purpose of being here to gain a better understanding of our nation’s history.

Later in the evening, we were driven over to the Nethercutt home by George, his wife, and his son. I was incredibly impressed by their hospitality and willingness to open their home to us. We sat for hours over BBQ and ice cream talking about current events, our individual life experiences, and what we hope for in the future. I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to be here, experiencing everything that we are.

The atmosphere in D.C. has been solemn and somber since a security guard was shot-down by a gunman outside the national holocaust museum. When I woke-up this morning I was unsure whether the museum was closed and tourists were even being admitted. My concerns were calmed as I read the morning newspaper to find out that the museum was open for visitors.

I have been to this museum on two occasions. Both instances were in conjunction with a youth exchange program to Germany. The first visit I made was very informational and I took much from it, but I felt removed from it all. I understood the significance of the atrocities that had been committed by the Nazis, but it seemed so long ago; three generations removed for me. After spending a year in Germany and returning to this museum everything hit me much harder. Not only was I able to read the slander on German posters, but I was able to read the written decrees from Hitler himself that sent thousands of Jews to their deaths. Watching videos of the internment camps put me back to Buchenwald where I read similar accounts of gas chambers and saw where Jewish prisoners were confined. I remember seeing a photo of dead bodies; hundreds of bodies that were but skeletons in a pile. While there in Buchenwald it took me only a second to realize that I was standing in the exact spot where those bodies lay. These thoughts and others were with me at my second visit to the holocaust museum. Overcome with emotion, I quickly guided myself through the rest of the museum so that I would not lose control of myself. Five years later I still regret not fully experiencing the museum and letting the historical accounts have their full effect on me.

Here in D.C. I was given a third and perhaps final chance to experience the museum without worrying about those around me; to let it influence me and reflect upon all that had happened, all of the horrendous crimes that were committed. In the museum I felt personally connected to the exhibits. I took the time to read everything and reflect upon the sequence of events that led to the holocaust. I had chills run down my spine with each new exhibit and waves of goose bumps rolled down my arms making the hairs stand on end. When leaving the exhibits on the first floor I realized that my arms were sore and my fingers were tingling. I had clutched my arms so tightly that I lost much feeling in my hands. They were pale white. As I progressed through the exhibits the events of WWII came to pass in chronological order from the rise of Hitler to the night of broken glass to the mass-murder of Jews in internment camps. In the last section of the Museum I was particularly moved by the few stories of resistance and the acts of kindness that saved others. I hated myself for considering these individuals lucky because millions of others shared a different fate. Luck seemed an understatement, a suggestion that their situation was somehow great, somehow extraordinary. I had to remind myself that those who I considered lucky were also under extenuating circumstances and had probably lost many of their loved ones. A quote from the day also remained with me. Although there were few countries willing to allow Jewish-Germans to immigrate, those who were famous scientists, authors, actors and artist easily found their way into the United States and England. One such man reflected on the specialized circumstances that allowed him to immigrate and stated, “I couldn’t help but to think ‘survival of the fittest’ and I hated myself.”

By the end of the tour, my eyes were blurred with tears. In the last part of the tour I watched a video of recollections from holocaust survivors. This video brought everything that I had already experienced together and I understood the depth of the holocaust and why it is important to remember these events so they never happen again. Leaving the museum I couldn’t clear my mind or align my thoughts. I felt disoriented and searched for the exit but instead found my way to a memorial in the rotunda with benches on all sides. I sat down to reflect and I couldn’t understand how so many tourists around me were able to walk away so calm and assertive from such an exhibit. I knew that many left the museum as they entered: with another tourist attraction in mind. After considering my own experiences I felt as though my reaction was appropriate and I was glad for taking everything in. It took me a while to feel alright again and I wasn’t sure how I was to precede such an event. The Holocaust museum had shaken me to the core. My legs were weak and quivery, my voice was feeble and my gut ached from the tension. When I finally came around with the support of other fellows I realized that I had been in that museum for almost 4 hours. By taking everything in, what seemed like minutes was actually hours.

We started the day off early and had breakfast at Au Bon Pain, the only coffee shop/lunch bistro open on Saturday in the GWU area. I tried Muesli for the first time and it was amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys oatmeal but is not in the mood for a warm breakfast.

After breakfast, the other fellows and I made our way to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. We arrived at the magnificent building right as the doors were opening and made it in without any problems. Once inside, I felt like a little kid. I wanted to see all of the taxidermic animals (sounds weird I know, but it was fun), the live tarantulas, the giant squid, and, most of all, the dinosaur and ice age animal bones. As a little kid, I was never into dinosaurs, but walking into the Museum of Natural History turned me into a dinosaur lover. We only had two hours to look at both floors of the museum, so we did not have a lot of time to read and really take in the exhibits; however, the next stop was worth cutting our visit to the Museum of Natural History short.

At 12:30pm we met up with Shelia, Rob, and Tom at the Holocaust Museum. I really did not know what to expect going into the museum. I know quite a bit about the Holocaust: I have heard the survivor’s stories, seen the videos, and read a few books; I was not prepared. At the beginning of the museum, you select an identification card telling the story of a Jewish woman or man who lived in Europe during World War II. We were then piled into an elevator and taken to the fourth floor. From there the museum began. The self-guided tour was chronological and borderline traumatic to some of those in our group. Jessica was able to walk until she reached the exhibit on the extermination of handicapped children; she rushed through the rest. I walked through the exhibit, carefully reading the descriptions of the systematic extermination of Jews in the expanding German empire. I was walking for three hours and fifteen minutes. Words cannot describe the pain and suffering of the nameless individuals suffering in each photograph.

We finished the Holocaust Museum at 4:00pm and headed for dinner. We stopped at a food court to eat hamburgers at Five Guys, a vendor that one of our group members said Obama frequented. When we got to the food court, Five Guys was closed, so we went to the Gyro vendor next to it. I ordered a gyro and it was literally at least a foot long and absolutely delicious. I shared some baklava with Michelle and as soon as everyone was done, we headed for the Jefferson Memorial to go on a guided moonlight memorial tour at 6:30pm.

The tour was three hours long and worth every second and painful step (I had probably sat down for an hour the entire day; naturally, my feet were hurting). We saw the Jefferson, Lincoln, and Washington Memorials; the FDR Memorial; and the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the World War II Memorials. All of the memorials were amazing in their own right and to compare one to another is like comparing apples to oranges. Gazing upon these memorials gave me a great sense of pride in my nation, a pride that I have never felt before and can only be felt when deep in the remembrance of greatness. I gazed at the faces of the American soldiers at the Korean War Memorial, walked up the increasingly difficult stairs to gaze upon Lincoln’s face and read his Gettysburg Address, became witness to the scar Vietnam left on our people, marveled at the grace of the World War II memorial, and laid with my head against the base of the Washington Memorial in an awe-inspiring stupider absorbing and reflecting on the principles on which my nation was built. I will never forget today for I have finally discovered what it means to be an American.

Another wonderful day in the Capital! Today we went to the museum of Natural Science, the Holocaust museum and toured this city’s memorials. The theme of the day went hand in hand with the world’s great decisions and very unfortunate ones. The Holocaust museum had a heavy emotional effect on me and hopefully on everyone who goes there. The museum’s concrete and metal structure contributes to the experience of this inhumane and monstrous historic event. I recommend everyone to visit this museum; it should be included into the list of things to do before you die. The memorials to the veterans of Korean and Vietnam Wars remind you of all the horrors that war brings about. It is necessary to have these monuments as a constant reminder, and is very unfortunate that people still do not learn history’s lessons and keep dehumanizing each other and killing each other. Washington DC is a powerful city filled with symbolism and wisdom. The decision making process of the nation is happening in the environment that is filled with history; I find it very brilliant.

During lunch at a local café Grill Kebob I got a chance to meet Mahsud, an immigrant from Afghanistan. Mahsud spoke perfect Russian because he lived in Moscow for several years. Mahsud owns the café and does a fantastic job running it. Kebob, clay oven flat bread and rice with saffron are flavors that remind of home. This encounter is a fantastic example of how nations of the world can hypothetically live in peace with each other and share their treasures with each other. I am endlessly grateful for being here and having this experience.

Arlington National Cemetery touches many visitors with its powerful memorials and vast rows of headstones as far as the eye can see. The most gripping piece to me was a quote on a wall next to the Kennedy memorial. Speaking to a group of South African students living under the racist and oppressive Apartheid regime, Bobby Kennedy proclaimed, “It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice. He sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current that can swell down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

This quote impacts me most when I envision a Caucasian man delivering a message of hope and a call to action to a crowd thirsty for justice. It makes me think about how few leaders we have today that can inspire and provoke us to tear down walls of intolerance and support the most vulnerable in society. Tonight, roughly one in five U.S. children will go to bed hungry. More than a billion people live on less than a dollar per day. War and tribalism has wiped out entire generations in many countries. And in a country where we embrace civil rights, equal protection and due process of law, we have institutionalized the practice of torture and justified warrantless searches and wiretaps, all in the name of security. I am optimistic for progress, but the road to justice is difficult and leaders like Bobby Kennedy are becoming harder to find.

I am constantly reminded of our common humanity. I could see it from the front lawn of Arlington House, Robert E. Lee’s estate just across the Potomac River that overlooks Arlington National Cemetery and all of Washington, D.C. I could see it in the walking stick leaning against the bookshelves in George Washington’s office at Mount Vernon, Virginia. I could see it in the gravestone marking the final resting place of President John F. Kennedy. These famous figures become more human, more complex every day.

All our nation’s leaders, from the Founding Fathers to the present day, lived with hopes, fears, dreams and insecurities. They second guessed decisions. They made poor judgment calls. Each generation faced new challenges, but each generation has faced them, indeed, and growth has followed those trying times. General Washington fought long and hard to establish a unified nation of states. Several decades later, another great general, his great granddaughter’s husband, Robert E. Lee, made the difficult decision to serve his state and family above the Union. None of these decisions were made in haste, nor were these courses of action easy to follow.

In holding to ideals, our leaders have paid a price I cannot fully understand. The difficult nature of life and leadership comes alive in the stories of our past leaders. Wandering among the sheet white stones of Arlington or the orchards of Mount Vernon, I can now assign time, place and sensory experience to these people, bringing their lives that much closer, that much more into focus.

We started the day out today with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. What a wonderful museum! We were able to see everything from bugs and Egyptian artifacts to dinasaurs and the Hope Diamond. There is so much to see and do there, that we could have probably spent an entire day at that museum alone, but we left to see the Holocaust museum.

The Holocaust museum was probably by far the most difficult thing to see. In school you learn about the Holocaust, you see some of the pictures, but this museum, as one of my co-fellows put it, was like the Holocaust through a fire hose. It was very graphic. It was also full of history. The museum uses several different types of media to get visitor’s attention. There are photographs, videos, audio tapes, quotes, some actual material items from the prisoners and prisons, and models of the camps. Horrific doesn’t even begin to touch on the magnitude of this atrocity. To be honest, I didn’t make it very far before the tears came…after that I guess I walked rather quickly through the most of the exhibit, at least until stories of heroism started to show up. Although it is a difficult museum to walk through, I think it is something everyone should do; bring tissue.

We did have a chance to pull out of our somber moods a bit by visiting the memorials on a guided tour after that though! The monuments are so massive and grand it is hard to give them justice through mere description. Large quotes from the various national heroes adorn massive walls of marble or granite, just amazing. We saw so many today, and they are all my favorites for different reasons: The Jefferson memorial because of his amazing speeches and writings which hang on the walls around him; The FDR memorial because of the uniqueness of it, being more of a landscape piece than a building or structure; the Lincoln memorial because of the view from the top, and the historical nature of that site; the Washington monument because of its sheer magnitude, especially when you are at the bottom looking directly up.

Between the Holocaust museum and the memorials I thought a lot about leadership. The memorials erected to many of our former presidents were because they were ahead of their times regarding ideals and thinking. The Holocaust stressed the importance of action by all people no matter how “ordinary”. I started to think about the many different types of leadership we learned about today, and what kind of leader I want to be.

Today was another busy day in the capitol. As was told to us before coming here, everyday is subject to change with flexibility as a necessity, and today lived up to that prediction exactly. We ate breakfast at one of the capitol cafeterias, which was much more exciting than it may sound. I was amazed by the fact that there is literally a small underground city, eating and interacting, right below one of the political hot spots of the world. All of us enjoyed reading the Roll Call and having some lively early-morning policy debate before we met the people who participate in the real one.

We proceeded to have our tour of The US Capitol after breakfast. It’s hard to describe in words how it felt, and what it meant, to tour the capitol of our country. This is my first time visiting, and I was overcome with a sense of pride while touring this building that holds so much history. I was impressed by the intricacies of the architecture, and the countless beautiful corridors, stairways and statues of prominent historical figures. The building was bustling with crowds of people, but if I stood still, I could find solitude to imagine what it was like, years ago, when our first Congressmen began making law.

After lunch and the tour, we had originally been scheduled to meet with only one Senator in the afternoon. However, by the time the day was over, we had crossed paths with multiple Congressmen and the Leader of the Minority Party in the Senate! It has been incredibly valuable meeting with the different Congressmen that we have. Each has a different style of relating to constituents and different issues that they’re passionate about. I find it particularly interesting to be here as a young person who is continually attempting to figure out and hone their political ideology. I am incredibly appreciative of the different perspectives we’ve been presented, as it helps me understand more and more the ideas being discussed today, and develop how I might personally feel about them.

Today, more than any other in my life, demonstrated that life is all about relationships. When strolling the halls of the Capital with Congressman Nethercutt it is easy to forget that you are amongst the world’s most powerful legislature. Behind any given door could be the Speaker of the House or Senate Minority Leader. However, it wasn’t until we moved between committee hearings and meetings that the real excitement, in my opinion, started. Catching a member of Congress in a candid moment is quite the experience and opportunity. An experience we all had literally dozens of times today, because of the Congressmen and Senators who went out of their way to say hi to their former colleague, Congressman Nethercutt.

We were lucky enough to meet with Rob Neal of Rathyeon. Rathyeon is a $21 billion a year corporation and its employees certainly have many better things to do than meet with a group of students; but, Congressman Nethercutt’s former intern, turn legislative assistant, turn Rathyeon lobbyist jumped at the chance. From there we headed back to the hill. Not knowing what, if anything, would be going on, after meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell we proceeded to walk up to the gallery and observe the Senate floor. As we entered the chamber that has housed some of our nations most heated debates since 1859, I became overwhelmed with the history at my finger tips. Standing amongst ornate sculptures and artwork, Senator John Thune of South Dakota delivered a floor speech introducing a bill he had drafted. The speech was well prepared and even better delivered. After leaving the chamber and winding down the marble staircase, we happened to pass Senator Thune in the hallway. He, like nearly every other member we passed, stopped Congressman Nethercutt and wanted to say hello and introduce himself to our group. It was that moment which solidified the message of the day for me: relationships.

It has been over five years since Congressman Nethercutt cast a vote, but you certainly wouldn’t know it. For the relationships Congressman Nethercutt developed during his decade in office are obviously genuine and true. That is a lesson I will undoubtedly take into my professional career; because regardless of ones party or political affiliation, ones character and the relationships they build trumps all.

This is day two in the nation’s capital. First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Nethercutt for providing us with this wonderful opportunity. This is my first time in DC and I am glad that I am exploring this city at this point of my life. I have lived in the US for five years now, I have traveled around the country quite a bit, and I majored in Political Science. This is the perfect time to tie it all together through exposure to the engine of politics – Washington DC.

We started our day with the tour of the National Cathedral where we received a lovely tour and everyone in the group enjoyed our charming guide. After the tour we met up with Mr. Nethercutt in his office and held a series of meetings. The CEO and President of the American Frozen Food Institute, Mr. Kraig Naaz, gave us some wisdom behind profitable lobbying. In contrast, Vice President of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Mr. Larry Soler, shared the techniques of non-profit lobbying with us. Two completely different tactics an hour apart! In the afternoon we headed to the Hill and had the pleasure of meeting Senator Lamar Alexander (Tennessee), Congressman Dave Reichert (Washington), and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Washington). It is important to meet with the representatives and have a chance to ask them questions. Driven by the needs of the constituents, the system of representation is reflected in the priorities of each Representative (at least the ones that we had the pleasure of meeting so far). While the Congress has some issues with stagnant policies regarding immigration and educational systems, it was refreshing to hear the Representatives address the necessity of reforms. Cathy McMorris Rodgers impressed me the most, perhaps due to her “down to Earth” nature.

This town breathes politics! Anywhere you look there is a strategic federal building assembled in the Greco-Roman style. These epic buildings make me feel like I will run into Plato or Aristotle on one of these streets.

We ended the day with dinner at the Peruvian restaurant and for desert we had lightning, thunder and layers of warm rain! I love thunder storms!

When I decided to join the foundation, I joined because I thought it would be a wonderful learning opportunity and an enriching leadership experience; it has certainly been that, and much more. One of the things I have learned in our short two days here, and especially today, was that the best learning opportunities hide in some of the most unexpected advice. Today we met with the representatives of two lobbyist groups; Kraig Naasz, President and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute, and Larry Soler, Vice President and Government Relations of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. Although these two lobbyist groups come from different angles of their profession (commercial versus non-profit) they both were able to offer a piece of advice that although wonderful and simple, was somehow revolutionary to me, their advice was to be honest, straightforward and have integrity. Now this doesn’t seem like revolutionary advice, but when you consider the source the advice seems to alter perspectives. It altered my perspective regarding D.C. and regarding lobbyists. The media somehow convinces us that D.C. is full of dishonesty and corruption but the lobbyists and several of the representatives we had met with seemed to be the antithesis of what we see on the news. These people rely on their integrity and their word and reputation to get their jobs done; whether this job is to gain the attention of a representative of government, or as a representative to gain the support and ultimately re-election of one’s constituents. Further, all of the people we met with today, including the lobbyists as well as Senator Lamar Alexander from Tennessee, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris from Washington State and Congessman Dave Reichert from Washington State, stressed the importance of relationships in government. All of the actions of government from the support of bills, the passing of legislation, the career paths of many of the representatives and their staffers, depend upon relationships. So their advice today changed my perspectives dramatically of D.C.: be honest, have integrity, be straight-forward, and forge and foster lasting bonds and relationships with everyone you meet. What wonderful advice for any leader!

Today we got up bright and early, grabbed a quick granola-yogurt-orange juice breakfast, and caught a bus to the National Cathedral. The Cathedral, designed to mimic medieval gothic architecture, was breathtaking. I was humbled by the spiritual sincerity of the building and would have loved to spend more time looking at the stained glass depicting biblical stories and American history; however, after an hour-and-a-half tour of the Cathedral, we had to move on to our next appointment with Mr. Kraig Naasz.

Mr. Naasz is the President and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and his job revolves around representing the 500 members of AFFI in Washington D.C. Mr. Naasz stressed the importance of relationships in Washington D.C. I have been told countless times that developing relationships with people is necessary to succeeding in any endeavor and Mr. Naasz genuinely reaffirmed this concept; he is living proof that establishing honest relationships greatly contributes to a successful work life.

After spending an hour with Mr. Naasz, we took the metro to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation office and met with the Vice President, Larry Soler. Mr. Soler was very knowledgeable and led us through a discussion of what type I diabetes is, the research done by JDRF, and some tactical approaches used by JDRF to fund their research. Most of our discussion was about the fundraising tactics used by JDRF to raise money. I thought that these tactics (i.e. Children’s Congress, the Promise to Remember Me Campaign, fundraising walks, etc.) were incredibly creative.

While Mr. Naasz is a for-profit lobbyist, Mr. Soler is a non-profit lobbyist. In contrasting the for-profit and non-profit lobbyists, I found several emergent themes. First, each establishment has a constituency to serve and policies that they advocate for that constituency. Mr. Naasz serves members of the AFFI and Mr. Soler serves those who have type I diabetes. Second, in both areas of lobbying, relationships are key to successful advocacy. Mr. Naasz continually stressed the importance of gaining and maintaining the trust of Congresswomen and Congressmen. For both Mr. Naasz and Mr. Soler, the relationships their organizations establish with Senators/Representatives are necessary to ensure the future of both JDRF and AFFI. Third, while lobbying in the for-profit and non-profit sector are fairly similar, there are differences. For example, for-profit lobbyists are able to monetarily attempt to persuade Congresswomen and Congressmen while such actions by non-profit lobbyists are illegal. Because of this, the lobbying tactics of JDRF are much different than the lobbying tactics of AFFI.

Next, we set off to meet with Senator Alexander Lamar, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, and Congressman Dave Reichert at the Capitol building. While Mr. Reichert could only briefly talk to us because of a vote in the House and Mr. Lamar could only briefly talk to us because of a Senate meeting, they still contributed to my learning experience. Mr. Lamar is an advocate for increased American history and civic education. He discussed with us what he believes are the two main reasons for conflict in government: (1) conflicting American principles and (2) disappointments in reaching goals (i.e. debates on how to reach and maintain equality). His Legislative Director, Matt Sonnesyn was also present at our meeting and talked a little with us after Mr. Lamar departed. Mr. Sonnesyn gave us some great information on Mr. Lamar’s opinions on several issues. Of the issues discussed, I agreed with Mr. Lamar’s stance that we need to restore fiscal responsibility, need to keep the means of production in private hands, and that it is necessary to develop new sources of energy. He also told us a little about how he became Mr. Lamar’s legislative director and gave us some advice on how to survive should we decide to work in Washington D.C.

Next, Mr. Reichert briefly saw us before he headed out for an important healthcare vote. We did not have enough time to really talk with him, but I did find out that he likes the Ways and Means Committee.

Ms. McMorris-Rodgers had a very interesting discussion with our group centered around education in eastern Washington State. She talked about how she was working to increase math and science in schools, how she supported the American Competitiveness Act, and how she advocated for student loans. She also said that she was surprised by the high school dropout rate in Washington and attributed this number to students’ lack of motivation in school. However, I think that we cannot put all of the blame for dropout rates on schools or on students. Rather, the failure of students to complete high school is a systemic problem created through multiple social issues including the current school system, parental involvement and influence in student’s lives, poverty, student’s home life, and community support for students. From my experience working with at-risk middle school students, kids care about their future whether they show it or not and they need support from their parents and their community. I firmly believe that in order to begin to solve the problems with education, we must look at all of the problems connected to high drop out rates and create a comprehensive plan to simultaneously work toward solving these problems and improving our education system.

It was worth the wait. The line to view the Rotunda of the National Archives and its precious documents inched its way across the foyer and past several replicated documents before we found ourselves in front of the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. I cannot help but feel insignificant yet grateful when I find myself so close to something so profoundly important. The ink continues to fade, but the founding documents of our nation continue to give life and meaning to both our individual and collective identity.

After the display of the few original documents, I almost skipped out of line to join our waiting group, but I decided to wait a bit longer and browse past the other duplicated documents. I am very glad I stayed. Standing in front of the display of the Thirteenth Amendment, adopted in 1865 to abolish slavery, I met eyes with a young, African American girl. We both looked back to the display case and read the words, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime where of the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” I was rooted to the spot, trying to fully comprehend the meaning of these words, yet realizing that I would never be able to appreciate them in the same way she does.

No one said a word, and after a silent, reverent moment, she turned and walked off. I am grateful for all the freedoms I have been granted, but I was powerfully reminded in that moment that all people around me deserve my respect, for I never know the challenges they face on a daily basis. Washington, D.C. is unique, and I look forward to the experiences in store these next two weeks.

Our first full day in D.C. gave us the great opportunity to hear policy specialists from the Heritage Foundation and see exhibits at the National Archives and American History Museum. It also gave us the chance to experience the D.C. weather, including dripping humidity and sudden, massive thunderstorms. We awoke to pre-dawn flashes of lightening and pounding rain. This afternoon was humid and left us sweating, and we didn’t get much drier when a thunderstorm hit as we were walking to dinner. But that didn’t stop us from having a day full of good times and valuable discussions.

At the Heritage Foundation, we had the chance to speak with Dan Lips, who is a specialist in U.S. education policy. He told us that the two biggest issues facing education reform today are the standards used to measure performance and the opportunities for more school choice, particularly in the form of vouchers and charter schools. It was good to hear a different and more conservative perspective on education. As a person who focuses a lot on issues of globalization and international competition, it is difficult for me to think that learning standards should be left to the states to determine. Nevertheless, Mr. Lips presented a compelling argument for devolution of federal control over education and a genesis for expanded school choice programs.

Our first day was a blast and full of opportunities to learn about our nation’s history and current political culture, and I am looking forward to tomorrow’s full schedule, regardless of the unpredictable weather. We have already had wonderful chances to explore our nation’s history and listen to several policy experts, leaving us thirsty for more knowledge and experiences. This is going to be a great trip!

After my first full day in Washington D.C., I couldn’t help but to reflect on the personal growth that I have experienced since I was last in this magnificent city five years ago. At the same time, I quickly came to the realization that I still had much to learn about the American Political System. Whereas my first visit to Washington D.C. left me and other young high school students with a greater understanding of the American government, I know that the Nethercutt Foundation will teach me so much more.

Our first official meeting was with The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank that drafts reports and gives recommendations to congress on specific policies. Many views expressed by the foundation on the economic crisis and the American auto industry were honestly quite new to me. In this meeting I learned to recognize and consider an alternative perspective. I also realized that one can hold an opinion without ever fully being exposed to an opposing point of view. Over the last five years, my political views have been formulated and reinforced by my education and the personal experiences that I have collected and yet I have never personally come in contact with individuals that hold opinions so very different than my own.

It was sobering to hear the views of those who received a much different political socialization than I had. I attentively processed the perspectives expressed knowing that all of the knowledge I gained would help me to more fully understand current political issues. I learned that it is not only valuable to be confident in your own opinions but to also understand where your opponents are coming from and what their core values and principles are. Only when this is achieved, can an individual confidently support their own opinions and be affirmed in their views.

I look forward to learning diverse viewpoints that challenge and confirm my own as the experience that comes with thoughtfully processing and considering another stance will contribute to my personal growth and give me a greater understanding of our modern political society.