A New Birth of Freedom
Dear Washingtonians:
Our lives are enriched by many things by living in Washington that we
tend to take for granted. This weekend we’ll have a chance that most
people will never get, a chance to stand in long lines in order to stare
at old, faded pieces of paper, only two out of five of which are
original (the other three will be reproductions). Yes, this is
important, a big deal, and we should be grateful for and take advantage
of this rare opportunity.
This weekend, Sunday through New Year’s Day, the National Archives
will be showing the Emancipation Proclamation. For information on
viewing hours and events surrounding the showing, go to
http://www.archives.gov/nae/news/#emancipation-proclamation.
For background on the proclamation itself, go to
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation.
American history is replete with great and heroic events, but in our
cynical age we tend to denigrate and devalue them. One hundred and fifty
years ago, President Abraham Lincoln took a major step to end slavery in
this nation. It’s worth taking the time to contemplate that and the
sacrifices that led to it. As Washingtonians, we just have to take a
short trip to the Constitution Avenue entrance of the Archives this
weekend in order to do that.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Good Grief — Rent!
Star Lawrence,
jkellaw@aol.com
When I moved to Arizona sixteen years ago to help take care of my
mother, everyone said buy a house, buy a house! Do you have any idea how
much I miss my maintenance man, Marlon? He is almost a god in my memory
now as entropy stalks this shack — I have been here sixteen years and
have had to purchase two heating and air conditioning units, all new
kitchen appliances, a kitchen faucet, new toilets, a water heater, fix
the fence before the city enforcers dragged me off, on and on. This
joint is also worth fifty thousand dollars less than I owe. Soooo . . .
if you have a Marlon to take care of you, keep him — or think of what
life would be like if you become Marlon.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Passport to the World New Year’s Eve Gala,
December 31
Michael Karlan,
dc@prosinthecity.com
On December 31, join Professionals in the City at its Passport to the
World New Year’s Eve Gala at the Capital Hilton, located at 1001 16th
Street, NW. More than three thousand people attend this gala each year.
See a brief video of last year’s gala at
http://www.newyearseveindc.com. The current
block of tickets starts at $99. For more information or to purchase
tickets, visit
http://www.newyearseveindc.com,
E-mail dc@prosinthecity.com, or call 686-5990.
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