Das Capitol

[Henry Musikar]

On 17 Jul 97 at 11:53, Sojourner <sojourner at vt.edu> wrote:

> So this is the measure of a city?  It's nightlife and/or its urban
> center's architectural modernity and/or cleanliness?  It's dearth of
> commercial property due to its federalicity? *grin*  Mediocre NIGHT
> life?  Why, tell that to Adams Morgan you old slimer!
> 
> Congressional Lane eh?  So Tower Records doesn't stimulate you?  UJA
> hasn't got good enough tennis courts for ya?  Seems like you live
> right near the FDA, go get a job there promoting Olestra *grin*
> 
> No what I don't like about Washington, DC and its attendant
> satellites is exactly what Leadbelly was angry about when they
> treated his wife like shit.  I saw it when I lived there and when I
> go back to visit it REEKS of it.  The safely driven, the nerdily
> dressed, the computer superstore, the nagging wife, the hordes at
> all possible commercial venues, the whining kids, the suburban
> decrees that the Saudis shouldnt build a school on the property that
> God blessed, i.e. Poolesville effing Maryland etc. etc.  
> 
> It's the crush of something of-which-I-cannot-name, but can only
> name the properties which I despise.  It's just a crush of humanity
> who seem to have no purpose, who work in purposeless buildings for
> the most purposeless agencies ever.  It's people who crowd and
> jostle, 20 deep in a line for a big Mac, where you do not talk to
> the guy taking out the trash because you know he doesn't speak
> English, where you hide and point and look and follow and make witty
> remarks about what that freaky balding Viking-esque George Michael
> said about last sundays game between the New york Niggers and the
> 'SKINS.  Oh, I'm sorry, one of those names was RACIST wasn't it my
> word and yet the Skins play in the same city as the BIA!!  Well what
> do you know?  
> 
> So that's what drives me nuts and I won't go into it any more.  It's
> people clogging the highways, but never going faster than 55 on the
> innerloop even when possible (I feel like a criminal going 80 but
> sheesh come on its 25 lanes across!).
> 
Sojourner,

Um, didn't I mention racial division? The lack of decent, old 
buildings is a mark of the city's gentrification at the expense of 
the poor. If these are not the mark of a city, then what is? Should I 
have mentioned DC's infamous crime rate/mayor/board?

Oh, yeah. 'Bout "Congressional Lane." I live in the burbs for the 
same reason I live in the DC metro area at all. Hardly a matter of 
choice; hate the burbs. No city buzz, no country peace.

Henry Musikar
301-468-3661
263 Congressional Lane, #411
Rockville, MD   20852