by After five hours of fighting with few, but nonetheless tragic, casualties, the initial arriving forces established a security perimeter around the central government building. The infantry started arriving first by foot, then by truck. Fortifications went up, then checkpoints and improvised bivouacs. More companies started to arrive and consolidate the foothold. Eventually some were even airlifted in. Life in the thriving metropolis ground to an odd halt. People tried to keep life going, but checkpoints, razor wire topped fences and armed troops were in the way. Going to work, trysting with a lover, or attempting to buy groceries was made annoying at best, and dangerous at its worst. Many saw the troops as champions of freedom and law; offering them local delicacies as a sign of thanks. Others found the novelty entertaining and took photos with the masked, armed soldiers and their hulking vehicles. Most however, stayed home and grimly peeked out the windows.
As rumors and threats of a counter-attack swirled, the frontline expanded outward. The initial perimeter was just the government buildings, but now homes, schools, and parks were the front lines. Those within the two defensive sectors felt safe, but others just outside, feared their homes were now in a potential no man’s land. The enemy had retreated quickly, but vowed a violent revenge. They had made several attempts to occupy the city before, all had been brushed aside, except for the last one. Now the bridges into the city were closed, the troops manned their sectors, and the residents tensely waited. Would the attack come? What will it be? Will we be safe? Will the republic endure?
What nation is this?
Was this 1940’s Europe? Perhaps somewhere in Central America in the ’70s and ’80s? Saigon 1975? Cuba? Somalia? Iraq? Nope, Washington, DC in mid-January 2021. I sit here writing this with two military checkpoints within 1000 meters from my bedroom. After an insurrectionist mob stormed the US Capitol back on January 6th, this has been day to day life. 25,000 troops are in the city. Just a few less than were here in 1863, when the Potomac River was the frontier with the Confederacy.
The city has had a hard year, hell a hard four years. The normal ebb and flow of politics and protest is part of the life in The District, but since 2016 it has just gotten progressively angrier and angrier. The rather benign Tea Partiers and Pink Pussy Hats wandering the National Mall with comical signs back in the day are now Antifa and the Proud Boys having knife fights and setting shit on fire. This descent into violence has only been exacerbated by bitterly divisive politics, racial tension, economic inequality, and a pandemic going for a world war level body count. I’m not here to weigh in on the merits or offences of any of that though. I want to call attention to something that many of those coming to DC to cause violence seem to forget……..
People live here.
DC is an American city and home to 700,000+ of our fellow citizens. We aren’t that different from most of you out there in the states. We are not all bureaucrats and trust fund lobbyists. People come here to serve their country. People are born here and are struggling to live here. We definitely are not perfect. Million dollar condos pop up like weeds, but we still can’t figure out how to house the people living on our streets. We have one of the best restaurant scenes in America, yet we have food deserts in Southeast. We make it work though. Metro sucks but we still desperately need it. We will brag about all of our free parks and museums incessantly. Not to mention we certainly enjoy shutting down our streets for our regular championship parades recently.
Which brings me to my final point. Think about where you live. If you are like most of us, you’re at the very least…ok with it. Now think about your community, and imagine the Nationals World Series parade breaking out there every so often. No matter if you are in New York City, or Puckerbrush, Nevada it would likely be an inconvenience. If the participants were at least polite, then it probably wouldn’t be so bad. Heck it might even be fun. Now imagine that parade turning into a riot. A bunch of outsiders descend on the place, harass you for the simple offence of choosing to live there, and leave a giant mess for your public works to clean up. Perhaps they beat up a friend or yours or burn down the place that makes good pizza? Bet you feel a little differently about that parade. Just as you wouldn’t want a bunch of violent, angry outsiders rioting in your home, we feel the same way. I’m sure if armed troops had to show up to put an end to this, you likely would feel punished for something that you didn’t do. That’s how we feel right now in DC.
We are a city that is trying to make sense of the world just like you. Washingtonians are proud that the world comes here to see our culture and our beauty. We are keenly aware that we are destination for Americans to use their voices and we welcome our fellow Americans to do this here with respect for our safety and prosperity.
We are proud Americans too, and our lives and homes are not the collateral damage for your political cause.
(Afterword below)
An afterword
After publishing this piece, I wandered up to the top of my building and saw the night sky illuminated with the display for the next day’s inaugural ceremony. It confirmed a lot about how great of a place Washington DC can be. I also watched the National Guard go about their duties in our streets; checking cars, giving directions and so forth. It was oddly fun to see our military at work in such a way. I even got a chuckle when an officer seemed to be chewing out a less than enthusiastic private on the side. It reminded me of my service a long time ago. How would have I felt being on the street of an American city with a weapon? I don’t know. While I was watching, a World Central Kitchen vehicle pulled up an started unloading food for all the police and military nearby. That reminded me of how thankful I am for all those who serve our country, and that I, like many others in DC are thankful that these Americans are out in the cold to keep our city safe.
Two days ago I gave $50 bucks to order them some pizzas. If you can, please do the same.
Long after edit (2023). The link above no longer works. DC is currently not under military occupation, and I no longer live there. However, there are still troops that need some help, instead of buying pizzas, consider donating to the USO. Also there are hungry people in crisis areas around the world. DC resident and overall good dude Jose Andres has an organization, World Central Kitchen, that is trying to feed all of them like those troops on the corner of Mass Ave and 3rd St NW.
