Open Road: Tales of a Travelin' Musician

Impressions from the White House Lawn After Bin Laden's Death
Posted on 05/02/11 in Uncategorized
NOTE:  I will post some videos to my YouTube Channel if I find some time to corroborate this blog.  I have at least a dozen clips from this morning.  Here is my personal experience from May 2, 2011 from 2:30am-4:00am on the North Lawn of the White House, Washington, DC
 
Left Bethesda at 2:00am.

Arrived at 17th and Eye St. at 2:30am and easily found parking.

Walking south down 17th toward the White House I saw dozens of revelers going the opposite direction, some staggering from drink, and most of them draped in American flags.

Moments later I was amid the throng immediately in front of the North Lawn of the White House.  It was a peaceful celebration, and at age 33, I was one of the oldest present.  The mediant age was probably 20.  

I remember being at The Capitol for Obama's inauguration, and I very keenly remember September 11, 2001 and the events that followed.  Each of those times I had felt a solidarity with my fellow citizens--a swelling pride from inside my heart that warmed my belly--a sense of hope, unity--a glorious shout to the heavens that, "We are all human beings, and we are alive and seeking to be the best we can be!  This is the America of our Forefathers!"  

I did not get any of that earlier this morning, and I was really looking.  This was an awkward mob comprised mostly of college students shouting things like, "Fuck Osama!!" and "This is What Happens when you Fuck with America!" followed by deafening chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!"  I saw some uniformed Army and Marines who had gone down to attend the gathering, and they were standing along the sidelines looking ambivalent.  I can't know what they were thinking, but I imagine they had a sense that this was a trivial perhaps even insulting demonstration.  A girl of about 20, stripped to her bra, was on her boyfriends shoulders waving a large American flag and screaming incoherently.  The rest of the crowd would swell and abate depending on the proximity of the TV cameras, which would illicit the most shouting.  This wasn't the Freedom movement of the 1960's, this was "let's get on TV!" 

Around 3:30am, things began to disintegrate into smaller groups.  There was a breakdancing "Stomp the Yard/You Got Served" dance-off circle.  A marijuana circle.  A Washington Capitals, "Let's Go Caps!" circle.  A few more girls got on shoulders in their bras, but the cameras were gone, and that died quickly (though, there were several shouts of "Show us your titties!  A very Bourbon Street atmosphere).  By 4am, thousands were several hundred, and the numbers were continuing to thin out.  

The spectacle was entertaining, but it was not inspiring or uplifting.  In fact, it was embarrassing.  It felt more like a Mardi Gras celebration from my Tulane Days--a bunch of college kids too young to accurately recall September 11 that had found a great excuse for blowing off steam from finals week. I know because twelve years ago, I was doing the same thing.  It was a display of machismo and bravado ultimately aimed at glorifying the death of one man rather than providing a rallying point for a a sense of a victory or national pride.  However, at about 3:40am, a young man of about 20-23 stepped into the dance circle and made some remarks about those that had lost their lives and friends of his that had lost their lives and families that has lost lives.  That elicited some sobering calm for a few seconds but then, as if feeling self-conscious, he fell back on the tried and true "U-S-A! U-S-A!" chant, and someone from the crowd shouted, "Let them do some more breakdancing!" 

I would have hoped for some more rallying behind the victims of 911 or the soliders fighting the War on Terror or the innocent civilian casualties abroad or maybe some sort of candlelight singalong.  It didn't happen. 

A little after 4:00am, I was one of six people in the McDonald's on 17th getting sausage McMuffins, hash browns and coffee.  The city felt deserted.  I got in my car, drove home, and went to sleep feeling uninspired, disappointed, and old.  
Bin Laden Dead, Washnington, DC, White House
Comments (8)
Wow! very useful articles. I write the things I'd like to read about. If anyone else likes it, that's a nice bonus.
Posted by replica patek philippe watches on 12/28/11
Hi Ted,
First, I would like to apologize...I work at the new Walter Reed in Bethesda and received an email at 11:50 that you are the performing guest at 12:00. Sorry to not have been able to enjoy and support you supporting us.

Second, excellent write up of White House teeny bop, bra showing, shoulder sitting, break dancing, incoherent yelling rally. I bet that must have been a "my life flashing before me amidst the future" moment.

Have you captured that in a song? I think it would send a strong message to hear the experience then to be able witness it as you did. We so need a wake up call.

-M
Posted by Marc on 12/14/11
I wasn't there, but what I saw on tv pretty much looked like that. It looked... empty.
Posted by Rock Solomon on 07/28/11
I'm sorry Ted. I'm sorry you left feeling tired and old. I feel that way more and more often. I'm a decade older than you. I was a Special Forces soldier during the fall of the wall. I got my piece, under the scope of an East German tower guard, with a hammer and chisel in my hand. On 9/11, I was starting my second life as a civilian, after having taught the Mujhadeen and guys like Bin Laden how to use stinger ground to air.

I'm sorry that more of our guys coming back from the sand box weren't there. But there is something to be said about quiet somber celebration. As soldiers, we don't celebrate the deaths that we inflict. It's with utmost hope that I pray that the young soldier from Nevgru (seal team 6) that pulled the trigger on OBL, never, ever, fucking ever, tells his future wife, children or partner that he was the one.

The world needs quiet hero's, and the bravado and machismo of the flag waving, fuck Bin Laden kids that you saw is no reflection of the real world.
Posted by Adam Shake on 05/14/11
Ted,
You have captured, beautifully and pointedly, the feeling shared by so very many Americans. I think it is the awareness of maturation in our nation's collective psyche. This country is no longer, and should no longer pretend to be, the brash, bold, and morally bulletproof teenagers on the world stage. Our better angels are calling on us to acknowledge and process this event in a meaningful way, while some of our old habits beckon us to milk the morbid moment for some shallow, egoic gratification.
Thanks for plainly depicting the experience.
I hope to read more of this quality thought on your blog.
Posted by Mike H on 05/03/11
I was one of the cameramen down there.Your description is very accurate.It was a very hollow event for what it should have been.Just a bunch of drunk college kids looking to have some fun and be on TV.Every time I turned my camera light on kids would come running to mug for the camera.They made a statement,but not the right one.
Posted by Jim Norris on 05/03/11
Had a been in DC and not on a plane, I'm not sure I would have gone. I don't think bin Laden's killing is going to be memorable. We all remember 9/11 of course and there was unity after that, which I had never felt before. Some people say the wars and politicians following it ruined that feeling--maybe they did, which is why last night's celebrations were the way they were. But it was freedom being displayed nonetheless. I understand why it was uninspiring.

Also remember some of these college kids were between 8-11 years of age when 9/11 happened. You & I started our adult lives in a different world than what our childhood was. Different perspectives.
Posted by Brian Franke on 05/02/11
I was tempted to go down and see it for myself, but that is exactly what I was afraid it would be like. I've been teetering on my reaction to all of this, it almost seems insensitive to the victims of this man to make his death a reason to get drunk in the streets and whore yourself out on the tv cameras. Thanks for reporting, I enjoyed your opinion.
Posted by Tiger G on 05/02/11
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